Range Rover Evoque facelift

Land Rover took the wraps off the facelifted Range Rover Evoque in February 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show, so you can imagine our disappointment in March 2015 when the ‘updated’ car launched in India wasn’t this one. That was a locally assembled version of the old car, with the new nine-speed automatic gearbox and a bit more standard equipment. Now, however, just eight months on, the ‘proper’ Evoque facelift has been launched.
Trouble is, since so many updates were added to the previous car, nothing substantial has been added this time around. The obvious change is the look, which has been brought in line with the bigger Range Rovers, and consequently, now looks a little more different from the lesser Discovery line of SUVs. You’ll find RR’s new signature W-shaped LED running lights, a glossy black grille and a front bumper with two massive faux air intakes, similar to the functional ones on the powerful Range Rover Sport SVR. The rear has a more aggressive looking diffuser and a new design for the tail-lamps. And finally, a new design for the 18-inch alloy wheels on top-spec cars and this fetching new Phoenix Orange paint shade round off the visual changes

The powertrain is the same too – JLR’s 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel in its more powerful 188bhp SD4 guise, mated to the new nine-speed gearbox. It’s not an exciting or rev-happy motor; instead it’s quite linear, but it does pack a pretty decent punch. The gearbox makes the Evoque an unstressed and fuel-efficient highway cruiser, but when shuffling through the bump and grind of traffic, it tends to fumble around its many ratios and is not as smooth as the eight-speed ZF auto used by the bigger, longitudinal-engine Range Rovers and Jaguars. It’s a bit better in Sport mode, where the ’box isn’t as eager to upshift as frequently.


Absolutely nothing has been changed on the inside, save for the introduction of new upholstery colour options. But don’t fix what isn’t broken, right? The soft-touch, textured leather surfaces is just sublime, and though some of the plastics could be a little more substantial, the overall sensation of luxury combined with robustness, as with any Range Rover, is abundant here too. All the great equipment from before returns too, with 360-degree cameras, ambient lighting, a heads-up display and an exemplary 825-watt, 17-speaker Meridian sound system, but nothing new. Interestingly, while the home screen of the touchscreen infotainment system resembles JLR’s new ‘InControl’ interface, it’s merely a skin, under which lies the clunky interface from before. The model range is now split into four variants rather than three, with the base Pure trim now costing a little less than before.

It’s best to think of this not as a second update, but as a completion of the first update that started in March 2015, as the Evoque now feels like a substantial improvement on the original 2011 car. It was always a good-looking SUV, but somehow, JLR has managed to make it a whole lot more attractive with very minor modifications. Also attractive is the price, which from Rs 47.1-63.2 lakh, is a world away from the full-size Rangies. There’s just one thing – the Evoque’s cousin, the Land Rover Discovery Sport, that’s also on sale. It may not have the prestige of the Range Rover badge, but for roughly the same money, you get the same mechanical package, looks that are just as attractive and a whole lot more space with the option of seven seats. However, the Evoque’s style quotient remains its biggest selling point, and to that end, it’s only gotten better.

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Renault Duster

Showrooms flooded with potential buyers and, on the last count, 10,000 customers who have put their money down for the Duster is testament to the fact that Renault seems to have gotten it just right with its small SUV. The French carmaker has played its cards right with the Duster’s prices, which range from Rs 7.19 lakh to Rs 11.29 lakh. At this price, it appeals not only to large SUV buyers, but also to C-segment saloon buyers. And with three engine options – a 102.5bhp petrol, an 84bhp diesel and a 108.5bhp diesel, there’s a Duster for everyone. Clearly the potential for success is tremendous.
But for the Duster to really live up to buyers’ expectations, it has to deliver on the counts that made SUVs popular in India in the first place. It has to have the right image, be spacious enough to transport a family in comfort and, of course, be capable to take on the worst of Indian roads. We test the more powerful diesel to see if the Duster is all the SUV you’ll need

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Land Rover Freelander

This is the Land Rover Freelander 2, the one they will introduce in India in March 2013. Because this is a mid-life update, Land Rover has, predictably, chosen to give it subtle updates that make the car look and feel fresher, rather than go in for expensive sheet metal changes.

To that extent, there's new equipment, a restrained rework of the interiors and the mildest of facelifts.

To get into the details, the exterior changes are limited to headlamps that get LED daytime running lamps, tail lamps that get Land Rover's twin-circular theme, there are new alloy wheels and three new colours.

On the inside, Land Rover has uncluttered the dashboard with fewer switches, a tidied up dashboard and an electric emergency brake. Oh, and the rotary dial for the terrain response system has been replaced by an Evoque style switch. There's also a new feature on the reverse camera that makes it easier to hitch a trailer onto the tow hook, and there's keyless go as well.

There are no mechanical changes apart from a new structural undertray that strengthens the chassis. North America gets a new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, but this won’t be offered in India. We get the same engines as before -- a 2.2-litre common-rail turbo diesel that makes 148bhp or 187bhp depending on which version you order. As before, both versions will come with a six-speed automatic transmission.

So, in the end, what you get with the Freelander is a car that, atleast in 187bhp trim has adequate grunt and one that is reasonably refined as well. It may not be the class leader when it comes to handling, but the Freelander has other strengths -- namely it's ride and it's off-road prowess. It is the best in class on the latter. In typical Land Rover fashion, it's easy to drive thanks to its high seats and low window line.

The Freelander is the best -selling Land Rover in India, but it isn't the class leader. This facelift and nip-and-tuck definitely go some way towards that. Expect the facelifted Freelander to cost marginally more than the current price when it gets to Indian showrooms.

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