Range Rover Convertible: Rugged Or Ridiculous?

[leadin]Range Rover’s entry into the sparse SUV-convertible market brings all the gusto one would expect from the brand, but it must overcome the quirky aesthetic that has made other crossover attempts mere punchlines.[/leadin]

Besides Jeep, carmakers have yet to design a topless SUV that doesn’t look, well, weird. The Evoque is definitely distinctive, but it may need to rely on its performance to have the staying power other would-be rugged convertibles lacked.

The 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter, turbodiesel four-cylinder packs plenty of giddy-up for drivers who want to blur past onlookers before they can get a good look at the unusual body styling.

Inside, the Evoque sports all make and manner of convenience technology. It’s Bluetooth ready with 3G connectivity and a 10.2-inch touchscreen for climate, audio, telephone, and satellite navigation.

Best of all, it can wade through almost 20 inches of water and scale a 45-degree gradient, in case you ever want to take this midlife-mobile on safari.

The Evoque gets an impressive 30 miles per gallon and starts at $50,000. It goes on sale in the spring of 2016 in over 170 markets worldwide.