Range Rover Evoque SUV review

The Range Rover Evoque is now in its second generation after a new model was launched in 2018, and it’s still Land Rover’s smallest SUV. The success of the first made the latest Evoque a ‘difficult second album’ for the British brand, so the styling updates were evolutionary and the major changes focused on sweeping changes to the interior, technology and powertrains. The competition remains strong, with the Evoque challenging SUVs such as the Mercedes GLC Coupe, BMW X4, Audi Q3 Sportback and Jaguar E-Pace alongside premium electric models like the Audi Q4 e-tron and BMW iX3.

When it was first revealed in 2011, the first-generation Evoque quickly became a bestseller, successfully managing to carry over all of the premium features of the brand’s larger models but with a far less daunting size and price than other Range Rovers. Its smaller dimensions and styling meant it was very popular with people who lived in cities, even if the Evoque proved itself a competent off-roader in spite of concerns to the contrary.

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The design of the original Evoque was so successful that it made no sense for Land Rover to mess with a winning formula. An update in 2020 added slimmer front and rear lights give the car a more modern appearance, not too dissimilar to that of the Range Rover Velar. From the outside, it’s essentially a lightly updated version of the first Evoque, but underneath the refreshed bodywork, Land Rover has introduced a tweaked interior, all-new technology, and a reworked range of mild hybrid powertrains including a range-topping plug-in hybrid. 

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Underneath the bodywork, the latest Evoque sits on a heavily reworked version of the platform that underpinned the first Evoque and the current Jaguar E-Pace. The car is barely any longer than the version it replaces - its size seems to suit most customers perfectly - but the interior offers slightly more room, thanks to an increase in the distance between the wheels.

The Evoque and E-Pace are essentially two directly competing cars from the same company, so the Range Rover has been designed to appeal to different buyers than the Jaguar. While the Jaguar may be the best choice for keen drivers, the Evoque is a much more refined cruiser, capable of covering long distances with ease. On the road it’s very quiet, even compared to the previous model. Plus, it makes up for its passable on-road driving experience by being very good off-road.

Underneath the ‘clamshell’ style bonnet, Land Rover offers a choice of petrol and diesel engines, each with three power outputs. The entry-level 163bhp diesel engine is the only one available with two-wheel-drive and a manual gearbox, but it’s best avoided as it doesn’t provide enough performance for what is a reasonably heavy SUV. The higher-powered diesel engine offers similar fuel economy figures in the real-world, while the petrol engined variants are thirsty and expected to be a niche choice.

The P300e plug-in hybrid is the undisputed economy champion of the range, promising claimed economy figures of up to 196mpg and a pure electric range of around 38 miles. It’s powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, an electric motor mounted on the rear axle, and a 15kWh battery. It’s smooth and refined to drive, with virtually no interruption when switching from electric to petrol power, and despite the additional weight of the PHEV powertrain, it's faster than the conventional petrol and diesel models.

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The Evoque’s more powerful engines provide relaxed and easy progress, and the four-wheel-drive system means it feels secure in all weather conditions. It features specific driving modes for snow, grass and other slippery surfaces, and rutted mud. To drive, the Evoque offers a composed on-road driving experience rather than sporty, with twisty B-roads highlighting a fair amount of body roll and a lack of steering feel.

That rakish styling does impact on practicality somewhat, but the sheer number of Evoque sales shows that it’s not the number one concern for UK buyers. Land Rover says the new model does offer a bit more boot space, while the slightly extended wheelbase improves room for passengers in the rear seats.

The Evoque could trade on its badge and style alone, but it helps that it’s an accomplished and refined luxury SUV that we’d expect to continue selling in huge numbers.

What about buying a used or nearly new Range Rover Evoque?

The latest Range Rover Evoque is a good used buy simply because you’ll save a chunk of money on the asking price, but since all models are still pretty new (it came out in 2018), most will still be in warranty. You can check for prices on our sister site Buyacar – when looking at second-hand models you’ll want to look out for the sleeker headlights of this Mk2 model rather than the older Mk1 car.

What’s its history?

The first Range Rover Evoque came out in 2011 and it was a huge success for its maker Land Rover, quickly becoming the brand’s best-selling car. It won our Car of the Year award the year it came out and following years saw it take on rivals with great success, thanks to its impressive handling, comfort and quality interior.

In 2015 the Evoque was facelifted with new Ingenium engines that were more efficient, plus there was more equipment to add to the luxury. In 2017 there was even a Convertible version launched, and although it wasn’t as good as the other models in the range, it filled a niche and had no real rivals at the time.

In 2018 this second-generation version arrived and impressed us once again thanks to its much-improved interior, tech and comfortable ride.

Used Range Rover Evoque (Mk1 2011-2018)

The first-generation Range Rover Evoque was a hit when it launched and it makes an interesting used buy now. It still looks and feels like a modern car, particularly with the later ‘Ingenium’ engines fitted to post-2015 models, but the model does have a reputation for being a bit unreliable and so you should budget for higher running costs than average. Prices are dipping into affordable territory for many, though.

Read the full Evoque Mk1 review...