Range Rover Evoque

It's tempting to dismiss the Range Rover Evoque as a piece of automotive jewellery for yummie mummies and bored Mini tragics looking for a new car trinket for the garage. After all, the Evoque is the first city-focussed Land Rover and puts design and fashion first - with everything else a long way back in second. It's also wearing a premium pricetag in Australia from $49,995 that puts it up above the utilitarian Freelander II that reflects the difference in Land Rover and Range Rover badgesHalfway up a slimy, rain-sodden farmers track in northern Wales the temptation passed. The Evoque conquered the challenge as I expect of any true Land Rover and even made some of the worst drivers I have seen - a group of South Americans who needed all the help they could get - looks good on a tough road.So the Evoque is not just a front-wheel drive city showoff. It's also a four-wheel drive that can do the job, despite high-fashion trimmings and a diesel engine that's going to be the most popular choice for Australia. There is a lot to the Evoque, from a choice of three and five-door bodies to a parts roster that has almost nothing in common with the Freelander.The first day of driving in Wales proves it goes well, in conditions from deep muddy ruts to motorways, and is a nice place to travel.Visibility is pretty awful, the petrol engine lacks bottom-end punch, and the Dynamic model is a bit too aggressive in the suspension for my taste.Later today I'm driving the front-wheel drive Evoque around Liverpool - probably with Beatles classics in the background - and will be able to deliver a better verdict. But the first impression is good and the Evoque is shaping as a potential star for Land Rover, a hit with all sorts of Australian shoppers, and even a game-changer to rival the original BMW X5.