2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Review

　　

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The original Land Rover Range Rover Evoque was a rather offbeat SUV. It was small and sporty and generally put style ahead of utility. It was even available as a two-door or a two-door convertible, two body styles pretty much unheard of for this class of vehicle. For the redesigned 2020 Evoque, Land Rover has gone less offbeat and more mainstream, but not so much to make the Evoque generic.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque S 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

　　$204/mo  for Range Rover Evoque S

　　Range Rover Evoque S

　　S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $42,650 MSRPR-Dynamic S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) - $46,600 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $47,200 MSRPR-Dynamic SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) - $51,150 MSRPR-Dynamic HSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) - $55,800 MSRPFirst Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $56,850 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Inside, the Evoque features a new optional dual-screen infotainment display that uses the same setup as its big brother, the Velar. The interior surfaces are of higher quality, and the cabin has grown thanks to a small increase in wheelbase and vehicle dimensions. The main difference you'll notice is the additional rear-seat legroom.

　　For power, the Evoque continues to have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. However, there's a newly available upgraded version that comes with a 48-volt mild hybrid system to help boost fuel economy a bit and generate nearly 300 horsepower. And to enhance the off-road prowess that Land Rover is known for, the Evoque now gets the brand's sophisticated Terrain Response 2 system that gives it an edge over most luxury crossovers when the pavement ends.

　　The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is still distinctive, just like the first-generation model was. Unfortunately, it comes up short in execution. In our testing we've found the Evoque has too many drawbacks, including a distracting-to-use infotainment system and subpar performance and comfort. Overall, we think you'll be happier with one of its small luxury SUV rivals such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.0/10

　　How does the Range Rover Evoque drive? In everyday conditions, the Evoque is plagued by inconsistencies and lurches. Acceleration is often uneven, and the transmission is prone to rough shifts at odd times. Under full throttle, it responds with more linear power and smoother shifts, but in the end it reaches 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. That's slow for the class and much slower than Land Rover's own wildly optimistic estimate of 6.3 seconds.

　　If you drive the Evoque moderately hard on a twisting road, the stability/traction control is heavy-handed, intervening far too early and with unsettling torque shifts front to back. Driven more conservatively, it's far more confident, but it does feel rather heavy considering its small size. At least its off-road prowess is unquestionable.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Range Rover Evoque? Seat comfort kept this score from being much better since not one of our editors found much comfort in the Evoque. The front passengers are stuck with flat and overly firm seats that create hard contact points over long distances. There's also an odd protruding upper seatback section that puts undue pressure between your shoulder blades. The forward-canted headrests further compromise comfort. We're also not fans of the distracting climate control interface and the weak performance of the ventilated seats.

　　Thankfully, the ride quality is praiseworthy for its smooth ride over road imperfections without being overly soft. We also awarded points for the quiet cabin that effectively filters out road and wind noise in almost every condition.

　　

Interior

6.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Evoque's attractive interior design adopts the modern, minimal look of other Land Rovers but also inherits the same drawbacks. Basic controls are right where they should be, but other functions must be operated by the small and distracting touchscreen located low on the center stack. Rear visibility is poor, and the camera is often slow to appear or completely unavailable due to malfunction.

　　Aside from a slight stoop needed to clear the low roofline, it's easy to get into. Once inside, the cabin is neither spacious nor confining. It's snug but not claustrophobic thanks to the sensation of space from the massive sunroof. In addition to the seat comfort issues, the steering wheel doesn't angle down enough for our tastes.

　　

Technology

6.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Land Rover has made some reliability and usability improvements to the Evoque's infotainment system, but it still trails competitors by a sizable margin. On top of that, touchscreen commands are met with delayed responses that add distraction and frustration. We're glad Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is included — either is preferable to the native system.

　　Driver aids are tuned to avoid false alarms, but they still need work. The lane keeping assist creates enough steering effort that you need to fight with the wheel when the road bends, and the adaptive cruise control is too abrupt with braking and acceleration.

　　

Storage

6.0/10

　　How’s the storage? In the class, the Evoque's 21.5-cubic-foot cargo capacity is one of the smallest. For comparison, the BMW X3 holds 28.7 cubic feet and isn't hamstrung by a sloping roofline like the Evoque, which puts an unfortunate restriction on getting bulkier items to fit. It should be fine for most owners' daily needs, but they will have to look into alternatives for bigger hauls.

　　Interior storage fares worse due to a lot of wasted space in the center console area. That leads to a distinct lack of places to hold your personal effects. And a small shelf hidden under the center console is almost impossible to access.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Evoque will return 23 mpg combined (21 city/26 highway), which is about 1 mpg lower than rivals. In practice, we were only able to get about 15 mpg in mixed driving. That's pretty disappointing, and we expect more since it has a 48-volt mild hybrid system.

　　

Value

6.5/10

　　Is the Range Rover Evoque a good value? The Range Rover Evoque is expensive even when compared against direct rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Unlike those SUVs, the Evoque does have high levels of off-road prowess, which is rare. It could be worth the other significant sacrifices should it be a high priority. Still, we found the $67,190 as-tested price excessive for what you get.

　　The 48-volt mild hybrid system is tuned more for performance than fuel savings, and the Evoque's 23-mpg combined EPA estimate is unimpressive. We only managed a meager 15 mpg in mixed driving conditions. Only the first scheduled maintenance is free. Most rivals cover expenses for three to five years.

　　

Wildcard

6.0/10

　　If you do a lot of off-roading, yes, the Evoque can indeed be fun for you. Sadly that's a small portion of owners. On a curving road, the excessive intervention from stability and traction control systems and the power vectoring discourage sporty driving. Our low-speed issues count as yet another demerit.

　　On appearances alone, the Evoque is modern and stylish, making it stand out from other SUVs, but we're not convinced that's enough to win discerning buyers over.

　　

Which Range Rover Evoque does zzdcar recommend?

We're not particularly fond of the Evoque, but if you are set on buying one we say go with one of the R-Dynamic trim levels. They get the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with the 48-volt mild hybrid system that provides a desirable boost in power.The base R-Dynamic S has plenty of standard equipment, but consider the R-Dynamic SE for its dual 10-inch touchscreens and the Evoque's parking assist systems.

　　

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque models

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is a subcompact luxury SUV available in six trim levels: S, SE, First Edition, R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE. The S and the SE come pretty well equipped, and the R-Dynamic versions add sportier exterior styling and a more powerful engine. If you want a fully loaded Evoque, look at the First Edition or the R-Dynamic HSE.

　　The S, SE and First Edition models come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 246 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. The R-Dynamic trim levels have that same engine paired to a 48-volt mild hybrid system that increases power output to 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

　　Standard exterior equipment on the base S trim level includes 18-inch wheels, automatic wipers, power-folding heated mirrors, keyless ignition, front and rear parking sensors, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, and a rearview camera with trailer hitch guidance. Inside, you'll find power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, a 40/20/40-split rear seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone climate control, a 10-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a six-speaker audio system with a USB port.

　　The S also comes standard with Land Rover's Terrain Response 2 suite of off-road technology, which adjusts how the vehicle behaves for preset settings such as Gravel, Snow, and Mud and Ruts; hill descent control; and All-Terrain Progress Control, which acts like a low-speed cruise control.

　　One step up is the SE. It adds 20-inch wheels, xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, automatic high beams, a hands-free liftgate, keyless entry, memory settings for the front seats, a surround-view parking camera (which includes the forward-facing Ground View camera for what's under the front wheels), a self-parking function, and the Touch Pro Duo infotainment setup with two 10-inch touchscreens. 

　　The R-Dynamic versions of the S and SE get the same equipment as their base-model counterparts but come with the more powerful engine mentioned above plus sportier exterior styling.

　　The First Edition is the next step up. It has the less powerful engine but comes with a slew of additional features. These include foglights, a panoramic glass roof, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, customizable ambient interior lighting, upgraded interior trim, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, a rearview-camera display mirror (for when you don't have a direct view out of the back), and a 10-speaker Meridian audio system with satellite and HD radio.

　　The R-Dynamic HSE gets similar equipment to the First Edition model (with the mild hybrid powertrain as well), but the interior is missing some of the unique cabin touches. It does have a keyless tailgate system and upgraded power-adjustable front seats.

　　Many of the extra features found on the upper trim levels can be added to the lower trims through a variety of option packages. Other notable options include an adaptive suspension, 21-inch wheels, ventilated front seats and extended leather upholstery.

　　

2020 Range Rover Evoque Highlights

Trim: SR-Dynamic SSER-Dynamic SER-Dynamic HSEFirst EditionS

　　

Base MSRP	$42,650
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$204/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	21.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles