New Range Rover less emissions than a Yaris or Swift

Two-wheel-drive version of new Range Rover Evoque costs less than $50,000 and emits less CO2 than a Toyota Yaris.

A Range Rover for under $50,000? Until now, a five-year-old Range Rover Sport was your only option. From next March, though, the spanking new five-door Evoque fitted with two-wheel-drive can be yours from $49,995.

Although that price excludes on-road costs, it's a starting point that will fire a shot across the bow of the likes of more expensive luxury soft-roaders such as the Volvo XC60, BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

The Evoque eD4 Pure will be equipped with a 110kW 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine that Land Rover says will achieve just 129 grams of CO2 per kilometre — less than a Toyota Yaris or Suzuki Swift city car.

The price-busting eD4 model comes standard with the baseline ''Pure'' specification, which includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lamps, part-leather seats, climate control aircondition, push-button start, Bluetooth phone and audio, a 5-inch colour display screen and colour TFT — or computerised — instrumentation. A leather-wrapped steering wheel includes audio, cruise and phone controls.

The Evoque's family-friendly five-door variant is less expensive than the three-door ''coupe'' version, which will carry a premium as the sportier variant.

Buyers can step up to two higher trim levels: Dynamic (adds $13,500) and Prestige (a further $2000).

Range Rover also offers a more expensive and more powerful 140kW turbo diesel engine (SD4), plus a 177kW petrol engine (Si4).

The Evoque that drives its front wheels only won't hit Australian shores until March next year, while the rest of the 4WD range is due to hit showrooms in November 2012.

(SMH)