The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has been a smash hit for the British firm. The cool, compact SUV went on sale in September 2011, and within its first two years of sales, Land Rover had sold more 220,000 globally.
With more than 120 awards to its name from the first year of production alone, the Range Rover Evoque is sold in 177 markets and is designed, built and engineered in the UK. It's now on its second-generation model, which launched in 2018.
Key rivals are in the premium compact SUV sphere, which means cars like the Audi Q5 and Q3, Porsche Macan, Mercedes-Benz GLA and GLC, as well as the BMW X3 and X4, and even Land Rover's own Discovery Sport. Widen the net to include non-premium models, and there’s a host of others to add, including the Volvo XC40 and Volkswagen Tiguan.
None bring the off-road legacy of the Evoque, though, and that’s a big draw to many, despite the fact that few - if any - will ever drive over anything more taxing than a speed bump in the supermarket car park.
Generations: 2
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque mk2 (2018-)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque mk2
- Codenamed L551
- Three-door model and convertible discontinued
- Plug-in hybrid offered for the first time
- Styling inspired by the larger Range Rover Velar
- 2021 update sees all engines electrified with mild-hybrid systems
Successful as the previous model was, 2018 saw Land Rover offer a new Range Rover Evoque. It was based on new engineering that allows the adoption of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) systems, as well as mild-hybrid powertrains.
The new Evoque also featured greater connectivity, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the infotainment system, as well as a number of driver assistance systems like Lane Keep Assist and an Emergency Braking System. The styling was revised to adopt some cues from the larger Range Rover Velar, with features like powered, pop-out door handles, and sleeker LED headlight and taillight designs. The three-door model and the convertible were ditched, leaving only the five-door body style.
The Evoque was launched with a wide choice of trim levels. In approximate affordability order, these are Evoque, Evoque S, Evoque SE, Evoque HSE, R-Dynamic, R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE, R-Dynamic HSE and First Edition. In 2021 that First Edition trim would change to Autobiography.
Power came from a range of four-cylinder engines. The diesel choices started with a 2.0-litre D150 with 147bhp in either front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive formats, a D180 version of the same engine with 177bhp, and a D240 237bhp version. The petrol line-up comprises a P200 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol with all-wheel drive and 197bhp, a P250 version with 245bhp and a 296bhp P300 model at the top of the conventional model range. Only the front-wheel drive D150 is offered with a manual gearbox, with the rest of the line-up coming with an automatic transmission as standard.
The second-generation Evoque saw Land Rover finally offer its popular model with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version. This plug-in uses an 197bhp three-cylinder petrol turbo engine combined with a 107bhp rear-axle drive electric motor. The plug-in element of the drivetrain allows the P300e PHEV as much as 34 miles of electric-only driving and CO2 emissions of 44/gkm.
From 2021 the engine range was changed, with the entry-level diesel now the D165 with 162bhp. All engines were given a mild-hybrid system, which is essentially an advanced stop-start system that helps improve economy and emissions.
Read our expert review of the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque mk2
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque mk1 (2011-2018)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
- Three-door SUV
- Two-door convertible
Notable features and facelifts of the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque mk1
- Looked a lot like the radical LRX concept car of 2008
- Most affordable way into the Range Rover brand
- Retained trademark Land Rover off-road capability
- Five-door and three-door SUVs joined by a convertible model in 2016
- Updated in 2013 with new gearbox
- Facelifted in 2015 with visual tweaks and a new diesel engine
Rarely does a car manufacturer deliver a production vehicle that so closely resembles a concept car. But Land Rover did exactly that with the Range Rover Evoque. The company had shown its exciting LRX concept in 2008, and when it revealed the Evoque to the world in 2011, the exterior styling remained all but identical. The Evoque had sharp, dynamic lines and a purposeful stance, and was made from lightweight materials like aluminium, titanium and recycled plastics.
The public loved it. It was the first compact SUV with a Range Rover badge, which broadened Land Rover's potential customer reach, and even gave its own Freelander (later replaced by the Discovery Sport) some internal competition. The Evoque appealed to a different, more fashionable audience, underlined by its availability at launch in both three-door and five-door guises, as well Land Rover’s ‘design collaboration’ with Victoria Beckham.
The trim levels at launch were Pure, Prestige and Dynamic, the latter coming with more sporting looking bumpers, sills, grilles and tailpipes. A Dynamic Plus option also added sports leather seats and Oxford leather interior to the Dynamic trim level. All new Evoques featured alloy wheels and a touchscreen infotainment system, while the exterior could be enhanced by a wide palette of colour choices, including contrasting roof colours. Bold looks, LED running lights and stylish rear lights all combined to make the Evoque one of the sharpest looking compact SUVs you could buy.
Power was via a choice of four-cylinder petrol and turbocharged diesel engines. Land Rover initially borrowed a 2.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine from Ford for its Si4 model, and it was joined by a pair of 2.2-litre turbodiesel choices, the 148bhp TD4 and the 187bhp SD4. Those wanting the most economical Evoque could pick the eD4, which used the same 148bhp TD4 engine as other models in the line-up. However, it ditched four-wheel drive for front-wheel drive, with its focus on improved MPG and low emissions.
As such, the eD4 model lost the Terrain Response system featured elsewhere in the Evoque range. This is a system that adapted the Evoque’s 4x4 system to a choice of four different settings: General Driving, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts and Sand. It was initially offered with either a six-speed manual gearbox, or a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Cars with the optional Adaptive Dynamics system, with MagneRide magnetic dampers, improved the Evoque’s agility and driving dynamics further, although to be honest the car was rather so-so to drive whatever options were fitted.
The Evoque was a smash hit from the off, but Land Rover didn’t take that success for granted. The car was refreshed in 2014 with a number of styling and technical revisions. The facelifted cars had smaller door mirrors, reprofiled bumpers and new alloy wheel designs, as well as a wider choice of interior colours and material mixes. A number of driver aid technologies were added to the range, too, including with Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor and a new active driveline for the four-wheel drive system. A new nine-speed automatic transmission was added, aiding performance yet also benefitting fuel economy and emissions. A Meridian audio sound system and navigation were also offered.
The line up retained the same trim levels, but Pure Plus added a bit more luxury to the entry-level trim. It featured equipment like a powered tailgate and leather upholstery, as well as larger 19-inch alloy wheels. In 2014 Land Rover added a head-up display as well as InControl Apps, which allowed better integration of your smartphone apps via the touchscreen. Further improvements throughout the Evoque’s production would include a larger 10.2-inch touchscreen (from 2017) as well as the addition of a convertible model (in 2016), based on the three-door body. The coupe-style three-door Evoque would quietly be dropped from the Land Rover brochures later in the Evoque’s lifecycle, with buyers preferring the five-door model.
A number of special edition models were offered during the first generation Evoque’s life, including the Landmark model, celebrating six years of the Evoque. There was also an unimaginatively named ‘Special Edition’ of 2013 that featured a not entirely successful mix of Sicilian Yellow and Santorini Black, based on the then top level Dynamic trim. There were others, including the Ember, as well as the VB Victoria Beckham-designed car.
Read our expert review of the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque mk1