Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Coupe eD4 Pure 3dr Car Review - March 2012

The four cylinder engine delivers a healthy power output of 150 bhp at 4000 rpm with torque figures of 280 lb-ft at 1750 rpm. This helps to give the car a fairly decent top speed of 112 mph with acceleration taking 11.2 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.

In terms of engine noise, both the diesel and petrol engines can be a little disruptive when worked hard. However, motorway cruising should be a fairly pleasant experience with the engine noise dulling into a low background hum. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for wind and road noise which can be far more disruptive due to the shape and size of the car.

A stylish car, the exterior design on the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque range is practically faultless. This model also comes with a good range of in-car kit and this means the interior is just as stylish as the exterior.

Standard equipment for this model includes: power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, leather-seated interior, Bluetooth connectivity and an advanced stereo system with both CD and MP3 compatibility. Rear parking sensors are available as an additional option with this model, costing £730.

A highly practical car, this small 4x4 offers plenty of boot space for owners regardless of whether the rear seats are in place or not. With them upright, the total loading capacity is an impressive 550 litres, expanding to 1,350 litres when the seats are folded down.

On top of this, the elevated driving position means that there is good front visibility for drivers – helping to increase the comfort of the vehicle. Unfortunately, this is not matched in the rear visibility which is obscured by the shallow windscreen.

A touch-screen control panel is used to operate a number of the internal controls within the car and whilst the buttons are large the layout of the menu can be a little confusing – compromising its practicality.

In terms of space for passengers and drivers, there is a fair amount of room in the cabin although gaining access to the rear seats can be a little bit difficult.

In terms of safety, the car performed well in the NCAP crash test where it scored the top five star rating for overall safety. This is partly thanks to an advanced safety kit which is fitted as standard and includes driver, passenger and front side airbags.

Alongside this, an alarm and immobiliser is also fitted as a standard feature to protect the car from theft. The car also comes with a three year warranty on unlimited miles to help customers keep their car in the best possible condition.

Priced at £28,950 this model has one of the most attractive prices within the range and is more than reasonable for a 4x4. On top of this, running costs are expected to be fairly low due to decent levels of fuel efficiency and relatively low road tax costs under road tax band D.

In terms of efficiency, then engine performs well considering its class and performance credentials, achieving 57.6 mpg on a combined cycle. Carbon emissions are also very favourable at 129 g/km, putting this car into road tax band D.

As a desirable car, the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque series also benefits from strong resale values and that makes this model a wise investment for drivers looking for long term ownership. It represents excellent value for money.