RANGE ROVER EVOQUE REVIEW

Range_Rover_Evoque_front
New Range Rover Evoque looks like an Evoque. Perhaps this sounds like a daft statement. But let’s check the history of the Evoque; despite the opinions of those who first saw the original Evoque preview models at motor shows that it would never sell it did – close to 800,000 left the showrooms.

The latest Evoque is built on a modular platform and has a stiffer body than the Evoque 1 to provide improved ride comfort, refinement and longevity.

STYLING
Evoque’s stylish design changes with the new model have been kept to a minimum with a number of elements brought over from its larger sibling the Velar including four flush-mounted door handles that give Evoque a clean, smooth shape.

It retains the distinctive coupe-like silhouette, rising waistline, pronounced shoulders and powerful wheelarches and large wheels that have made Evoque such an eye-catching vehicle.

The only body now offered is the five-door, the three-door wagon of the original is no longer offered, which makes sense give that it can now be used as a family wagon even if those in the back are well into their teens.

Also missing from the price list is the somewhat weird Evoque convertible.

INTERIOR
Although it’s slightly shorter than before, new Evoque has a longer wheelbase which allows for a larger interior most noticeable is the 20mm extra rear kneeroom.

Cargo space has been increased to 591 litres expandable to 1383 litres with the 40:20:40 rear seatbacks folded down.

Range_Rover_Evoque_rear

INFOTAINMENT
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is satellite navigation. They are controlled by way of a 10-inch touchscreen. Ten inches sounds large, but it’s actually stretched a long way horizontally and is on the skinny side vertically. Meaning that you done get a lot of view ahead on the navigation screen. A lower display is used to set the driving and climate control functions.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
There are six engine options, three turbo-petrol and three turbo-diesel. All have 2.0-litre capacity with different levels of tune and all are mated to a nine-speed automatic.

Our test Evoque was of the midrange turbo-diesel SE D180 with 132 kW of power and peak torque of 430 Nm.

Mild hybrid and PHEV plug-in hybrids are due here later in the year.

SAFETY
New Evoque has Clearsight Ground View which effectively makes the bonnet invisible by using forward-facing cameras on the front grille and both door mirrors to project imagery onto a touchscreen and so give the driver a 180-degree view under the front of the vehicle.

There’s also an optional ‘smart rear-view mirror’ that can be manually switched over to become a video screen whenever rear visibility is obstructed by passengers or bulky items. The screen provides a wider (50-degree) field of vision and superior visibility in low light.

Range_Rover_Evoque_interior

DRIVING
While not many Evoque buyers will be taking it off-road the ability to do so remains integral to the Land Rover brand. Even the dreamers of going into the great Australian bush can talk about its off-road details to their friends.

New Range Rover Evoque has ground clearance of 212 mm and approach / departure angles of 25 degrees in the front and 30.6 degrees in the rear. It can also wade through water up to 600 mm deep.

Terrain Response 2 automatically detects the surface being driven on and adjusts the set-up.

On-road we found it to smooth, quiet and capable. Comfort and ride quality are high, perhaps not to the extent of its big brothers, but certainly to higher than that of lesser SUVs of the same size.

Handling is almost sedan-like in the way the Evoque holds the road even when hammered harder than we anticipate any owner would consider.

The turbo-diesel had more lag than we like although certainly not to the stage of older models in the first series. Throttle response once the engine is on song is pretty good (though the fact that we were road testing a Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV with its instant action to the accelerator may have clouded our judgement).

SUMMING UP
Excellent styling that not only ties in with that of its immediate predecessor, but also has a ‘matched-luggage’ look at the front with its larger brothers. Well priced for its class, which is mainly peopled by German prestige models and it certainly appears to be built to last.

AT A GLANCE

MODEL RANGE
2.0 P200 S: $62,670
2.0 P200 SE: $68,252
2.0 P200 R-Dynamic S: $65,650
2.0 P200 R-Dynamic SE: $71,232
2.0 P250 S: $66,723
2.0 P250 SE: $72,422
2.0 P250 R-Dynamic S: $69,462
2.0 P250 R-Dynamic SE: $75,482
2.0 P250 First Edition: $90,942
2.0 P300 SE: $82,262
2.0 P300 HSE: $89492
2.0 P300 R-Dynamic SE: $86,132
2.0 P300 R-Dynamic HSE: $93,362
2.0 D150 S: $64,640
2.0 D150 SE: $70,580
2.0 D150 R-Dynamic S: $67,610
2.0 D150 R-Dynamic SE: $73,550
2.0 D180 S: $67,040
2.0 D180 SE: $72,980
2.0 D180 R-Dynamic S: $70,010
2.0 D180 R-Dynamic SE: $76,090
2.0 D180 First Edition: $91,550
2.0 D240 SE: $83,190
2.0 D240 HSE: $90,420
2.0 D240 R-Dynamic SE: $87,060
2.0 D240 R-Dynamic HSE: $94,290
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Range Rover dealer for drive-away prices.

SPECIFICATIONS (Range Rover Evoque Td4 SE Dynamic 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon)

ENGINE:
Capacity:1.999 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Maximum Power: 132 kW @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 430 Nm @ 1750 rpm
Fuel Type: Diesel
Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 6.2 L/100km
CO2 Emissions: 164 g/km

DRIVELINE: Nine-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4455 mm
Wheelbase: 1900 mm
Width: 1900 mm
Height: 1635 mm
Turning Circle: 11.3 metres
Kerb Mass: 1674 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: litres

BRAKES:
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Solid disc

STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years / 100,000 kilometres

About Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy, a long-time car enthusiast, was Technical Research Librarian with the NRMA from 1970 until 1985. He worked part-time as a freelance motoring journalist from 1977 until 1985, when he took a full-time position as Technical Editor with Modern Motor magazine. Late in 1987 he left to set up a full-time business as a freelance motoring journalist. Ewan is an associate member of the Society of Automotive Engineers - International. An economy driving expert, he set the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance travelled in a standard road vehicle on a single fuel fill. He lists his hobbies as stage acting, travelling, boating and reading.
Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *