2024 Range Rover Evoque: what we know so far

Style and substance rarely go hand in hand, but the latest Range Rover Evoque has shown that it is possible. In fact, it's one of our favourite family SUVs, with the best interior of any car in the class, plus all of the practicality, comfort and performance buyers could want.

Land Rover isn't resting on its laurels, though, and work has begun on the next-generation Evoque. Due out in 2024 – six years before the Government's proposed sales ban on new petrol and diesel cars – it will be built on new underpinnings specifically designed for electric vehicles, allowing Land Rover to fit the very latest driver assistance and connectivity systems. In short, the next Evoque will be the smartest and safest yet.

New driver assistance systems will make it more aware of its surroundings, allowing it to maintain its position on the motorway and monitor the driver for signs of tiredness. More interesting, though, is that (where conditions allow) the Evoque will be able to take over from the driver, who won't need to keep their hands on the steering wheel or feet on the pedals. The Government recently announced that, from the end of this year, systems of this type would become legal on UK roads.

As well as helping you to drive more safely, the new version will be able to diagnose itself with potential problems, remind you about maintenance and offer you paid extras – such as upgraded infotainment options – through a new smartphone app.

Inside, it will use a new version of Land Rover's Pivi Pro infotainment system, which is expected to be presented on dual touchscreens as in the current Range Rover Evoque. Digital instrument dials will be standard, as will an augmented reality head-up display that can project information – including sat-nav directions – on to the windscreen.

There won't be any purely petrol or diesel-engined versions next time round. Instead, even entry-level models will be plug-in hybrids. They are likely to use the same set-up as today's P300e, which combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. While the current P300e can manage 34 miles on electric power alone, the next Evoque will be capable of at least 60 miles of electric range.

Land Rover engineers are said to be considering versions of the Evoque with range-extender technology too. That means fitting a small petrol engine that acts as a generator to recharge the battery but never directly powers the car's wheels. The upcoming Nissan Qashqai will be the first family SUV to use the technology – while its battery will provide a range of just 1.8 miles at a time, it's claimed that because the petrol engine can run at lower revs than in a conventional hybrid car, it should be more economical and quieter.

All-electric versions of the Evoque will crown the line-up. Little is known about which battery or electric motor layouts they might use, but it's likely that even cheaper models will be able to eclipse the official 290-mile range of today's Jaguar I-Pace. The rival Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge can manage up to 260 miles between charges.

Fitting electric motors to each set of wheels should allow Land Rover to finely tune the Evoque's ride and handling balance, as well as make the car more capable off-road. Small changes to power delivery can be made far more quickly with an electric motor than with traditional mechanical off-road systems.

The next Evoque is expected to be longer and wider than the current version so it should offer more space. Indeed, recent spy photos have shown early prototypes with longer bodywork and larger rear windows. That could be an early sign that a larger, seven-seat variant of the Evoque is planned to take on the Mercedes GLB.

As well as the benefits we've already discussed, it is hoped that the Evoque's new underpinnings could help Land Rover address concerns over quality and reliability. In our 2020 What Car? Reliability Survey, the current Range Rover Evoque finished 20th out of 25 cars (the first-generation Evoque was in last place). Land Rover as a brand finished at the bottom of our table of manufacturers. 

Because of the planned upgrades, the price of the Evoque is expected to be higher than the £32,115 of today's car, at around £40,000. That means the next generation will be considerably more expensive than entry-level versions of the rival Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40, although the gap narrows when compared with plug-in hybrid versions of those models. The Volvo XC40 T4 Recharge plug-in hybrid, for example, costs from £37,345.

The next-generation Land Rover Discovery Sport will use the same underpinnings and engine options as the new Evoque and is expected to go on sale a few months after the Range Rover.

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