Many women drivers have aspirations to sit behind the wheel of a huge, stylish SUV like a Land Rover, overlooking their male peers on the road.

The downside is that big SUVs can guzzle fuel and take up acres of space on the road. The Range Rover Evoque Coupe that I, as a woman, test drove on a recent weekend is a perfect compromise from the British carmaker.

The three-door Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel efficient Range Rover. But it is unmistakably a Range Rover, with a blend of dynamic handling and refined engineering.

Even though the Evoque is off-road-worthy, I drove it on paved roads in Seoul as a daily driver. Most SUV owners in Korea rarely make it onto tough, off-road terrain. 

The Evoque Coupe is powered by a turbocharged 2.0 liter four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 240 horsepower. (Jaguar recently used the engine for its limousine-like XJ sedan as well.)

A distinctive feeling to me was it felt more like driving a luxury sedan than an SUV. I think that’s why many women drivers feel comfortable driving it compared to other typical SUVs.

Despite its heavy weight, the steering was very responsive. With its sports mode on, the car accelerated more briskly. The Corner Brake Control increased braking stability when cornering.

The defining design element is a roof that slants down toward the rear, which makes its overall look more feminine than the typically masculine Range Rovers.

A massive panoramic glass roof offsets the rather small windows, but unfortunately the sunroof doesn’t open. The huge side mirrors were also a bit of an obstruction to my view.

The minimalist interior was largely inspired by Victoria Beckham, who is a fashion designer and participated in spicing up the design as a celebrity spokesperson for Land Rover.

The buttons to control the various systems are a combination of digital and analog. The car also comes with the signature shift dial of Jaguar and Land Rover brand cars.

For trend-conscious women, the Evoque Coupe ― the most expensive priced at 89.8 million won ($80,000) ― is definitely an attention-getter, combining power and agility.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)