Review - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

The Evoque competes in the ever-competitive world of premium midsize crossover SUVs that includes the likes of the Audi Q3, the BMW X1 and the Volvo XC-40, and even some significantly cheaper vehicles that can’t match the Evoque on features, but absolutely can in terms of space, comfort and driving dynamics. 

The problem for the Evoque, too, is that the release of the first generation was met with steep criticisms of its cramped interior design, lack of practicality, and ethos of putting style over substance, which doesn’t necessarily work well for a midsize crossover SUV that is designed, at least in part, for families. You’ll be glad to hear, then, that these have been addressed by Land Rover with the latest generation Evoque, but how significant have these changes been, and are they enough to fend off the Evoque’s tough competitors? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $67,200

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Land Rover Range Rover Evoque (L551 MY20.5) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Land Rover Range Rover Evoque car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque lineup kicks off in the form of the P200 R-Dynamic S which is priced from $67,200. From here, the range moves to the P250 R-Dynamic SE, which is priced at $74,575, with the D200 R Dynamic SE receiving a price tag of $76,500. Finally, the range-topping Range Rover Evoque P250 R-Dynamic HSE is priced from $79,275. Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

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What Features Does the Range Rover Evoque Have?

The entry-level R-Dynamic S grade gives the Evoque a set of 20-inch alloy wheels, and adds a number of premium features, including automatic LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a powered boot lift, a reversing camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with either leather or vegan-friendly Ultrafabrics upholstery finished with metal pedals and paddle shifters, a 10.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a six-speaker sound system The S grade also receives Land Rover’s terrain response system with all-terrain progress and hill descent control for added off-road ability. 

Opting for the mid-range R-Dynamic SE, adds a set of premium LED headlights with Land Rover’s signature daytime running lamp design and auto-levelling high beam, as well as a set of dynamic indicators, 12-way adjustable front seats, a digital driver’s display and touch pro duo functions for the infotainment system. 

Moving to the range-topping R-Dynamic HSE upgrades the sound system to a 650-watt twelve-speaker unit from Meridian, as well as a set of Matrix LED headlights, 14-way adjustable front seats as well as Land Rover’s configurable dynamics system which allows drivers to fine-tune the setup of their Evoque. 

Range Features: 

• 20-inch alloy wheels 

• LED headlights 

• Powered boot lift 

• 10.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Reversing camera with front and rear mounted parking sensors 

• Leather or vegan-friendly ‘Ultrafabric’ upholstery 

• All terrain progress control system 

• Terrain response 2 system 

• Premium LED headlights with daytime running lamps (R-Dynamic SE) 

• Auto-levelling high-beam (R-Dynamic SE) 

• Digital driver’s display (R-Dynamic SE) 

• Dynamic front indicators (R-Dynamic SE) 

• Touch pro duo system (R-Dynamic SE) 

• Matrix LED (R-Dynamic HSE) 

• 14-way adjustable front seats (R-Dynamic HSE) 

• 650-watt, 12-speaker Meridian sound system (R-Dynamic HSE)

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque (
L551 MY20.5) Colours

What Colours is the Range Rover Evoque Available in?

Land Rover has created nine individual colours for the Evoque range, with two more specialty premium finishes on offer. The standard palette includes Santorini black, Seoul pearl silver, Lantau bronze, Eiger grey, Firenze red, Nolita grey, Ostuni pearl white, with the premium silicon silver and carpathian grey available for an extra fee. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive? 

On the road, the Range Rover Evoque is extremely comfortable to drive, and remains a user-friendly and capable compact SUV for a range of driving conditions. Around town, the Evoque is well-behaved and simple to drive, thanks to its relatively tight proportions. This means that driving through car parks and squeezing into spaces is a simple task, which makes it perfectly suited for the city. This continues to the engine and transmission combinations available in the Evoque range, which offer a decent amount of power and are paired with a silky automatic transmission that makes picking up speed off the line and overtaking a smooth process. 

As an urban runaround, the Evoque is made even more appealing by the lightweight steering rack that Land Rover has fitted, which makes the Evoque an extremely user-friendly car to pilot around the city. The suspension works away ironing out the major bumps on the road, however, some of the smaller irregularities can transmit into the cabin, making it feel a bit unsettled, depending on the road surface. Overall, though, the suspension works well at disguising the Evoque’s weight around town, and is surprisingly fun when you throw it into some corners. 

One thing that does detract from the overall relaxing driving experience, however, are the significant blindspots that consistently raise their head while you’re driving. The process of getting a clear view out of the rear and rear three-quarter is difficult to say the least, due to the Evoque’s extremely narrow rear window and the styling package. The rear-view camera ensures that this isn’t a problem while you’re parking, however, at speed the process of simply head-checking for any other vehicles isn’t a straightforward task. 

Overall, though, the Evoque remains a simple, user-friendly and near effortless car to pilot around town for drivers of all ages and skill levels. It maintains Land Rover’s reputation for comfortable and sophisticated SUVs in a relatively compact package, and for that reason, it’s the perfect companion for trips around the city. 

Is the Range Rover Evoque Practical and Spacious?

As a car designed primarily for the urban jungle, the amount of space and practicality must be to a high standard for the Evoque to keep up with its major rivals. You’ll be pleased to find, though, that in spite of its relatively small proportions, the Evoque is surprisingly practical, even for growing families. 

The front of the Evoque’s cabin greets the driver and front passenger with a wonderfully-designed cockpit featuring a two-tier dashboard design housing the infotainment system, flanked underneath by another digital display for the climate control settings. One major consideration with all these screens and shiny surfaces, though, is the sheer amount of fingerprints and dust they can accumulate, as well as their visibility in bright sunlight. All up, though, the aesthetic is refined and sophisticated, and will not leave buyers feeling short-changed when they step into the driver’s seat. 

In terms of space and practicality, the front of the Evoque’s cabin features the usual set of doorbins, cup holders and a large storage area underneath the centre armrest, although it does miss out on some added storage areas that its competitors manage to package into the centre console. The steering wheel and driving position are fully adjustable, allowing the driver to find their perfect seating position, which is complemented by even more headroom in the front of the cabin. 

While rear occupant space and comfort was one of the major criticisms of the first generation Evoque, Land Rover has spent a considerable amount of time fixing these issues in the latest generation. We can’t argue with the results, either, because the redesigned cabin now offers far more legroom and headroom for even tall adults in the rear of the cabin, which has suddenly become entirely appropriate when you consider the overall package. Growing teenagers will not have a problem getting comfortable in the rear of the Evoque’s cabin, and while it’s difficult to squeeze three adults into the rear for longer journeys, the Evoque remains practical if you have a growing family. On that note, you’ll be glad to hear that the ISOFIX anchors and top tether points are easy to access, although the somewhat narrow door openings can make squeezing some of the bulkier child seats on the market into the rear of the cabin a chore. 

In terms of boot space, the Range Rover Evoque is packaged with a 591L boot, which outperforms the amount of cargo storage you’ll find in cars like the Volvo XC40 (460L), the Audi Q3 (530L) and the BMW X1 (505L), making it one of the most practical offerings in the luxury compact SUV segment. With the rear seats folded, boot space available in the Range Rover Evoque jumps to 1,383L, which can swallow up large, bulky items without a problem, although the seat design means the seats aren’t able to fold as flat as its competitors. 

All up, then, it’s great to see that Land Rover has addressed some of the criticisms surrounding space and comfort in the previous generation, with the company creating by far the most spacious and practical Evoque we’ve seen yet. 

Is it Safe? 

In terms of safety, even the entry-level Evoque variants come packed to the brim with safety features and equipment. The Range Rover Evoque has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five star safety rating, scoring 94 out of 100 for adult protection, 89 for child occupant protection, 72 for road user protection and 73 for safety assistance technologies. 

As standard, all Range Rover Evoque variants come packaged with autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera with front and rear mounted parking sensors, lane keep assistance, driver attention and safe exit warnings, traffic sign recognition with adaptive speed limiting, as well as front, side and curtain airbags throughout the cabin. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

With three different engines on offer, the Range Rover Evoque offers three different fuel economy figures. The entry-level P200 and P250 models are rated at 8.1L per 100km on a combined cycle, while the D200 is rated at just 5.7L per 100km. Real-world driving conditions will likely see the petrol engines return figures into the double-digits at times, making the diesel the simple choice for those looking for maximum fuel efficiency from their Evoque. 

Our Verdict: Is the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Worth it? 

The Evoque is no doubt an undeniably comfortable vehicle that, in its latest form, is the most capable and feature-packed offering we’ve seen yet. As a daily drive around town, the Evoque is user-friendly and welcoming for even new drivers, and maintains the company’s high-standing reputation for premium vehicles. 

Over time, though, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there is more style rather than substance in the execution of the Evoque, especially when you factor in prices and compare what’s on offer in some of the Evoque’s main competitors.

However, thanks to some major revisions from Land Rover, the latest generation Evoque is undeniably the strongest offering yet, so if you’ve had your eyes on one, there’s never been a better time to step into an Evoque. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited-KM warranty 

2. Five-years of roadside assistance 

3. Servicing plans priced from $1950 for five-years/102,000km

4. Five star ANCAP safety rating

5. Economy figures of 5.7L/100km for diesel; 8.1L/100km for petrol

Pros 

• Major improvements to rear occupant space, headroom and comfort

• Huge amount of boot space (591L) 

• Improvements to infotainment system 

• Longer warranty terms than most rivals 

Cons

• Significant blindspots at the rear

• Lacks some practical elements in front of cabin

• Expensive options list

OnlineAuto Rating: 7.5/10

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Competition