Used Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 2011-2019 review

If we were to name one of the most desirable used cars on the market today, the Range Rover Evoque would be a top contender.

And it's easy to understand why; it's a good-looking family SUV that provides much of the practicality of a family car, the high driving position people want, plenty of standard kit and the desirability of a premium badge. The fact that you can now buy an early example for a third of the price of a new 2019-onwards Range Rover Evoque (which, incidentally, has similar looks) is just the icing on the cake.

The performance of the Evoque has always been good rather than stunning. All engines are turbocharged four-cylinder lumps, the majority being diesels of 2.2-litre capacity in pre-2015 versions or more efficient 2.0-litre units thereafter. The range kicked off with a front-wheel drive 148bhp eD4 and four-wheel drive TD4, followed by a 187bhp SD4. Post-2015 2.0-litre versions come in 148bhp eD4 and 178bhp TD4 flavours. The lone petrol is a 237bhp 2.0-litre that remained unchanged throughout.

Trim levels vary between before and after the 2015 facelift. Early cars come in Pure, Prestige and Dynamic forms. Pure has 18in alloy wheels, heated front seats, climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, and an 8in infotainment system with Bluetooth. A Tech pack was available that added sat-nav, front parking sensors, a heated windscreen and auto lights and wipers.

Prestige has bigger 19in alloys, Oxford leather seats, xenon headlights, sat-nav, a reversing camera, front parking sensors and auto lights and wipers. Dynamic is more of a sporting design package, with the major differences being 20in alloys and adaptive suspension. These last two trims could have had an optional Lux pack added with an electric tailgate, panoramic glass roof, an upgraded 825w Meridian audio system, surround-view camera system and blind spot monitoring.

After the 2015 revisions, Pure became SE but gained a revised infotainment system with a DAB radio, lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking, automatic lights and wipers plus front parking sensors. As ever, you'd need to get the Tech version for sat-nav. HSE Dynamic and HSE Dynamic Lux are much like the previous Dynamic and Dynamic with the optional Lux pack, while range-topping Autobiography really upped the ante spec-wise, with adaptive LED headlights, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, Windsor leather seat trim and 14-way electric front seat adjustment.

To drive, the Evoque is dynamically good enough for most tastes and is a handy size for those that have to park in tight city streets. However, while the quick steering means fewer turns are needed to slot it into a bay, it can make the car feel a tad nervous on faster roads, and the large door mirrors that aid visibility causes plenty of wind noise at motorway speeds. The ride is too firm when fitted with some of the larger wheel options, so we'd suggest choosing an example with 18in wheels to ensure you get a comfortable ride.

Interior accommodation is a bit of a mixed bag. Those in the front will appreciate the sleek design of the dashboard and the commanding seating position, but those behind them will be a feel a little short-changed for space because head, leg and shoulder room aren't great for taller people, and that's for the five-door version. The three-door Evoque is even less practical and is best avoided if you plan on carrying passengers regularly. The boot is pretty pokey in both versions, though, and the opening is narrower than some rivals.

If you're interested in finding a used Evoque, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

The Evoque is likely to have been used on school runs and commuting trips as well as for family holidays, so check the bodywork for car park scuffs and the alloy wheels for any kerb damage, and check everything works in the interior, especially the seat operation.

Although it is unlikely, some Evoques might have been taken off road; it is a Land Rover, after all. So, have a look underneath for evidence of off-road damage, such as dented panels, caked-on mud or broken bits of plastic.

Unfortunately, it seems build quality can be variable on the Evoque.

Most problems centre on the non-engine electrics, especially around the air-con and sat-nav units, with gearbox woes a close second, followed by engine and suspension issues. Automatic gearbox problems on the Evoque are fairly common. These gearbox problems can vary greatly and can be caused from a software fault to actuator problems, right up to problems with the gearbox itself.

There are known issues with the tailgate alignment on the Evoque. This poor alignment can also mean that the reversing camera on the dashboard could be slightly out of alignment and therefore leave you without the full picture.

On vehicles with engine start-stop technology, the flywheel is prone to early wear due to the continual starting and stopping. If you feel excessive vibration through the clutch pedal, this will be the most likely cause.

Fuel leak

A fuel leak could occur from the fuel rail in the engine bay of some examples made from 5 May 2016 to 31 January 2018. Find out from a Land Rover dealer if yours is affected because it'll need to have a new fuel rail fitted to solve this issue.

Electrical short circuit

There have been two recalls for the Evoque that relate to a damaged electrical wiring harness that can lead to a short circuit. The first applies to Evoques manufactured between 9 July 2015 and 16 October 2015, and the second is for cars fitted with a 2.0-litre fitted with an automatic gearbox and built from 4 July to 10 October 2016. Check with a dealer if you think your car is affected by this because it'll need to be inspected by a technician and have the necessary repair work carried out.

Incorrect fuel level

Issues with parts of the fuel gauge system in the fuel tank could lead to an incorrect reading on some examples built between 5 October 2018 and 5 March 2019. Speak to a Land Rover dealer to find out if yours is affected by this; if it is, it'll need to be checked by a technician who'll carry out the necessary repairs.

Loss of steering control

A bolt for a knuckle on the lower control arm of the front suspension could work loose on some Evoques constructed between 31 March and 25 August 2016, and potentially leave you without control of the steering. Find out from a dealer if your car is affected; if it is, it'll need to be checked by a Land Rover technician who'll replace the necessary parts to eliminate the issue.

Front passenger airbag

The front passenger airbag of some cars made between 12 July to 26 October 2016 may not deploy at all in a collision, potentially increasing the risk of injury. Affected Evoques will need to have the airbag replaced as part of this recall.

Insecure locking ring for the fuel pump

A few examples built between 2-7 March 2017 could have a loose locking ring (which secures the fuel pump in the fuel tank), and this could lead to fuel vapour escaping into the interior or fuel to leak out onto the ground. Speak to a Land Rover dealer for further information because a technician will need to check that the ring is tightened correctly to prevent future issues.

Emergency call system

Evoques built from 5 July 2018 up until the end of production that have an emergency call system installed might not operate correctly when called upon. Find out if your example is affected because it'll need to have a software update to make sure it functions properly.

CO2 levels too high

Some Evoques manufactured between 9 March 2015 and 7 July 2018 can produce too much CO2 compared with stated figures, and will require a software update to be installed at a Land Rover dealer in order to reduce them.

The Range Rover Evoque didn’t fare well in the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, finishing 38th out of 39 cars in the family SUV category. Land Rover as a brand came in a poor 31st place out of 32 manufacturers.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.

Used Evoques start at around £8500, at the time of writing, but figure on spending more like £14,000 to secure an early car that's covered an average mileage for its age, with a service history, bought either privately or from an independent dealer.

Up your budget to £15,000 for a pre-facelift 2015 car, or £16,500 to £20,000 for a post facelift Evoque with an average mileage and a full service history. £22,000 will be enough for a 2019 Evoque with below-average mileage.

Check the value of a used Range Rover Evoque with What Car? Valuations

MPG

Not surprisingly, the diesel-engined cars are the most economical. The 2.0-litre eD4 engine helps the Evoque achieve an official NEDC combined figure of 65.7mpg, while the earlier 2.2 eD4 got 56.5mpg. The punchier 2.0 TD4 180 returned 55.3mpg or 43.5mpg in earlier 2.2 SD4 form. The 2.0-litre Si4 petrol engine initially returned just 32.5mpg, but this was improved in 2014 to 36.2mpg.

CO2 emissions

The worst offender throughout the life of the Evoque is the 2.0 Si4 petrol. Initially, it put out 199g/km, although this was reduced in 2014 to 181g/km. If you want to keep a lid on emissions, plump for the eD4 which emitted 133g/km in 2.2-litre form, or 113g/km after the new engine was introduced.

As you'd expect, both any model with four-wheel drive will produce more CO2, so an early TD4 has a figure of 149g/km and the SD4 174g/km. The newer engine in the post-2015 TD4 dropped this figure to 125g/km for the manual or 134g/km for the automatic.

Road Tax (VED)

Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017 will vary depending upon the emissions the engine produces (see paragraph above for more information). If you're buying one registered after the tax system changed on 1 April 2017, you'll have to pay a yearly flat-rate fee, currently £165 a year, plus an additional surcharge of £355 if your Evoque cost over £40,000 when new. However, this surcharge only applies for years two to six of the car's life.

Insurance and servicing costs

Insurance groups for the desirable Evoque range from 28 for the lowest front-wheel-drive diesel to 43 for the high-performance petrol car in top-spec Autobiography trim.

A used service plan is available for the Evoque. This takes the form of a one-off initial payment, which varies depending on engine and trim but currently starts at £625 and covers between two and five services. There are also fixed price servicing options that range from £330 for an interim service every 16,000 miles or one year, while a 32,000 mile major service every two years is £440.

Engine

We prefer the later, post-2015 2.0-litre diesel engine, particularly in higher-powered TD4 guise, because it has a bit more power and gets four-wheel drive as standard. The eD4 is sluggish, and while the powerful 2.0-litre Si4 petrol might be fun, it's best avoided since running costs will be high.

The manual is fine for those wanting to maximise fuel economy, but the automatic better suits the premium SUV billing of the Evoque. However, it's still not perfect and can be a little hesitant when pulling away at traffic lights or when merging onto a roundabout.

Specification

Likewise, we would advice you to go for one of the revised trim levels as these have more safety kit as standard. The best is the SE Tech; it's not much more costly than an SE, yet it has loads of additional luxuries. HSE Dynamic, HSE Dynamic Lux and Autobiography trims are nice to look at, but the bigger wheels fitted to these models spoils the ride.

Our favourite Range Rover Evoque: 2.0 TD4 180 SE Tech

The Evoque covered a lot of ground, price-wise, when it was new, so its rivals range far and wide. Cheaper versions went head to head with the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, while the top-spec Range Rover Evoque was more in line with sporty SUVs such as the Porsche Macan.

The Q3 is refined, in some versions, and comes with a classy interior. However, its steering could be better and it’s not that much fun to drive. Its ride can also be a little unsettled.

The X1 is spacious, practical and has a high quality interior. It also offers fine handling and a great infotainment system. Countered against that, there’s too much road noise and the ride can be firm, too.

The Macan is very good to drive, with precise steering, an excellent automatic transmission and a strong engine. It’s not very big in the back, though, so those carrying lanky passengers will need to look elsewhere. It’s also expensive to buy, even used, and to run.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here

If you're interested in finding a used Evoque, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.