Test drive Range Rover Evoque vs Infiniti QX30
The Evoque doesn’t hesitate to scatter bits of dirt. The QX30 is not far behind - stylish urban crossovers do not try to impress with brutality, but at the same time, they are well equipped for outings.
The two are completely different from each other, but there is one thing that unites them: Range Rover Evoque and Infiniti QX30 are some of the most stylish premium crossovers on the market. If the "Japanese" is a beginner, then the design of "Ewoka" will soon be 10 years old. They do not try to impress with brutality, but at the same time they are well equipped for outings: four-wheel drive and solid ground clearance.
The LRX concept was first shown in 2008 - and it still hasn't caught on. Moreover, gradually all the cars of the British company were made look like a small crossover. With the 2015 update, the Evoque has changed very slightly - the designers seemed to be afraid to harm and destroy the whole look. Thanks to the red and black special version of the Amber, the British crossover literally sparkled with new colors.
Despite the "compartment" silhouette, the square and massive Evoque with narrow loopholes is a fortress, albeit a small one. Infiniti QX30, on the contrary, is light and airy, there is no monumental completeness in its unsteady fluid appearance. Even frozen in the parking lot, he seems to be flying rapidly. The body of the crossover is licked by the oncoming stream with incredible force. The sides retracted, the C-pillar, unable to bear it, bent and lowered the roofline.
The Evoque was built on the same Ford EUCD platform as the Freelander, but heavily modified: the British had to create a kind of off-road coupe, so handling was at the forefront of everything. Heading down the segments, Infiniti also feared losing face. Therefore, the first compact crossover was made not on the native Nissan platform, but on the Mercedes one.
But it is difficult to call her a stranger. Daimler and Renault-Nissan have been closely cooperating for a long time, actively exchanging engines and technologies, creating new models together. The Mercedes-Benz GLA and the Infiniti QX30 are just the result of this collaboration. Although in appearance you cannot say that they are siblings.
The Evoque is taller than the competitor, and due to the swollen sides it seems even wider than it actually is. In length and distance between the axles, it is inferior to the "Japanese": the QX30 is squat, but at the same time has an impressive nose. From the point of view of technology, it made no sense to make such a long hood - the motors are compact here and are located across the compartment. Nevertheless, the designers, even in the small Infiniti, tried to preserve the family trait of the older models.
The Range Rover's back row is tighter than usual in compact crossovers. Of course, the knees do not rest on the backs of the front seats, but the margin between them is small. The low ceiling is felt only when landing, the headroom is sufficient here. The QX30, due to its larger wheelbase, is more spacious in the knees and has sufficient headroom over the heads of the rear passengers.
The drooping roofs and piled-up rear pillars do not imply roomy trunks, but the declared volume of the Evok is as much as 575 liters, and with the seats folded down - 1445 liters. The QX30 offers less, from 421 to 1223 liters. In fact, there is not much difference: the same number of bags from the supermarket are placed in the crossovers. The restless man with the ruler will find out that the QX30's trunk is deeper than the Ewok's. It's hard to imagine that such cars will be loaded to capacity, but Infiniti even has a hatch for long cars, and the Evoque has a set of rails for securing luggage.
The Range Rover is designed to feel like a stone wall. The massive upholstery of the interior is another layer of protection, as if it were made of concrete. Only soft to the touch and, in addition, covered with leather. A powerful searchlight with a logo examines the surface where the driver's foot will step, the all-round cameras monitor possible dangers when maneuvering. The console, smoothly turning into a massive central tunnel, is ascetic in the trademark.
The front panel of the QX30 looks like it was made by an avant-garde glassblower at the last moment. He bit off half of the non-fixed joystick of the gearbox with pliers. The single left-hand stalk lends itself to the Mercedes origin of the platform, as in the case of the Maserati Levante.
The center console, with its bulky push-button audio system, is also recognizable, as is the unusually low-slung climate control unit. However, Mercedes is the least likely to come to mind here - keys and solid wooden inserts dissolve in the bizarre chaos of lines. There is no ponderous solidity of "Ewok" here - instead of it there is a light, flowing mood.
From the tidy of a designer crossover, you expect graphics of an alien ship, but the round dials are even too common. Let them look somewhat alien in the avant-garde interior, but they are well read. The same can be said about the display on the tidy with a characteristic Mercedes font.
There is no alien technology in the multimedia system - it is not the most modern, but there is good Bose acoustics with 10 speakers. The Evoque is better equipped both multimedia and musically, with the new InControl infotainment system with a larger display and the more powerful Meridian system.
Evoque is the lightest member of the Land Rover / Range Rover family. The driver's seat cushion may lack lateral support, but there's still plenty of sport in this car. Range Rover reacts sharply to the steering wheel, accurately prescribes the trajectory in the bend.
The Evoque even has a dedicated road mode. It becomes an even smaller crossover with a gasoline turbo engine named Si4. With a power of 240 hp it accelerates the crossover to 100 km / h in 7,6 seconds. Moreover, with a gasoline engine and a nine-speed "automatic" works smoother. Diesel naturally benefits from its economy.
Infiniti QX30 is only gasoline - with a two-liter Mercedov engine. To "hundreds", it accelerates three tenths of a second faster than "Ewok". In fact, this is a version of the Q20 hatchback raised by 30 mm, but retained its passenger habits. Compared to the Infiniti, the English crossover, which at first surprised with handling, becomes awkward. The application for sports is not supported except by a robotic box, which clearly saves the resource of the clutches.
At the same time, the chassis of the "Japanese" is well adapted for broken asphalt. Smoothness is also influenced by the smaller wheel size than the Range Rover. Infiniti has good geometry by crossover standards and a decent ground clearance - 187 millimeters. At the same time, the Evoque's ground clearance is greater, and its advanced AWD system and sophisticated off-road electronics are preferred off-road.
The stylish Evoque throwing greasy crap in the middle of a huge brown puddle is an odd sight, but this is a Range Rover and therefore must have a serious off-road arsenal. Even if you need it a couple of times.
The Infiniti QX30 is like Prince Rupert's tempered glass drops - they are only fragile in appearance, but large-caliber bullets ricochet from their "nose". The chassis of the Japanese crossover combines easy handling and off-road omnivorousness.
The Range Rover Evoque is more versatile and doesn't need to be proven - it sells better. Until recently, an SUV cost a little cheaper than Infiniti: if the QX30 started at $ 36, then for the base Evoque with a 006-horsepower diesel engine they asked for $ 150. For the gasoline version, the dealer will set the price as early as $ 35, and various options significantly increase the final price tag.
Not so long ago, the gap between cars has widened. The Japanese manufacturer tried to rectify the situation with poor sales - the basic version dropped in price by $ 9 at once. and now costs a little more than $ 232, but the equipment of such a crossover has become easier. The sacrifice of the economy was the ski hatch, dual-zone climate control and leather seats. But whether this will be the last straw in the dispute with Ewok is still a big question.
| A type | Crossover | Crossover |
| Dimensions (length / width / height), mm | 4360/1980/1605 | 4425/1815/1515 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2660 | 2700 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 215 | 202 |
| Cargo space, l | 575-1445 | 430-1223 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1687 | 1467 |
| Gross vehicle weight, kg | 2350 | 1990 |
| engine's type | Turbodiesel | Gasoline supercharged |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 1999 | 1991 |
| Max. power, h.p. (at rpm) | 180/4000 | 211/5500 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm (at rpm) | 430/1750 | 350/1250-4000 |
| Drive type, transmission | Full, AKP9 | Full, RCP7 |
| Max. speed km / h | 195 | 230 |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s | 9 | 7,3 |
| Fuel consumption, l / 100 km | 5,1 | 6,5 |
| Price from, $. | 41 123 | 26 773 |
The editors would like to express their gratitude to the Khimki Group company and the administration of the Olympic Village Novogorsk for their help in organizing the shooting.
