27-09-2011, 12:43pm
I've just had my 2h test drive with a TD4 Prestige, manual gearbox, no Adaptive Dynamics.
In short: a bloody great car.
In detail:
- Suspension is very good, you don't get the impression that you're driving an SUV, but...
- ... when breaking, the car dives to the front, more than I expected. This is easy to notice while breaking in a high-speed turn as well: it makes the car dive into one corner. It never felt akward though, and I've never properly driven an SUV before so I guess it's natural behaviour more than a specific downside of the Evoque.
- the gearbox travel is short and the whole is very direct and slightly stiff. Love it.
- Satnav screen is big and crisp. Instructions are good.
- Bluetooth connection was quick and easy to set up. In general all multimedia feature seem to work well.
- The sound of the standard 380W sound system is great. My dealer suggested to compare with the 825W system in another vehicle, but I didn't even need to hear it. I currently have a Mark Levinson system in my Lexus, and the fidelity of this standard system is just as good, if not better (although it doesn't do proper Dolby surround). Here in Belgium the Premium system has a high price tag so I didn't want to be tempted, I'm more than happy with what I've heard.
- DVD video was nice. I can confirm that it's possible even without dual view. I didn't manage to play video from a USB stick though, but it might have been a formatting issue (I only had iPod MOV files to test)
- I think it's stupid that the sound of the radio fades almost completely whenever the satnav is giving instructions. My Lexus sends the satnav sound to the left front speaker while leaving the music on the other speakers. That's a better solution. In the Evoque I saw a possibility to change the relative volumes of different sources, maybe it can be corrected with that.
- A Belgian magazine wrote that it's always too hot in the cabin, but I was impressed by the climate system. It gets really cold if you want.
- Rear view is actually better than I feared.
- I heard quite some wind noise around my left mirror. Rather annoying but luckily only at high speeds (140 km/h and more).
- The little wires in the heated windscreen are something I will need to get used to, but as soon as the winter kicks in, I'll be glad I ticked that box.
- I think 150 bhp is more than enough in day-to-day use. It would have been nice if the 0-60 were a little quicker, but I don't feel the need to get the SD4.
Now stop fooling around and give me a production date
I cannot believe I ordered in January and I don't even get a production date! I switched from eD4 to TD4 because it would speed up delivery, now my dealer is offering me the eD4 again as I won't probably have it this year so it won't make a difference after all. Come on 
In short: a bloody great car.
In detail:
- Suspension is very good, you don't get the impression that you're driving an SUV, but...
- ... when breaking, the car dives to the front, more than I expected. This is easy to notice while breaking in a high-speed turn as well: it makes the car dive into one corner. It never felt akward though, and I've never properly driven an SUV before so I guess it's natural behaviour more than a specific downside of the Evoque.
- the gearbox travel is short and the whole is very direct and slightly stiff. Love it.
- Satnav screen is big and crisp. Instructions are good.
- Bluetooth connection was quick and easy to set up. In general all multimedia feature seem to work well.
- The sound of the standard 380W sound system is great. My dealer suggested to compare with the 825W system in another vehicle, but I didn't even need to hear it. I currently have a Mark Levinson system in my Lexus, and the fidelity of this standard system is just as good, if not better (although it doesn't do proper Dolby surround). Here in Belgium the Premium system has a high price tag so I didn't want to be tempted, I'm more than happy with what I've heard.
- DVD video was nice. I can confirm that it's possible even without dual view. I didn't manage to play video from a USB stick though, but it might have been a formatting issue (I only had iPod MOV files to test)
- I think it's stupid that the sound of the radio fades almost completely whenever the satnav is giving instructions. My Lexus sends the satnav sound to the left front speaker while leaving the music on the other speakers. That's a better solution. In the Evoque I saw a possibility to change the relative volumes of different sources, maybe it can be corrected with that.
- A Belgian magazine wrote that it's always too hot in the cabin, but I was impressed by the climate system. It gets really cold if you want.
- Rear view is actually better than I feared.
- I heard quite some wind noise around my left mirror. Rather annoying but luckily only at high speeds (140 km/h and more).
- The little wires in the heated windscreen are something I will need to get used to, but as soon as the winter kicks in, I'll be glad I ticked that box.
- I think 150 bhp is more than enough in day-to-day use. It would have been nice if the 0-60 were a little quicker, but I don't feel the need to get the SD4.
Now stop fooling around and give me a production date
I cannot believe I ordered in January and I don't even get a production date! I switched from eD4 to TD4 because it would speed up delivery, now my dealer is offering me the eD4 again as I won't probably have it this year so it won't make a difference after all. Come on