Review
/5
- Pros:
- Stunning styling
- Equally capable on and off-road
- SUV appeal with supermini efficiency
- Cons:
- Enticing optional extras soon add up
- So many variants – how to choose?
- Very little else
reviewed by Carbuyer
“Stunning to look at, highly capable on and off-road, luxurious and efficient to run… the Range Rover Evoque has it all.”
At a glance
- The greenest
- ED4 150HP 2WD Prestige Coupe 3dr
£36,625 - The cheapest
- ED4 150HP 2WD Pure 5dr
£27,955 - The fastest
- Si4 240HP 4WD Auto Dynamic 5dr
£38,995 - Top of the range
- Si4 240HP 4WD Auto Dynamic Coupe 3dr
£39,995
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The premium SUV sector will never be quite the same again, as the Range Rover Evoque has raised the bar to an entirely new level. It's available in two compact bodystyles – with three doors or five – and with a choice of three engines and a trio of luxury trim levels, while the pricing structure makes it the perfect entry point to Range Rover ownership. A further choice of traditional four-wheel drive or two-wheel drive – a first for a Range Rover – boosts your options even further. The fact that the Evoque is Range Rover's cleanest and most efficient model ever means it is cheaper than its stablemates to own and run. Great ride and handling on and off-tarmac give it even more appeal.
Drive
Evoque handles as well as a hatchback, and is still great off-road
As good to drive as it is to look at, this is the sportiest Range Rover to date and comes with a choice of punchy engines: two 2.2-litre diesels and one 2.0 petrol. Two and four-wheel-drive transmissions give an excellent on-road driving experience, while the Terrain Response system adjusts the suspension to suit driving conditions. MagneRide electronic dampers help the Evoque to be as accomplished off tarmac as any of its larger stablemates.
Comfort
It's small, but beautifully appointed
The Evoque's compact size belies its comfort and spec. There is nothing cut-price about the roomy, well appointed cabin, and whatever the surface – smooth motorway tarmac, pot-holed city streets or rock-strewn off-road tracks – driver and passengers remain comfortable.
Reliability
Current range bodes well for Evoque's future
Solid British engineering at its best? Well, the Evoque is too new to appear in any customer satisfaction surveys, but Land Rover as a marque hasn’t performed too impressively over the years compared to rival 4x4 manufacturers. Recent models are bucking this trend with very good reliability, however, so we are hoping for good things from the Evoque.
Practicality
Those sharp looks don't cut into cabin space too much
It may be the ‘baby’ Range Rover, but there's still plenty of space inside the Evoque. And while the sharper-looking three-door isn’t as versatile or as easily accessible as the five door, the sleek silhouette doesn’t limit headroom as much as you might expect. Even better, the larger five-door offers a 40mm-higher roofline, and with its rear seats folded flat, the already generous boot swells to roughly the same size as a Volkswagen Golf Estate's.
Value for money
Entry point to Range Rover ownership offers decent value
The Evoque offers brand prestige, luxury and hi-tech kit for a relatively affordable price. Lower-spec models prove the perfect entry-point into Range Rover ownership, while even the top-of-the-line variants cost considerably less than anything else the marque has to offer. Standard spec levels are as impressive as you would expect – but your wallet will take a bashing when it comes to specifying the highly tempting optional extras.
Running costs
It's far cheaper to run than other models in the range
The Evoque is by far the most efficient Range Rover model so far, yet actual running costs depend on what variant you choose from. Model-specific economy and emissions affect what you spend at the pumps, as well as annual road tax price banding and business user taxes, but overall the Evoque offers Range Rover luxury for a far lower outlay.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
