Range Rover Evoque Convertible Rent in Dubai

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Range Rover Evoque Convertible Rent in Dubai

Ever since Land Rover showed the Range Rover Evoque Convertible Rent in Dubai concept at the 2012 Geneva auto show, it has been compared with one thing—the ill-conceived, overwrought 2011­–2014 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet. Given the Evoque’s high-altitude seating for four, all-wheel drive, true crossover stance, and the same questionable raison d’être (exactly what is the point of a convertible crossover?), comparisons with the Nissan droptop are understandable. But that doesn’t destine the Range Rover Evoque Convertible Rent in Dubai—now finally available, five full years after we first saw the concept—to the same fate. Indeed, after this test of the Evoque convertible, the convertible-crossover idea is one that we think could catch on—if only as a niche within a niche—provided it’s done right.

We picked up the Range Rover Evoque Convertible Rent in Dubai during the posh Monterey Car Week, where our Yulong White HSE Dynamic test car shuttled us from hotels to racetracks to grassy fairways covered in gleaming cars. This fancy cruise-in appears to be the sort of venue for which the Evoque convertible was conceived. The Monterey Peninsula’s rustic, winding two-lane roads and parade-pace speed limits allow motorists plenty of time to sightsee. With its high seating position and 360-degree sightlines, the Evoque convertible provides unparalleled views for gawking at soaring redwood trees or a convoy of Ferrari barchettas. The high perch and open top, however, also make occupants accessible to chatty passersby, who seemed to be either confused at the sight of a convertible SUV that’s not a Jeep or thrilled to see the Evoque convertible on the street. Anecdotally, most folks we spoke with were impressed with the execution even if they weren’t universally on board with the idea.

Clean, cohesive styling is arguably the Range Rover Evoque Convertible Rent in Dubai greatest strength. Top up or down, the Evoque ragtop looks as dapper as the two-door coupe variant. The raised top fabric stretches from windshield to liftgate, retaining the fixed-roof model’s two-box profile. At speeds up to 29 mph, one console-mounted button and 13 seconds (or 18 seconds if you haven’t already lowered the windows) are all it takes to banish the roof into a shallow well behind the rear seats, flush with the Evoque’s signature rising shoulder line. (Raising the roof takes two seconds longer.) Nearly all of the standard Evoque’s styling elements from the shoulder down were carried over; the list of discreet additions includes pyrotechnic roll bars behind the rear seats and windshield frame and structural stiffeners.

The only major packaging casualty involves the cargo area or, more accurately, the near elimination of it. Despite Land Rover’s efforts to minimize the top well’s intrusion on cargo space, the trunk is undeniably small—nine cubic feet, barely enough for two standard carry-on suitcases. The space is accessed via an abbreviated liftgate that’s as vertical as the cliffs of Yosemite and swings up awkwardly at chest level, making loading and unloading of items more like shoveling coal into a steam locomotive. For something ostensibly based on a “utility” vehicle, this one’s laughably low on practicality.

Its “sport” quotient is somewhat higher, although not by much. First, it’s sloooooow, which didn’t really bother us during our leisurely jaunts around Monterey but became quite frustrating on the 300-plus-mile hustle back to Los Angeles to perform our instrumented tests. We didn’t need our equipment to tell us the Evoque would make a poor showing; the unceasing turbo lag of the Evoque’s 240-hp turbo four-cylinder, the slurry nine-speed automatic transmission, and the massive 4525-pound curb weight—408 pounds more (!) than the standard four-door Evoque we tested in 2013 and 140 pounds more than our long-term BMW 7-series—all had a hand in killing its acceleration, particularly during passing. The track test provided confirmation: a zero-to-60-mph run takes 8.1 seconds, 1.2 seconds longer than the four-door. Our 5-to-60-mph rolling-start figure of 9.3 seconds is perhaps more illustrative of the time turbo lag adds to a typical acceleration event.

The Range Rover Evoque Convertible Rent in Dubai caters to a decidedly more eco-conscious customer base than traditional Range Rover buyers. Even so, the Evoque still possesses the chops to keep up when the road gets rough. Styling is edgy and aggressive, but it’s clearly a Range Rover from front to back, with characteristic styling touches at the headlamps, grille and tail lamps.

A 240-horsepower 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is the only available powerplant, but it’s a capable one, making 251 pound-feet of torque while still achieving 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway — more than anything else in the Range Rover stable. The engine features direct injection, and it’s capable of propelling the Evoque from 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

A 9-speed automatic is the only available transmission, coupled to a Haldex full-time all-wheel-drive system. Land Rover says the Evoque is designed to be able to ford water up to 19.7 inches deep without hesitation, and ground clearance comes in at 8.7 inches. Land Rover’s Terrain Response system is standard, which automatically provides several settings for different traction situations, ranging from loose gravel to deep snow.

Safety features include anti-lock brakes, an anti-skid system, traction control, side curtain airbags and front-side airbags, with optional safety systems like blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and a head-up driving display.

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