LOOKS
Some SUVs blend in with the crowd and others stand out and are simply attractive in their own way. The Land Rover brand and its models definitely fall in the standout category, and the Range Rover Evoque is quite the beauty.

Without exaggeration, I place the Evoque among the most attractive exterior designs on any small SUV on the market, worldwide -- a true eye-catcher. It’s not just sleek, it makes an impression.

From the instantly recognizable grille boldly displaying the name of the vehicle fully spelled out in large letters, to the one-of-a-kind flow of the Evoque’s window design, this is not a vehicle that will be confused with any other on the road -- close or from a distance. (Also of note: There are both 2-door and 4-door versions of the Evoque available, rare for this segment).

The quality of the design extends to the interior too. The design of the control panel (flowing toward the center console and not straight down) is innovative and attractive. Overall, quality materials are used on the vehicle’s interior, from the seats to the dash to the steering wheel, though the control buttons on the steering wheel do feel a bit cheap.

One drawback with the Evoque is that’s it’s pretty small in terms of cargo space compared to other SUVs in this class; you won’t fit much in it, so look elsewhere if you have lots to pack and need extra room.

You can seat five comfortably in the Evoque, but it might be a tad cramped in the back seat for big and tall folks.

The only other complaint I have about the look of the Evoque is that there is limited rear visibility for the driver due to the design of the vehicle. That same design that makes it look good from outside inhibits what you can see from inside. It’s still a safe level of visibility, just not as much as you’ll get with the competition from Audi, BMW and others.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
The Evoque’s power come from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 240 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque. It features a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. This is the only engine offered, with no possible upgrade.

All-wheel drive is standard on the Evoque, which makes sense given its pedigree. While it’s not really targeted at off-roaders, the Evoque can handle its share of being off the beaten path -- to a point.

When you get onto the freeway, though, the results are a bit disappointing in the Evoque. The ride is a bit rough and noisy, and it’s not as quick about getting up to speed as luxury competitors, particularly BMW.

Handling, though, is an area where it does excel, responding well to driver input and hugging the turns well compared to most SUVs of this size.

TECHNOLOGY
While looks are a strong point of the Evoque, the other big area that impresses is tech -- with systems that work very efficiently and provide a pleasant user experience -- something not all vehicles can claim.

The tech interface in the Evoque was centered around a high-resolution, color 8-inch touchscreen. The learning curve to use the system could be a bit tricky for non-tech-savvy types, but even they will soon be pros.

And even if the touch commands doesn’t come to you right away, the voice commands are quite intuitive, with visual word reminders put on screen so you know what to say, no guessing involved. The vehicle understands the driver’s voice well, so you won’t have to repeat yourself or be yelling at the car to get it to do what you want.

In terms of connectivity, you get a USB port and iPod connection, and there is a CD player, plus Bluetooth connection for streaming audio. Sounds come through loud and clear on the 380-watt, 11-speaker audio system, and you also get features like keyless entry and dual-zone climate control.

Optional features on the safety end include a helpful, advanced parking assist system that will help you fit into tight spots both from parallel and perpendicular positions. Adaptive cruise control is also offered and will slow down the vehicle to avoid a crash while you are in cruise mode. Blind spot monitoring and rear crosspath detection are also offered.

MPG
While the lack of space in the Evoque is a concern on one end, the size of the vehicle does help provide strong fuel economy -- among the best in its class. You can go about 450 miles between fill-ups. Official mpg numbers are 21 city/30 highway/24 combined. I averaged between 23 and 24 mpg during my time in the vehicle.

PRICE
The base price of the Range Rover Evoque starts at $41,100, not bad for a luxury ride like this. But the packages add up quickly.

The Pure Plus package (power leather seats , HomeLink, panoramic roof, front fog lights, headlamp powerwash, 19” alloy wheels, power tailgate) adds $3,000.

The Pure Premium package (Passive entry, Surround Camera System, Navigation, Voice control, Meridian Surround Sound, 825-watt 17 speakers with subwoofer, LED headlamps, Blind spot monitor with closing vehicle sensor and reverse traffic detection) adds a hefty $4,800 to the total.

The climate comfort package (heated front and rear seats, heated windshield, steering wheel and washer jets) adds another $1,300 to the total, SiriusXM Satellite radio is another $750 and windshield shade and the floor mats add another $402.

Between all of this, my vehicle’s total pricetag leaped all the way up to $52,277. That’s a pretty steep price for a vehicle of this size, even if it is luxurious, and the total can go even higher if you add more features than my test vehicle had.

Much of the great technology on this ride, one of its most positive attributes, won’t be there is you go for a basic version of the Evoque. You gotta pay extra to get it.

BOTTOM LINE
If you’re on the hunt for a smaller luxury SUV and want to stand out in the crowd, the Range Rover Evoque will be a strong option for you.

It’s got some drawbacks (namely the limited space inside and diminished rear sightline, and a drive quality that can disappoint on the freeway), but between the tech features and its elegant, attractive look, the Evoque has got enough character that it might help you see past those shortcomings.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.