Evoque just oozes desirability

THIS time of the year is that in which gongs of all shapes and sizes are awarded across a range of industries and activities and of course the motor business is no stranger in this department as you can see below with the Kia Rio securing the Irish Car Of The Year award.

As we don’t have a say in that award, we’ve been doing things our own way here at the Irish Examiner’s motoring central for many years and last year it was the brilliant Skoda Yeti which was the recipient of the “Untarnished By Public Relations Car Of The Year Award” from this quarter.

I was recently discussing this year’s contenders with various interested parties (myself and the barman in O’Sullivan’s of Crookhaven) when I opined that the Range Rover Evoque was probably the best car I had driven so far in 2011. Dermot — for it was he — was quite taken aback. “You mean it is better than the Jaguar XJ,” he exclaimed incredulously.