Review: Range Rover Evoque

It was a bit like being in a multiplex cinema, writes Brian Byrne. Three screens and a multiple choice of features. When you drive the Range Rover Evoque SE they do their best to make it an experience. After all, you're paying big bucks for the premium seats.

It's the 'baby' Range Rover, and from 2011 it offered a chance to get a very premium badge in your driveway at a relatively affordable price. A cool coupe style as well, if that format is your thing. The size and design was aimed at attracting a new demographic — turned out it was very popular with women. It was also a tilt at offering a compact size crossover for the urban owner who didn't want to bulk of the full size Rangie or its a little smaller RR Sport.


The car has been a success. Up to the end of 2016, more than 600,000 had been built and sold. And last autumn they revealed this second generation. The looks are similar, the length the same, a bit wider and a longer wheelbase. It's also a tad taller. The look at the front is a bit softer, but don't let that fool you into thinking that it is in any way a softie. Apart from the entry FWD, all Evoques have full RR off-road capability, and that is still mission critical.

It's a good look outside and a good feel inside, and the fittings and trim of the review car provided all the sense of plush and tech that you'd want when paying top dollar. In this case, nice off-white leather and shiny piano-black dash and door decorative inserts. Good to see they left out wood in the trim, wouldn't have suited (though ash variants are gettable).

Those seats did also prove to be very comfortable, and a travelling companion noted that no lumbar adjustments were needed, necessary in some others. For me, getting in and out was reasonable with care, but, inside, the driving position was excellent.

To those screens. As I inferred, too many. The primary one in front was capable of configuration in a variety of ways, and I liked the single dial option. The long one in the middle of the dash relied on touch to navigate, and there's far too much poking around, with attendant visual distraction, for my taste. Add to that the third touch-operated system for managing entertainment and climate, just ahead of the gear shifter, and the annoyance is doubled. The system is standard on the SE, for which you're paying an extra €13,000 over the entry price. If I was buying, I'd save myself that.

The drive experience was excellent. The 2.0 diesel offers 150hp and is Land Rover's own. The 9-speed automatic was smooooth. Everything worked in relative hush. It's a car which cossets and chills.

It's not cheap. If you want similar performance and nearly the luxury could go for a Land Rover Discovery Sport, or a Jaguar E-Pace. Neither would elevate you to the neighbour stare status that the Range Rover does, though.

PRICE: From €49,595; review version €62,910. WHAT I LIKED: The refinement and knowing I could still go virtually anywhere. RATING: 4-/5 (The cheaper one with less screens would get 4+).