- One month ahead of the going on-sale: The new Range Rover Evoque wins the Best Compact SUV title as well as overall Car of the Year prize from Britain’s biggest-selling motoring magazine
- High praise from judges: Evoque lauded for its mould-breaking styling and driving dynamics, as well as for its pricing
- Further honours: Land Rover Discovery 4 claims Best Large SUV title for second successive year and extends Discovery’s prize-winning streak to seven years
Gaydon, Warwickshire, 3 August 2011: The new Range Rover Evoque has been declared Car of the Year in the Auto Express New Car Awards. The Evoque was also named Best Compact SUV by Britain’s biggest-selling motoring magazine, with the Land Rover Discovery 4 scooping the award for Best Large SUV for the second successive year.
Citing the Evoque’s ‘mould breaking’ looks and driving dynamics as key factors in its success, the magazine also praised its keen pricing: “The Evoque puts the hugely desirable Range Rover brand within the reach of compact executive car buyers for the very first time,” said Auto Express Acting Editor Graham Hope. “The fact it looks and drives the way it does serves only to underline its premium appeal.
“The winner of the Auto Express Car of the Year prize really needs to break the mould – and the Range Rover Evoque does exactly that. You have only to look at its concept car styling to see why the British firm already has a bulging order book for the new baby of its range. Its appeal goes far beyond its distinctive styling.”
Land Rover UK Managing Director Colin Green welcomed the recognition: “The first production Evoque was driven off the line at Land Rover’s Halewood manufacturing plant in Liverpool only last month. To receive an accolade such as this so soon, and from such a respected journal as Auto Express, is a huge boost for the talented and dedicated professionals who have worked so hard and so long to bring the Evoque to market.”
Mr. Green is delighted also by the success of the Land Rover Discovery 4: “The Discovery trophy cabinet is already huge, and this second successive Auto Express Award for the latest incarnation of the model underlines its superiority in a highly competitive market segment, and adds to the pride we feel today.”
Auto Express says of the award-winning Discovery 4: “The versatile Land Rover has figured on the winners’ list at our annual awards for seven successive years, and it’s easy to see why. The latest Discovery 4 marries high-class fixtures and fittings with huge dimensions and unrivalled off-road ability. Better still, a revised model with more power and lower emissions is due to hit the showrooms in October.”
With a choice of three engines, two body styles, three design themes and a wide range of options and accessories, the new Range Rover Evoque offers customers significant choice across a range of price points. The entry level eD4 Pure 5-Door Range Rover Evoque starts at £27,955 and the top-of-the-range Si4 6 Speed automatic Dynamic coupé with LUX pack is available for £44,320. Offered in both 5-door and Coupé forms, the Evoque goes on-sale next month. More than 18,000 advance orders have been received by Land Rover.