Range Rover Evoque review

The Range Rover Evoque changed Land Rover for ever. Before its watershed launch, the 4x4 maker's SUVs were handsome enough, but in quite a functional, boxy sort of way. After it, the British brand was as much about fashion and glamour as off-roading and country estates. 

It’s hardly surprising, then, that the designers of this second-generation Evoque opted to take an evolutionary approach to the small SUV. It would have been daft not to, given the huge popularity of the original.

The new car's styling was also clearly influenced by the pricier Range Rover Velar – for example, in the slimmer front and rear lights, and the flush-fitting door handles, which slide out gracefully when you unlock the car.

Range Rover Evoque video review

Land Rover hasn't been resting on its laurels, either. Changes over time have included adding a more sophisticated infotainment system and powerful engines with mild-hybrid tech to boost efficiency. You can also get a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, allowing you to do shorter journeys on electric power alone.

The Evoque is similarly priced to premium family SUVs such as the Alfa Romeo Tonale, Audi Q3 , BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. However, it’s closer in size to small SUVs, including the Audi Q2, Lexus LBX and Volkswagen T-Roc.

None of those claims to be as capable off road but how do they compare with the Range Rover Evoque in other areas? Read on to find out...

What’s new?

• June 2023: Evoque receives mid-life updates, including a new centre console design, an 11.4in curved touchscreen, Kvadrat wood trim and an improved electric range of up to 39 miles for the PHEV

• May 2021: HST trim launched, powered exclusively by 300bhp 2.0-litre mild hybrid petrol engine

• August 2020: Autobiography variant introduced as luxurious range-topper, featuring a New Cabin Air Filtration system, over-the-air software updates and extra active safety aids

• April 2020: Evoque P300e hybrid revealed, offering 200bhp and up to 34 miles of pure-electric driving

• January 2020: Crowned ‘Best Family SUV’ at What Car? Car of the Year Awards

The latest Range Rover Evoque has either a 1.5-litre petrol engine or a 2.0-litre diesel. Logically enough, the petrols are prefixed with a P and the diesels with a D.

We’ve yet to try the P160, but it’s a new addition to the range that replaces the previous 2.0-litre petrols. Its 0-60mph time isn’t far behind the D165 (9.7 seconds, rather than 9.2 seconds), but we’d expect the relative lack of low-down grunt means it needs to be revved quite hard to get up to speed. That’s worth bearing in mind if you plan to tow a caravan or trailer.

The D200 is a great choice for many, being swift and with plenty of muscle delivered smoothly across the rev range.

Our favourite engine, though, is the P270e PHEV. It's the quickest Evoque, with 0-62mph taking 7.2 seconds, and can officially travel up to 38 miles on electric power alone. In the real world, we'd expect it to manage less than that (the older P300e went 25.3 miles before the petrol engine kicked in when we tested it).

Ride comfort in the Evoque is impressive. It deals with speed bumps and potholes smoothly while remaining controlled with little sway along uneven roads. It also stays settled on motorways.

Even if you go for a version with the relatively chunky 20in alloys (which are standard on Autobiography trim), ride comfort is far from a deal-breaker, with just the occasional fidget at low speed. The P270e is the least forgiving because of the added weight of its batteries, but is still not too firm.

We've also tried the optional adaptive suspension. It delivers an even more polished ride and further isolates occupants from the road surface. It’s not an expensive option but the standard suspension is impressive enough that it's not vital.

The Evoque is no Porsche Macan through the corners but it handles assuredly. There's a fair bit of body lean but it’s well contained and there’s no shortage of grip. Meanwhile, the steering is well-weighted and appropriately responsive – not too slow but not so quick that the car feels twitchy. The P270e feels a little less agile because of its extra weight but is still perfectly fine.

You’d expect a Land Rover model to be good off road and sure enough the Evoque can tackle terrain that would leave most small SUVs flummoxed. The standard-fit Terrain Response 2 system can automatically tailor the four-wheel drive to suit the surface you’re on. The Evoque also has more ground clearance than most rivals – around 211mm compared with 170mm for a Lexus LBX.

The Evoque can tow up to 2000kg depending on engine fitted, beating the VW T-Roc (1700kg).

There’s a hint of vibration with the D200 diesel but engine noise is well isolated. The P270e is near-silent in electric mode then switches between electric and petrol power very smoothly (much more so than in the Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV). In petrol mode, the 1.5-litre petrol engine remains smooth and quiet, even though it revs higher than the diesel to get up to speed.

As for cruising ability, the Evoque generates a lot less road noise than many small SUVs and there isn’t much wind noise either. In fact, the only sound you really notice is the suspension working away along pockmarked roads.

One flaw in the Evoque’s otherwise calming road manners is the nine-speed automatic gearbox in non-PHEV versions. Sometimes when the speed drops and you press the accelerator pedal again, there’s a pause before you get a burst of power. The P270e has an eight-speed unit and doesn't suffer from this. The Evoque isn’t available with a manual gearbox.

"This is a really nice car to drive and the ride comfort is easily one of the best in class. It’s well-controlled and very settled. Even on chunky 20in alloys I found it impressive." – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

Land Rover is one of the best in the business when it comes to driving positions, and the Range Rover Evoque is yet another example of it getting things right.

You sit higher than you do in most small SUVs and the pedals are comfortably lined up with your body. Even those taller than 6ft will find it easy to get the right driving position because there's loads of steering-wheel adjustment, and all versions get heated, 12-way electronically adjustable front seats (14-way in Autobiography models). The seats themselves are very comfortable.

The dashboard is entirely uncluttered. Other than the window switches and the controls on the multi-function steering wheel, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many physical buttons at all. Unfortunately, that means it’s less user-friendly to use than before, because the physical rotary dials that adjust the temperature and heated seat functions are now buried in the main touchscreen, so it’s a bit more fiddly to use than earlier Evoques.

The Evoque's styling doesn't mean it has compromised forward visibility. The lofty driving position gives you a commanding view of the road ahead and the front pillars don’t block too much of your diagonal view at junctions and roundabouts.

Despite the rising rear window line and shallow rear screen, you can see quite a lot of what's behind you compared with some other small SUVs. Every Evoque comes with front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera as standard. A 360-degree camera is standard on Dynamic SE trim and above.

If you pay a bit extra (or opt for Autobiography trim) you'll also get a rear-view mirror that, at the touch of a button, becomes a screen showing a view from the back of the car, so you can see behind even if the car is loaded to the roof.

The Evoque's Pivi Pro infotainment system is pretty much the same as you’ll find in the larger Land Rover Defender. Its 11.4in touchscreen is sharp and responds quickly to inputs, while the menu lay-out is logical and makes it easy to find the function you want. It’s better than the systems in the Lexus LBX and VW T-Roc, although the Mazda MX-30 R-EV has a dial that makes it more user-friendly.

Previously, the Evoque's drive mode settings and ventilation controls were on a secondary touchscreen lower down on the dash, but these have now been migrated to the main touchscreen. As a result, the main home screen is rather busy with icons and it’s easy to select the wrong one by mistake, especially when driving. 

You get plenty of gadgets as standard, including DAB radio, Bluetooth, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring that uses the entire screen to show a trimmed-down version of your phone's display. All versions have sat-nav.

When it comes to outright solidity, the Evoque’s interior is one of the best in class. Given its price premium over other small SUVs, you’d hope that would be the case, but thankfully its materials feel plush, especially with the standard leather seats.

Autobiography trim comes with an extended Windsor leather interior that covers more surfaces to help it feel even more upmarket.

"I believe Land Rover is one of the best in the business when it comes to driving positions, and the Evoque’s is yet another example of it getting things right." – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

The Range Rover Evoque is quite a substantial car so you wouldn’t expect to struggle to fit in the front, and, sure enough, you won’t – unless you’re very tall.

The front seats slide a long way back on their runners, and you’d have to be close to 7ft to feel your hair brushing the ceiling, even if you opt for a panoramic glass sunroof (a feature that often restricts head room).

As for storage space, there’s loads, including a reasonable-sized glovebox, two cupholders between the front seats, a cubby under the central armrest and a second cubby housing the wireless phone-charging tray below the touchscreen.

The Evoque is roomy in the back compared with most small SUVs, offering much more knee room for six-footers than an LBX but a little less than a T-Roc.

The relatively broad interior makes carrying three adults in the back less of a squeeze than it is in many rival cars.

The Evoque's rear seats don’t do anything clever, such as slide or recline, which is something you can have on a Skoda Karoq with its optional VarioFlex seats.

However, the rear seatbacks split in a 40/20/40 arrangement. That's better than the 60/40 split you get in the T-Roc, because the added flexibility comes in handy when you need to carry a combination of rear-seat passengers and a lengthy load.

You can ignore the official boot capacity in litres because Land Rover measures boot space in a different way to most manufacturers. In the real world, there's certainly enough space in the Evoque's boot for a buggy or a set of golf clubs. 

We managed to squeeze only five carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf, compared with six in the Audi Q2 and VW T-Roc (the four-wheel drive version). The PHEV P270e has the same boot capacity as non-PHEV versions.

The rear seats fold down in a 40/20/40 split and leave an almost completely flat extended load bay for when you need to cart around more clobber. They're more versatile than the 60/40 split rear seats in a Q2 or LBX. Mid-level Dynamic SE trim and above comes with a powered tailgate as standard.

"The Evoque is small by Range Rover standards but it’s quite roomy in the back compared with most  family SUVs. A couple of my 6ft friends had plenty of room." – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

One of the more convincing reasons to buy a Range Rover Evoque is how well it’s likely to hold on to its value. Our depreciation experts expect it to be worth more than a Skoda Karoq and VW T-Roc at three years old, although the Lexus LBX loses its value even more slowly.

For private buyers, that makes the entry-level Evoque’s price tag a bit more palatable since it costs more than rivals. PCP finance rates are often competitive, helping to offset the Evoque’s relatively so-so fuel economy.

If you’re a company car driver it's not such good news – the Evoque’s fairly high CO2 emissions and list price will bump up your monthly tax bill. The exception is the PHEV P270e. It’s one of the pricier versions to buy, but company car users are rewarded with low CO2 emissions, giving it by far the lowest BIK tax rating of the range. Plus, if you charge up the battery regularly it can achieve the best official fuel economy in the line-up.

Every Evoque is well-equipped. Even entry-level S trim gets 18in alloys, climate control, rain-sensing wipers, automatic LED headlights, keyless start, power-folding door mirrors, heated front seats, leather upholstery and rear animated directional indicators. It's our pick of the trims.

Dynamic SE trim is worth considering – it brings 19in wheels and adds a digital driver’s display and Meridian sound system upgrade.

Autobiography is luxurious, adding a panoramic roof, adaptive headlights and copper exterior trim, but it’s very expensive.

This isn’t usually an area of strength for Land Rover. Indeed, the brand finished 27th out of the 31 manufacturers in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey (MG came bottom). VW and Audi finished 18th and 24th respectively while Lexus finished in second place.

The news isn’t much better when you look at how the Evoque performed when it was previously compared with family SUVs: the current Evoque finished in 29th place out of 33 models, while the 2011-2019 Evoque was one above bottom.

Land Rover gives you a three-year unlimited mileage warranty. That’s the same as BMW's offering and slightly better than the three-year, 60,000 mile cover from Audi and VW.

The Evoque earned the maximum five-star rating when it was tested for safety by Euro NCAP in 2019. Because the tests have become more stringent since then, it’s hard to compare directly with newer rivals. However, the Evoque fundamentally performed strongly when it came to protecting occupants in a frontal impact.

There’s plenty of safety technology to prevent a collision in the first place, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance and a system that alerts the driver if they show signs of tiredness. Blind-spot monitoring is standard on R-Dynamic SE trim, as is a clear exit monitor and a rear traffic monitor (to stop you reversing into the path of another car).

Two sets of Isofix child seat mounts, one on each outer rear seat, are included as standard on all versions, but there's no option to add a third set on the front passenger seat.

"Aside from the questionable reliability, if you're one of the many potential Evoque buyers living in a city, the P270e could make a lot of sense. I love its interior, comfortable ride and decent range." – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

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