Since its inception in 2013, the Range Rover Evoque has always been seen as more of a fashion statement than a means of transportation. This little luxury crossover from Britain enjoyed great success when it first came out, but enthusiasm has waned since the second generation Evoque was unveiled in 2019. We don’t suppose this is because of its styling as the changes from one generation to the next was quite subtle, but rather luxury car buyers have simply shifted focus. Land Rover is trying to gain that back by adding more bling to the snazzy package, and we are able to snatch the keys to one – here is the 2022 Range Rover Evoque Bronze Collection.
The special edition Evoque is distinguished by its bronze-coloured roof, copper accents on the front fenders, and an exclusive design for its 20-inch wheel. Bronze is not a colour that we often see on the road, and the contrast over the Carpathian Grey paint scheme created a striking floating roof effect that added another layer of sophistication to Evoque’s trendy styling design. The Evoque exudes a sense of elegance that is hard to top by its peers and remains one of our favourite designs in the market today.
Powered by Range Rover’s boosted 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the Evoque Bronze Collection outputs 246 horsepower and 269 lb-ft. of torque. The power rating is acceptable for an entry-level luxury crossover; however, there is more lag than we would have typically liked. It could be that we are spoiled by sportier crossovers but the Evoque simply feels a step slower throughout our journeys. Shoppers who are looking for a bit more excitement should consider the Evoque HST with its 295-horsepower P300 powertrain.
The Range Rover Evoque is relaxing to drive thanks to its light yet accurate steering. The chassis is well tuned for comfort; bumps are well absorbed with acceptable body control over rough surfaces. Our optional Dynamic Handling Package allowed us to fine-tune engine, steering, transmission, and suspension responses. While there is a tendency to understeer when you push the Evoque hard, we suppose its target audience will feel it to be just fine. There is more engine noise than we would have liked, but it has done well to isolate wind and road noises from its high-quality cabin.
The interior of the Evoque is a masterpiece to look at – there are high-resolution screens everywhere and the simplistic layout looks trendy and high-tech. A lack of physical buttons present a challenge, but that is the price for state-of-the-art interior design. While the motorized touchscreen on the dashboard does add to curb appeal, the angle makes it difficult to access the bottom row. Good thing is, once you have programmed your presets, or loaded up Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, you can turn your focus to enjoying the vivid animation from the screens as well as awesome sound quality from the optional Meridian surround sound system.
We love the panoramic sunroof shade that automatically opens up as you start your drive – it allows a lot of sunlight into the cabin and gives it a more airy feeling. Front passengers will enjoy the good amount of space, however rear legroom is quite cramped even for compact crossover standards. The sloping roof means you need to exercise caution when entering and exiting the back row, but once you are inside, headroom is actually not too bad. Cargo capacity is rated at 591 litres which is decent for its size, and the Evoque can tow up to 1,800 kilograms.
Fuel economy is rated at 11.8L/100km in the city and 8.7L/100km on the highway for an average of 10.4L/100km. We observed an average of 11.2L/100km for the week – a fair consumption when cold weather is accounted for. Premium grade 91-octane gasoline is recommended.
In terms of driver’s assistance features, the Evoque Bronze Collection came with standard lane keep assist, emergency braking, front and rear parking aid, traffic sign recognition, and driver condition monitoring systems. We hope to see the standard cruise control become an adaptive radar-guided setup to stay competitive.
Starting at $56,750, our Range Rover Evoque Bronze Collection is mildly optioned with goodies such as Cold Climate Convenience Package (heated windshield and headlight washer jets), Dynamic Handling Package (configurable dynamics, chrome gear shift paddles, red brake calipers), Premium cabin lighting, and Meridian surround sound system, which bring it to an as-tested value of $60,925.
With new entries such as the Genesis GV70 and the all-new second generation Lexus NX, it is easy to see why people are forgetting the Evoque. If you value curb appeal above all else, the Range Rover Evoque Bronze Collection remains one of the best choices; this model’s additional bling is literally the icing on the cake.
See Also:
2020 Range Rover Evoque HSE R-Dynamic
