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Quick overview
- Sleek looks
- Great image
- Plenty of luxury kit
- Cushy ride
- More expensive than main rivals
- Mediocre economy
- Boot space
- Some safety kit not on lower trims
The Range Rover Evoque was designed as a luxury SUV in a smaller package, and it hits the brief right on the button. This has been the case ever since the Evoque first arrived and this second-generation model launched in 2019 is a more refined, sleeker car. While the Evoque has to parry with the likes of the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 for some buyers, many will be drawn to the Range Rover without considering any other contender. That’s the appeal of this British SUV and the charm that it exerts over many drivers, a lot of whom will be repeat customers.
As well as its good looks, the Evoque comes equipped with plenty of luxury kit to make you feel just as good about the car as someone buying the full-size Range Rover. The company doesn’t skimp on the finer things in life, and you can upgrade to the various Edition models if you want something a bit sportier or more opulent. However, this does come at a price and the Evoque is more expensive than most of its mainstream rivals. It’s also not as economical as a lot of its key contenders, so running costs are likely to be higher in most instances if you choose the Range Rover.
There is consolation for this added expense in the way the Evoque drives. It is very refined and has smooth engines, as well as a good balance between ride comfort and handling ability, where its German rivals tend to be firmer set. Range Rover has found more space inside the cabin of this Evoque than its predecessor, which was always a bit of a squeeze in the back seats, so this car is a more practical proposition than its predecessor.
Land Rover includes a plug-in hybrid model in the Evoque’s ranks now, as well as petrol and diesel engines, so there should be a version to suit every need. The more powerful variants come with four-wheel drive as standard and, despite the Evoque’s chi-chi looks, it’s more able off-road than just about any other car in this sector.
Prices
Not every trim level is offered with the full engine range for the Evoque, so you need to be sure about which combination will work best for you when selecting a model. The line-up starts with the straightforward Evoque, which costs from £34,010 and you can upgrade to the S version for £3570. The R-Dynamic comes in at £35,540 and moving up the S version comes with the same £3570 premium. Next in line is the Edition model for £48,495, followed by the HST at £53,295. Capping the Evoque model range is the Autobiography that costs from £54,755. Discounts on new Range Rover Evoques are harder to come by than with many of its rivals, but if you are determined there are savings of up to £1500 possible if you are flexible on specification. A nearly new Evoque with less than 5000 miles on the clock will save you about £2000 on the list price, while a three-year old Evoque costs from approximately £28,000 such is the car’s popularity on the used market.
Infotainment, comfort and practicality
Anyone who wants a mid-size SUV that delivers the feel of a full-size 4x4 from the driver’s seat will appreciate the Range Rover Evoque. It places the driver higher up than most rivals, which gives a superb view of the road ahead, yet you don’t every sense that you’re perched on top of the car. Instead, the Evoque lets you settle into a great driving position whatever height or shape you are. All models come with a height adjustable driver’s seat and the S versions of the standard Evoque and R-Dynamic models upgrade this with electric adjustment and leather upholstery. The front seats in all Evoques are heated, too, for a touch of warmth in the winter. On top of that, every version has front and rear parking sensors, plus a reversing camera, included so you don’t have to worry about backing into a narrow bay.
Ahead of the driver, the main dials of the Evoque are clear, bright and easy to read at night or in sunshine. The small display in the centre can be varied using the steering wheel buttons, though these are now touch-sensitive and can be easy to rub against with your hand as you steer. In the middle of the dash, lower grade trims stick with physical buttons for the air conditioning, which is a good thing in our book. The HST and Autobiography models swap this for a 10-inch touchscreen, which is simple enough to understand and operate, but it's not as easy as simple buttons and dials. Above this, all Evoques have a 10-inch colour infotainment touchscreen. It comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it’s easy to use, helped by clear shortcut buttons on the lower edge of the display.
Moving into the rear of the cabin, the Evoque has decent space for knees, feet, heads and shoulders. Three adults will fit in here when needed as the Range Rover is a little wider than most of its rivals, so a trio of occupants don’t feel as bunched up as they might in some rivals. There’s also a good view out for passengers, and there are Isofix child seat mounts on both outer rear seats.
The rear seat doesn’t slide to allow for variation in load space, but the back seat is divided 40-20-40 so you can carry two passengers plus longer items with ease. With all of the rear bench in use, there’s 472-litres of load space, which is more than adequate for most needs even if the boot floor is a bit narrower than some others in this class. Fold all of the seats down flat and you free up a maximum of 1383-litres, and there’s no drop from load sill to boot floor.
Which 2019 Land Rover Evoque model should you buy?
Entry to this Range Rover model starts with the simply named Evoque version. It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, and Lane Keep Assist. There’s also automatic emergency braking and a driver fatigue warning, plus all of the usual airbags you’d expect and Isofix child seat mounts. Fabric upholstery covers the seats, which has manual height adjustment for the front pair, which are both heated. Infotainment is taken care of by a 10-inch Pivi colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The S version upgrades with 18-inch wheels and directional indicators, plus adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition. Inside, the front seats gain electric adjustment and leather upholstery is added. You also get sat-nav for the infotainment, and wireless charging pad for a phone. The R-Dynamic and its S variant are similar in spec to the Evoque and S models but with different alloy wheels and interior trim finishes for a sportier look.
The Edition comes with 20-inch wheels, privacy glass, and black exterior trim pack. It has the deployable infotainment screen that tilts towards the drive for easier viewing, and also comes with an auto-dimming rear view mirror and powered tailgate. Move to the HST and you get a contrasting black-painted roof and panoramic glass sunroof, and red brake calipers. A heated steering wheel is covered in suede cloth, while there’s also an uprated stereo with the Meridian Sound System and keyless entry.
At the top of the line is the Autobiography that has matrix LED headlights, 21-inch wheels, 14-way electric seat adjustment and seat cooling, heated rear seats, grey ash veneer trim, Clearsight rear view mirror, and electric steering column movement. This trim also has gesture control to open the tailgate, blind spot monitor, and rear cross traffic alert and collision monitoring.
Value for money: how much does a 2019 Land Rover Evoque cost to buy and run?
By far and away the most economical Range Rover Evoque model is the P300E that has a battery range of up to 38 miles. It also has a combined economy of 196.6mpg and 33g/km carbon dioxide emissions.
The D165 2.0-litre turbodiesel is next best with the manual gearbox that offers 46.3mpg and 160g/km. Go for the automatic transmission and those numbers change to 43.7mpg and 169g/km, while the D200 offers 43.2mpg and 171g/km.
The petrol-powered P200 delivers 31.4mpg and 203g/km, and its P250 sister comes with identical consumption and emissions.
Verdict: Should I buy a 2019 Land Rover Evoque?
Range Rover has judged the market very well with the Evoque, offering a classy family SUV with all of the company’s attributes in a sleek package. There’s plenty of space for the driver and good room in the back, though the Evoque’s boot is not the biggest in the class. It’s still practical, however, and all models come with plenty of equipment to assuage the higher prices than most of the competition.
You can choose from petrol, diesel or petrol-electric plug-in hybrid models, and most of the petrol and diesel engines come with mild hybrid tech too. However, the petrol-only models are not the most efficient, which could make them expensive to run for higher mileage drivers.