Ten years ago, the Evoque answered a question no one thought of asking: what happens if you took the utility out of “Sports Utility Vehicle?” The fallout saw the creation and subsequent mushrooming of a new segment. Players include all of the German luxury brands, each offering their interpretation of what a small, stylish SUV should be.
This, the sequel to the original city-SUV, will be hugely important to the company. In the face of a global slowdown in sales, accentuated by waning demand in China, Land Rover desperately need a win. But the Evoque finds itself up against a slew of new rivals. And it’s not just the newly-created competition, but internally too. The Land Rover range has been extended to the point where multiple models fulfil the same role. For Sri Lanka, mainly due to tax considerations, the Evoque is priced similarly to their own Velar, and Discovery Sport. Land Rover is clear about who the new Evoque targets. Gone are the emblazoned claims of the Evoque’s off-road ability. In comes positioning as a car for the city. As such, the Evoque’s external dimensions remain largely the same as the original – ideal for navigating tight alleys and multi-storey car parks. Dive a little deeper, and you’ll find the Evoque is still reasonably capable off-road. It has AWD, terrain-response, hill-decent control and can be outfitted with ultra-sonic depth sensors for water wading. But this is a segment dominated by style; something that, when first launched, the Evoque was lauded for. The silhouette of the original has been carried over. The broad strokes are roughly the same, but the chunky details are smoothed over. There’s subtle gravitation towards the cleaner elements introduced with the Velar. And, like the Velar, you now get the choice of an R-Dynamic design pack which adds fake vents and aggressive bumpers.
For now, the Evoque is offered with just one engine: a two-litre four-cylinder petrol mild-hybrid. It comes in three states of tune, with the model designation denoting power. P200, P250 and P300 have the corresponding amounts of horsepower. Being a mild-hybrid, the Evoque is never really an EV. Rather, the engine shuts down when coming to a stop, and the electric motor aids acceleration. The real headliner for Sri Lanka will be the import tax-friendly 1.5-litre full hybrid. These are slated for launch later in 2020, and will no doubt benefit from tax breaks in comparison to the 2.0-litre models. Inside, the centre console is predominantly a screen. Glossy and glary, there are very few physical buttons – the three screens are the primary way to interact with the various options and functions. The layout looks less futuristic now than it did when introduced on the Velar. The interior remains a nice place to be, with plush-feeling materials used liberally. If anything, the new car feels a cut above its predecessor in this department, offering a more relaxed and plush cabin.
We had the opportunity of testing old and new back-to-back. It became apparent that the new car edges even further away from the utilitarian underpinnings of LR’s forbears. The ride is well-controlled, although the magnetically adjustable suspension (coils, not air) doesn’t allow for the wafting sensation found in the flagship Range Rover. Instead, expect to feel the road, especially if rolling on larger wheels. But all is done while keeping body motion in check, despite a rather numb steering.
The 2-litre engine performs well, although it’s not the quietest, getting buzzy around the latter part of the tachometer. Despite having 250BHP, you’re hard-pressed to feel it. This is likely down to significant weight gain; a result of steel being used predominantly within the new platform. At over 1,800kgs it’s at least 200kgs heavier than the older car.
Overall, the Evoque has a lot going for it. Sadly, a tax-induced eye-watering price of Rs25mn means the few that are here will likely remain fairly exclusive. Once the hybrid, 3-cylinder version arrives, the appeal will increase. Assuming taxes don’t change the 1.5-litre hybrid may just sneak in under Rs15mn – a price that’s far more palatable for an SUV that will likely never leave the city. Just as intended.
Features
REAR-VIEW CAMERA SCREEN
An optional extra, flip the rear-view mirror to reveal a superclear wide-angle camera feed
UNDER-BONNET VIDEO FEED
The camera on the nose of the Evoque sends a delayed image of what you’ve passed over, stitched together to make the bonnet “disappear”
DEPTH SENSORS
The Evoque can be outfitted with depth sensors that magically scan the depth of the water you’re in, so you avoid drowning the many electronics
FIVE-DOOR ONLY
All Evoques of this generation will be five-door only. Due to lack of demand, there will no longer be a three-door or convertible
AWD
The Evoque is now front-wheel drive most of the time, automatically sending power to the back, and offering a form of torque vectoring for handling
Range Rover Evoque P250 SE
ENGINE 2.0 4cyl turbo
POWER 249bhp
TRANSMISSION 8-Speed Automatic
ACCELERATION 0-100kmph in 7.5secs
FUEL ECONOMY 10.3 km/l
PRICE LKR25mn