In 2011 a dramatic, compact new Range Rover burst onto the scene, so chiselled, so stylised, it looked as though it had driven straight off the design board.
Now the Evoque has been updated and - despite its undoubtedly SUV looks - it’s fitter for the city than ever, promising (slightly) more miles of emission-free, near-silent motoring.
The team has made a raft of changes, not that you’d spot most of them from the outside. The lines of the four-door-plus-tailgate car are still stylishly coupe-esque, with the roof sloping down to a squat rear. Look closely and it’s possible to spot new Pixel LED headlights and a smarter grille.
At the rear, there is ‘super-red illumination’ for increased visibility and less dazzle, say the makers. There’s now a wider choice of accents and colours. The car we’re driving, in bronze with black accents, has already attracted rave reviews from passers-by. You can see why.
Screen test
Inside, the design team has really gone for its ‘reductive’ look, stripping out ‘superfluous’ buttons and knobs and relocating their functions to the smart new 11.4-inch curved touchscreen. It leaves the interior looking rather bare and means delving into the screen for climate, entertainment, demisting, seat heating/cooling, fan speed, volume control and so on. Terrain Response settings (there are lots) are accessed via the screen, too. Testing? Only initially. Familiarity is everything, even if a simple volume knob would have been nice for the front seat passenger.
According to research from makers Land Rover, the plug-in electric hybrid now enables owners to complete their average daily journeys in EV mode, with zero tailpipe emissions. That’s because - after plug-in charging and with some self-charging along the way - it is capable of up to 39 miles of electric-only driving.
The hybrid Evoque has rapid DC charging capability as standard, for fast top-ups. Away from home, using a rapid DC public charger, it can be charged from 0-80 per cent in as little as 30 minutes, claims maker Land Rover. Using a 7kW AC charger at home will charge in around two hours from 0-100 per cent. The other benefit? Tailpipe CO2 emissions as low as just 33 g/km, so it’s better for city air.
Usefully - for city types - SAVE mode lets the system recharge more effectively on the move when saving the battery for whizzing silently back into town. At a steady 70mph, up to 80 per cent of the battery charge can be attained in just 90 minutes, according to Land Rover. Other modes include Hybrid, letting the car ‘decide’ when to use just electricity, just petrol, or to combine both, and EV mode when just electricity is used, sufficient charge permitting.
Despite all the good news on emissions and electricity, this Evoque is no slouch; far from it. The 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine in the P270e, combined with the electric motor hidden in the rear axle, produces 265 bhp. That is sufficient to see it race from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds, with a top speed of 118 mph.
Button hole
Other changes for the latest model including a ‘floating’ 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen (the second, lower climate control screen has been replaced with a useful cubby hole, incorporating wireless phone-charging), and the addition of Amazon Alexa. The screen uses Land Rover’s great Privi Pro operating system, making menus relatively easy to navigate. No need to spend hours consulting the handbook first, despite initially hunting for buttons and dials that aren’t there.
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Kvadrat - a wool-blend fabric that Land Rover offers as an alternative to leather - is available, as is ‘Cabin Air Purification Plus’, which cleans and ionizes the breeze, useful in London and allegedly a benefit for driver alertness. The gear selector lever - stubbier now - is new too.
The makers are particularly proud of the InControl intelligent smartphone app, used to control various functions remotely. I’ve become addicted to checking my iPhone 15 Max to check charge status, range, where I parked it - and that I’ve locked and alarmed it. It’s also possible to view a list of all trips made in the car - even clicking on a map to see the route taken - and how much of the journey was EV-powered. Fascinating stuff. The app can even be used to pre-warm, or cool the cabin.
Sweet and low
On the road, the new Evoque feels more refined and sophisticated, and more spritely than previous models, with better ride quality and more responsive, eight-speed automatic transmission. The typical SUV driving position – not too low to the ground – is a boon for better vision. The steering is particularly light, although it can feel slightly remote at higher speeds. Generally, it’s a very sweet drive indeed, with the added benefit of all wheel drive.
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In town - and on motorways - the cabin remains hushed. Unlike some plug-in hybrids, the Evoque has a useful under load-floor storage area for cables, so that luggage room is not compromised.
The coupe looks are quite a conjuring trick, really. There’s plenty of headroom in the back (as well as front), and there a decent-sized 472-litre boot, boasting useful tie-downs for heavy loads, even shopping bag hangers.
In practice, when plugged into a converted Lambeth/Ubitricity lamppost, the Evoque’s batteries went from empty to full in just under two hours, costing £6.72 including VAT. The car’s own readout promised a range of 38 (not quite the promised 39) emission-free miles. Because of the electric range, the Evoque sits in the 12 per cent BIK tax bracket, and it’s worth noting that hybrid setup is offered across the Evoque’s trim line-up.
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The 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine might appear small for a Range Rover but does its job well, pulling strongly, only making its presence known when revved hard while the switch between EV and petrol is hardly noticeable. That engine actually sounds quite good. On longer, big-road trips, the Evoque acquits itself well, despite its compact dimensions.
Unlike some plug-ins, the Evoque actually likes to run on electricity only. This is more pronounced after plugging in but even on longer journeys - long after the plug-in charge has been used - it successfully regenerates enough amps, via regenerative braking, to ensure frequent EV-only periods of running.
It’s a neat city car package. Quiet, stylish sophisticated – and relatively clean. It just happens to like big trips too.
The Facts
Range Rover Evoque P270e S: £49,000
Engine: 1.5-litre 3cyl PHEV
Top speed: 118 mph
0-62 mph: 6.8 seconds
Power: 265 bhp
Claimed electric range: 39 miles
Claimed efficiency: 192.1 mpg
Emissions: 33 g/km
