CR.ORG/CARS NEW CARS 19This can be a distraction,
as we found in the Evoque’s
stablemate, the Velar. The
system is slow to load on
startup, and responses to
touches often lag. At least
Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay are now supported.
Thick roof pillars and a
small rear window give the
Evoque its signature look but
also make visibility tough out
the back and front.
BSW is still optional, which
is a major omission in such
an expensive vehicle with
such noticeable blind spots.
AEB and LKW are standard,
as are front and rear parking
sensors. Optional ClearSight
Ground View lets the driver see
a video view “through” the
hood to assist with parking.
Some testers found the front
seats to be comfortable, even
over long drives, but others
weren’t as impressed and
found them to be too narrow.
The bottom seat cushion also
felt a little short for some
drivers, who said it didn’t
supply as much thigh support
as they’d like.
And the mottled surface that
covers the entire top of the
dashboard doesn’t blend well
with other interior materials.
Although the Evoque was
previously offered in two-door
and convertible versions,
neither is available in 2020.THE BOTTOM LINE
The Evoque has always been
about style, and that carries
over to the latest model.
Even with its up-to-date
powertrain, infotainment
system and safety equipment,
it’s a little hard to see what
qualities it brings to the table
other than the allure and
mystique of its exterior design—
and the Range Rover badge.
Ultimately, our test results
will show just how competitive
the Evoque is compared
with its rivals.LAND ROVER HAS redesigned its
Range Rover Evoque compact
SUV for 2020, and we’ve picked
one up for testing.
Although its basic premise
remains the same, the Evoque
gets a new platform, new
suspension, and a new engine.
That all sounds great, but in
our first weeks with the new
vehicle, it largely evokes the
previous version that we were
unimpressed with. Ahead of
our full review, these are our
first impressions.
WHAT WE LIKE ... SO FAR
We found the Evoque’s interior
to be attractive and well-
put-together, with the kind of
high-quality materials one
would expect at this price. Our
testers thought the cabin was
reasonably quiet, and the
engine emits a pleasant sound.
Because its handling is fairly
nimble, the Evoque is eager
to take corners, but some testers
noted that it is short on steer-
ing feel.WHAT WE DON’T
The Evoque’s powertrain has
not impressed our testers
so far. We often felt a notable
and frustrating initial hesi-
tation when starting from a stop,followed by a burst of power
as the turbo engine kicked in.
Other testers noted some jerky
motions when traveling at low
speeds. Shifts from the nine-
speed transmission were not
particularly smooth, either.
Its ride is needlessly stiff,
especially for a vehicle from
such a stately brand.
Drivers need to be aware
that the stop/start feature
can take an extra beat or two
to re-engage, which makes
jumping into traffic tricky.Getting into the Evoque can
be a challenge. The doors are
narrow, and that makes it hard
to climb in or out gracefully.
And waiting for the retracting
door handles to appear adds a
second or so to the process of
opening the door, which can be
annoying in the rain.
The Evoque’s tech is also
overly fussy. Its two-screen
infotainment and climate-
control setup requires drivers
to pay a lot of attention when
they’re making changes.Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
It’s all about style—sometimes at the expense of practicality.
Model 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque SE P250
Price $56,997 Engine 246-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged
4-cylinder Transmission 9-speed automatic
Drive wheels AllWHAT WE
BOUGHT