Car UK May 2019

MAY 2019 | CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK 49

River deep, fashion high

The outgoing Range Rover Evoque was a Land
Rover unlike any other. It sold unlike any
other Land Rover, too, by courting a new type
of young urban customer, one not interested
in going off-road. And now there’s a new one.
Spotting the difference is a bit like playing the
same game with a new 911 or Golf, but look hard
and you’ll discover a better proportioned and
cleaner design: shorter overhangs, bigger wheels,
less clutter. Note the flush door handles, the
cleaner roof pillar design, the removal of the old
wheelarch cladding and the tighter panel gaps.
Inside, the upgrades are more obvious. The
design is cleaner and more distinctive, the trim
and fittings of far higher quality. This includes
plastic bottles recycled into fabric that looks and
feels like suede. It’s one of the very best interiors
around. Think scaled-down Velar and you get
the picture, complete with hi-res dual-screen
infotainment and, for the first time on a Land
Rover, Apple CarPlay.
Cutting-edge tech includes ClearSight
Ground View, which uses cameras to show the
terrain beneath your front wheels, as if you can
see through the bonnet. There’s also a wide-an-
gle high-definition video screen instead of a
rear-view mirror, to compensate for the Evoque’s
dreadful peek-a-boo rear visibility.
Using a new platform that will underpin JLR’s
upcoming smaller offerings, the new Evoque
is no bigger than the old one, yet there’s more
kneeroom and a bigger boot.
Nearly all Evoques will have 48-volt mild
hybrid tech. We’ve driven both four-cylinder
diesel and petrol versions. A plug-in hybrid triple
is a year away.
Our 300-mile drive takes place in the Pe-
loponnese region of Greece, on well-surfaced
motorways and badly-surfaced back roads. It
also includes some off-roading, on terrain un-
changed since King Leonidas commanded the
Spartans. All-terrain capability is surprisingly
good. Despite the catwalk image, it can happily
play mountain goat. It can even wade through

600mm deep water, 100mm more than before.

Yet what most impresses is the on-road

refinement. It rides well, is quiet, and very

comfortable. On the motorway or in town it’s

easygoing and pampering, a peaceful cruiser

with very little wind- or engine noise. It feels

like a proper luxury car, a class ahead of most

same-size SUVs. Steering is good and handling is

predictable, if rarely invigorating. It’s a comfort-

able and relaxing drive. Plus it’s roomy enough

and, in its hybrid form, more economical than

the old Evoque – though still nothing special.

Don’t buy one for driving kicks. Performance

from the hybrid powertrains is disappointing.

Neither 237bhp diesel nor 245bhp petrol feels

that powerful, hampered by over 1800kg. Plus,

the Ingenium engines aren’t the most tuneful

or responsive of motors, and can be buzzy when

pushed. The nine-speed automatic can also be

indecisive, cycling hesitantly between ratios.

It’s targeted at those who want comfort, ease

of driving and Range Rover class and capability.

And who want stand-out design. On that basis

the Evoque is the ultimate à la mode urban SUV.

GAVIN GREEN

Better in every way, without being bigger, the Mk2 Evoque has a brilliant

cabin, new engines and even more off-road tricks that nobody asked for

First drives

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

THE FIRST HOUR

10 seconds

The flush door handles

pop out when you

unlock the car. Get

close and you start

to see that the new

Evoque looks tidier

and better propor-

tioned than the old car

1 minute

It’s a classy,

comfortable interior.

So many functions on

touchscreens mean

you spend a lot of time

with your eyes off the

road, though

5 minutes

The rear-view mirror is

a wide-angle HD video

screen. It certainly

gives better rear

visibility but it takes

some getting used to

60 minutes

Despite its city slicker

reputation, the Evoque

is surprisingly capable

in the rough

▲

PLUS

Refined, comfortable,

classy and capable

off-road

MINUS

▼

Look elsewhere for

driving fun

First verdict

A finely wrought and cleverly designed SUV that

fashion-conscious urbanites will love.

★★★★★

PRICE

From £37,150

(£41,350 as

tested: R Dynamic

S P250 petrol)

POWERTRAIN

1997cc 16v 4-cyl turbo

plus mild hybrid electric

motor, 9-speed auto,

all-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE

245bhp @ 5500rpm,

269lb ft @ 1300rpm.

7.5sec 0-62mph,

143mph

WEIGHT

1818kg

ON SALE

Now

Data

EFFICIENCY

28.5-30.4mpg,

180g/km CO2

Sensational interior has gone the full junior Velar