2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

2011 is quickly nearing its end (already!), which means it's time for big awards to be given out to the best new cars to hit the market over the past twelve months. First up, Motor Trend has officially announced that the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is its SUV of the Year, stating that the compact crossover "transcends conventional perceptions of a sport/utility vehicle; seamlessly combining sporty styling and agility, with off-road prowess and utility."

During its testing, Motor Trend found the Evoque to be ahead of the pack in terms of style, engineering and refinement. Specific areas of praise include the sloping roofline that still allows for plenty of headroom, as well as the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the well-sorted, adaptable suspension.

The Evoque is also a candidate for the North American Truck of the Year award, which will be presented at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January.