2019 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　

What's new

Refreshed touchscreen interfacePart of the first Range Rover Evoque generation introduced for 2012

　　Subcompact luxury crossovers have grown in popularity over the last few years in part due to their relatively low cost. While many vehicles in this class are similarly priced, the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover bucks convention and costs almost as much as larger compact crossovers. Still, the Evoque's substantial list of standard features and superior off-road performance could make it worth the financial stretch for the right buyer.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$188/mo  for Range Rover Evoque SE

　　Range Rover Evoque SE

　　SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $41,800 MSRPSE Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $45,900 MSRPLandmark Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $48,400 MSRPHSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $51,100 MSRPSE Dynamic 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $52,100 MSRPHSE Dynamic 237 HP 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $54,300 MSRPHSE Dynamic 286 HP 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $57,300 MSRPHSE Dynamic 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $57,800 MSRPAutobiography 237 HP 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $62,600 MSRPAutobiography 286 HP 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $65,600 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Another Evoque highlight is the stylish, expressive design. Most small luxury crossovers lack a sense of style, but the Evoque's sleek exterior sets it apart. If you really want to stand out from the crowd, the Evoque also offers a drop-top variant. It's the only luxury SUV convertible on sale today.

　　From a logical standpoint, rivals such as the Audi Q3, BMW X3 and Cadillac XT4 deliver more value for your money. But if you don't mind paying a little extra, the Evoque's seductive sheet metal, impressive standard features and off-road prowess should make this small SUV pretty enticing.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 9-speed automatic | AWD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current Range Rover Evoque has received some revisions, including a new, less powerful base engine, a more potent optional engine, and a new tech interface. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Range Rover Evoque, however.

　　

Driving

　　The Evoque convertible offers some off-roading capability, but typical buyers won't be seeking it out for off-path exploration. Instead, this SUV delivers a unique combination of sporty handling dynamics, a commanding road view and top-down freedom.

　　

Comfort

　　As with many convertibles, the Evoque sacrifices some top-up sound insulation for drop-top fun. The convertible top blocks out wind noise exceptionally well, and the ride quality is surprisingly good. But squeaks seem to find their way into the cabin when driving on bumpy roads.

　　

Seat comfort

　　The front seats are cushy and offer a good amount of support and adjustability. They are even suitable for more spirited driving. Perforated leather seats provide adequate breathability, even without powered ventilation. The rear seats aren't as comfortable. Oddly, the Evoque lacks outboard armrests in back.

　　

Ride comfort

　　The Evoque offers decent ride comfort, even over fairly rough roads. It's impressive considering how well this SUV handles when going around turns.

　　

Noise & vibration

　　On bumpy roads, you'll hear squeaks coming from the doorjambs and convertible roof seals. It's expected and forgivable to a degree in convertibles and can be drowned out by the stereo. There is also some road noise that creeps into the cabin, but wind noise is minimal.

　　

Climate control

　　The climate features all function well and provide nice temperature modulation. The controls are clearly laid out with dual dials for temperature adjustment and buttons for vent control and defrost functions.

　　

Interior

　　The compact Evoque has more interior space to offer than what appears. Its touchscreen infotainment, while easy to use, requires a bit of a stretch to reach the controls closer to the passenger side. And for those who are less limber, getting in and out — especially when it comes to the back seat) requires an above-average effort.

　　

Utility

　　The Evoque convertible is a sport-utility vehicle but only in name. It does the "sport" thing pretty well, but "utility" is a joke. The trunk is more a rear cubby, and not a very accessible one at that. Storage for small items within the cabin is scant.

　　

Small-item storage

　　Small-item storage is scarce, limited to a modest armrest bin and narrow door pockets. There are a couple of cupholders for the driver and front passenger, plus a small bin concealed behind the center console that isn't that useful.

　　

Cargo space

　　The rear trunk of the convertible is laughable. It's a deep cubby with a capacity of 8.8 cubic feet that requires you to bend at an awkward level to load and unload items. That could cause some ergonomic strain, especially for those with back issues.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

　　LATCH anchors are easily located and accessed under plastic flip covers. But maneuvering a car seat into and out of the back seat is more difficult in the two-door convertible versus the four-door hardtop.

　　

Technology

　　There are a lot of driving aids, some of which are optional and ones we recommend. If you plan to drive with the top up a fair amount, the surround-view camera and blind-spot systems will save a lot of headache. We experienced some issues with the touchscreen, voice controls and phone integration.

　　

Audio & navigation

　　The Evoque's optional Meridian sound system delivers an amazingly rich sound with multiple modes tailored to the type of music or audio you're listening to. Although the touchscreen is easy to navigate, on occasion the system was nonresponsive to our touch commands.

　　

Smartphone integration

　　Bluetooth pairing worked as it should, but at times the system wouldn't recognize our smartphone when connecting through the USB cable. We had to disconnect and reconnect to resolve the issue.

　　

Driver aids

　　Adaptive cruise control works decently in bringing you to a complete stop, but it isn't the best at managing traffic gaps. Lane keeping assist applies mild steering corrections but is ineffective on curved roads. The forward collision warning system provides just the right amount of warning.

　　

Which Range Rover Evoque does zzdcar recommend?

　　As far as the regular Evoque goes, we'd opt for the upgraded engine. It's only available on two trims, however. Although we like the Autobiography's ultra-luxury feature set, we'd save a few bucks and choose the HSE Dynamic trim instead.

　　

2019 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque models

　　The 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is a subcompact luxury SUV sold in two body styles: as a conventional four-door or a two-door convertible.

　　Every model is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. By default, it produces 237 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful version of this engine — producing 286 hp and 295 lb-feet — is available on HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims. All-wheel drive is standard.

　　Standard exterior equipment on the base SE trim level includes 18-inch wheels, automatic wipers, heated and power-folding mirrors, keyless ignition, front and rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera with trailer hitch guidance. Inside, you'll find power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, a 60/40-split rear seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, and an eight-speaker audio system with a USB port.

　　The SE also boasts Land Rover's suite of off-road technology features, which includes hill descent control; All-Terrain Progress Control, which acts like a low-speed cruise control; and the Terrain Response system, which adjusts how the vehicle behaves for preset settings such as Gravel, Snow, and Mud and Ruts.

　　One step up is the SE Premium, which adds xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, foglights, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, a panoramic glass roof, a hands-free liftgate, keyless entry, memory settings for the front seats, and perforated leather upholstery.

　　Think of the Landmark Edition as a variant of the SE Premium that prioritizes style. It comes with 19-inch wheels and the more aggressive exterior design from costlier trim levels, along with different interior trim.

　　The HSE reverts to the SE Premium's bodywork and adds 19-inch wheels, automatic high-beam control, upgraded leather upholstery, heated front seats, configurable ambient lighting, and blind-spot monitoring. Also included are a 10.2-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker audio system.

　　The HSE Dynamic adds revised exterior styling and trim details as well as unique wheels.

　　The top-of-the-line Autobiography rolls on 20-inch wheels and boasts adaptive LED headlights and a heated windshield. There are other perks such as upgraded front seats, a heated rear seat, a heated steering wheel, extended leather upholstery, a 17-speaker audio system, an automated parking system, a surround-view parking camera system, lane keeping assist, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

　　Many of the extra features found on the upper trim levels can be added to the lower trims through a variety of option packages.

　　The Convertible's two trim levels mirror those of the four-door's with a few exceptions. The SE Dynamic is largely the same as the four-door SE. Differences include driver-seat memory settings, a wind deflector, and the 10.2-inch touchscreen with the 11-speaker stereo system. The HSE Dynamic matches the upgrades fitted to the four-door HSE Dynamic with negligible differences.

　　

2019 Range Rover Evoque Highlights

Trim: SESE PremiumLandmark EditionHSESE DynamicHSE Dynamic 237 HPHSE Dynamic 286 HPHSE DynamicAutobiography 237 HPAutobiography 286 HPSE

　　

Base MSRP	$41,800
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$188/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles