So I have had the Evoque for a month and 2,500 miles the initial excitement of a new car has worn off - do I still like it?
The answer is a resounding Yes! It's great to drive and like many others have noted it always makes me smile when I see it. It remains a supremely comfortable vehicle - I have has several 300 mile trips, no aches or pains at all - or fatigue either as the seats are simply excellent. The fuel economy still continues to improve with the TripA computed fuel consumption being uncannily accurate to the true MPG - and currently sits in a band of 39 to 41.
Engine performance is also improving - the engine was noticeably 'tight' for the first thousand or so miles - in fact I even wondered if the engine management map was backed-off/restrained because for the first 1000 miles there was almost a hesitation/stutter 50mph in 6th that has now completely disappeared. Considering the bulk of the vehicle it is more that acceptably quick - with simply sublime handling (more 'chuckable' than my previous A5 Cabrio) with a really flat cornering - it's genuinely fun to drive quickly. I have had a couple of Audi diesels remapped and I am tempted to get the Evoque done because I know from past experience that it makes the engine 'crisper' and sharper to drive - I've got it for 3 years so I'll see how the engine matures as the miles go on.
Ride quality - when brand new the ride was fairly firm as the suspension bedded in and I suspect that dampers eased up a little so the ride quality has become noticeably more compliant. Sure it isn't limo smooth - its an off-road capable vehicle without the benefit of AD so never will be super soft but it is very easy to live with.
My initial grudging thoughts for the Satnav are actually softening into respect - it might not look as good as some but it is actually surprisingly capable - and the TMC notification that flashes up the extent of your route that is affected by a holdup is excellent and works really, really well.
USB music is by and large reliable - a couple of times it has flashed up a 'File & Folder not found message' but carried on playing anyway - the source is a 60GB Solid State Disk (SSD) in a caddy with a dual USB power feed. All MP3 ripped at 192kbps and a few DivX music videos. I suspect that there is a glitch in the Evoque's music indexing software but the SSD is so fast it resolves the issue before hitting a time-out and crashing.
The audio quality is excellent - beyond critique for a car system IMHO. I know the sub is bolted to the floor under the driver's seat - it has enough raw grunt to be able to make the floor pan resonate and you can feel it through your heels. The DAB and FM radio reception are both excellent with no problems as reported elsewhere.
Driving an Evoque at night is a visual treat - the interior lighting is excellent especially with the LED interior light upgrade done it feels like a properly special place to be. Externally the Xenon lights are simply superb and don't seem to dazzle/annoy other drivers like the Audi ones did either - the rear lights look rather exotic at night.
So if you are still waiting for your car (as I did for 6+ months) and wondering if it would really be worth the wait when alternatives can be had sooner/for less....hang in there, it's worth the wait and now a fully sorted production vehicle.
As a footnote - I drive a lot of miles, probably around 20,000 a year and have been doing that for nigh on 25 years now and because of that don't get behind the wheel for fun just to go out for a spin......a couple of weeks ago I did exactly that, late at night and just drove a few miles for pleasure, the Evoque really is that special. Nuff said
SD4 Prestige - 1 month in and 2,500 miles
