News of an all-terrain convertible might sound immediately absurd, but any such assumption is likely to be checked when you discover that this one will be coming to us from no less than Land Rover. Having nurtured an unparalleled reputation for uniting off-road capability with first-class luxury and comfort, Land Rover seem well-placed to introduce the most capable all-terrain convertible ever envisaged – it’s coming soon as a convertible body style for the Range Rover Evoque.
Of course, the Range Rover Evoque has been desirable since its very inception. This compact SUV enlivened the segment with its evocative styling, commanding power, and luxurious interior fittings. Land Rover clearly hopes that adding a sleek Convertible body style will invigorate sales, and it’s hard to blame them.
The vehicle certainly looks every bit as desirable as you’d expect. Meticulous engineering efforts have ensured that drivers will still find plenty of space to seat four and have a roomy boot – something that convertibles traditionally struggle with. The body style is based on the popular three-door Evoque Coupe, with a Z-fold electric fabric roof added on. You should be able to lower yours in just 18 seconds at speeds of up to 30mph. If you start to feel a chill or the heavens start to open, you’ll appreciate that the roof rises back up in just 21 seconds.
Land Rover have also ensured that the optional rear wind deflector, which provides a quiet drive while the top is down, can be quickly installed between the vehicle’s rear three-quarter trim panels, so it won’t sit there obstructively when the roof is stowed. Once the roof is lowered, subtle hinged panels fold flush to conceal the folding mechanism and retain the Evoque’s contemporary lines.
All this paints an attractive on-road picture of the Range Rover Evoque Convertible, but how will it actually handle across the great outdoors?
Pretty well, if the specs live up to their potential. You’ll be able to choose either an 180PS TD4 diesel or 240PS 2.0L turbo Si4 petrol to power across the rougher terrain, plus available permanent 4WD or ‘Active Driveline’ 4WD, which switches to 2WD for road use to improve efficiency. Deployable roll-over bars are hidden in the rear quarter panel ensure safety even when the top is down and you’re not covering tarmac.
Able to transition between sun-soaked cruising, business commuting, and backcountry adventuring, the Range Rover Evoque Convertible is likely to attract plenty of attention.