Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Coupe SD4 Pure Automatic 3dr Car Review - March 2012

The four cylinder engine delivers a healthy power output of 190 bhp at 3500 rpm with torque figures of 309 lb-ft at 1750 rpm. This helps to give the car a fairly decent top speed of 121 mph with acceleration taking just 8.5 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 built-in sat nav can also be added for £1,430.

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 £32,315 this model is affordably priced for a 4x4: one of the cars main attractions. Unfortunately, the higher performance and reduced efficiency mean that running costs are higher than some models in the range and this can diminish the value offered to customers.

In terms of efficiency, then engine fails to match the credentials of other models within the range and only achieves 43.5 mpg on a combined cycle. Carbon emissions are also higher than some models at 169 g/km – putting the car into road tax band H.

However, the model is a good compromise for buyers looking for performance and affordability and the strong resale values associated with the range mean the car should still be suitable for those looking for long-term ownership.