When Land Rover execs discuss the Evoque, they call it a “white space product” and the “first premium compact SUV”. With more than half-a-million built since 2011 – making it the fastest selling Land Rover of all time – it’s hardly surprising they are looking to build on its success.

And, you can’t get much more “white space” than the world’s only compact SUV convertible. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is the only high-riding, mud-plugging convertible you can buy, and there are sure to be some German car makers paying close attention to how well it sells. But should you buy one?

Performance

The Convertible sits at the top of the Evoque family tree, so only comes with its top engines, the 2.0-litre 178bhp ‘Ingenium’ diesel and 2.0-litre Si4 petrol engine, both mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. We’ve only tested the diesel, which will make up almost all UK sales, and gets the drop-top to 62mph in 10.3 seconds.

It’s clear then, that the Evoque isn’t really built for speed, but the diesel always feels just about quick enough and the automatic does a tremendous job of ensuring you’re always in the right gear without really noticing its shifts.

More impressive is the refinement. Now, this could have been a worry, what with a fabric roof, huge tyres and a diesel engine, but surprisingly, this is one of the quietest ‘Ingenium’ diesels we’ve driven. The five layers of material in the hood means the Convertible isn’t noticeably louder than a regular Evoque on the motorway, but even with it stowed the engine remains hushed.

Ride and Handling

Four-wheel drive is fitted as standard, so if the need warrants it, you can go off-roading with the top down

Aimed squarely at buyers of drop-top versions of the Audi A5, Mercedes E-Class and BMW 4 Series, the breezy Evoque doesn’t need to be a sports car, but vague imprecision would likely put off buyers too. Luckily, the steering feel has survived sans-roof and there’s an eagerness to change direction, which means the Convertible still feels fairly agile. This is despite it weighing in excess of 200kg more than usual, thanks to all the extra structural bracing and the folding roof. Big alloy wheels – up to 20-inches – would usually be a concern, but Land Rover seem to have a knack of making its cars ride smoothly, and the Convertible is a comfortable cruiser. And, that’s the main thing isn’t it? Drive an Evoque with the roof down and you’re most likely more worried about your tan than keeping up with your neighbours Porsche Macan. Four-wheel drive is fitted as standard, so if the need warrants it, you can go off-roading with the top down. In fact, we did, and found the Evoque more competent at tackling fields and woodland tracks than most people will ever need. Just be careful of any flying mud if you get carried away.

Interior and Equipment

The Evoque Convertible has hidden roll-over bars hidden behind the rear seats. In a roll-over they can deploy in 90 milliseconds to create a safety space between the Boron steel A-pillars.

It was quite an engineering feat re-imagining the Evoque as a four-seat cabriolet, so the fact it can stow in 18 seconds and raise in 21 seconds at speeds of 30mph is mightily impressive. A raked windscreen means most of the breeze is kept out of the cabin too, and a wind deflector helps here too, but also occupies the rear seats. Speak of which, they are OK for short trips and kids, with similar legroom to the Coupe and headroom to the five-door. Of course, the boot has taken a hit, with 251-litres of space with the roof up or down, accessed by a small rear hatch, while there’s also no middle rear seat. The option of a ski hatch helps, allowing longer items to be loaded between the rear seats. The other big news is the introduction of the latest InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, with a lovely 10.2-inch high-resolution screen, with improved graphics and extra features. In fact, its super-wide layout allows mapping and additional information to be displayed side-by-side, without losing anything in legibility.

Cost

Exclusivity has a value too, with market forecasters predicting the Convertible will hold onto more of its value than a standard Evoque.

The Convertible sits right at the top of the Evoque range and is only available in the top HSE and HSE Lux trim levels, so with a starting price of £47,500, you’ll be paying around a £5k premium over a hardtop to become a trendsetter. Choose the diesel, however, and running costs are entirely palatable, with average fuel economy of 49.6mpg and emissions of 149g/km of CO2. The petrol sees these figures drop to 32.9mpg and 201g/km of CO2. Exclusivity has a value too, with market forecasters predicting the Convertible will hold onto more of its value than a standard Evoque.

Our Verdict

The Evoque Convertible unquestionably won’t be for everyone, but British convertible buyers are traditionally quite a brave and adventurous lot, so we expect this Landie could strike a chord with them. It certainly offers something different in the marketplace, so if you really want to stand out, and the idea of a high-riding drop-top appeals, just be sure to choose it in bright orange for maximum effect.