Driving Impressions : 2020 Range Rover Evoque

By: Mark Moskowitz MD

Of this I am certain, people buy a Range Rover Evoque because they want a Range Rover. You might settle on a Jeep Compass or a Ford Escape because it fits your budget. An Evoque is a status symbol and a choice. One might think that with lists for the S and the SE versions being $42650 and $48195 that the Evoque is placed in reach of someone looking for compact AWD crossover/ SUV with a little extra pizzazz. But fit it out like my test SE with all the bells and whistles worthy of a luxury offering and the price can soar as mine did to past $65000. And that's without a hybrid option that can add $3950.

There's no mistaking its parentage; Range Rover is spelled out in large chrome letters front and rear. The horizontally oriented front and rear lights lead you to the emblazoned brand name. Styling on the sides is distinctive. The top slopes dramatically to the rear and body slopes to the front. Side chrome and side body sculpting is minimal. Eyes focus on its roof body relationship with its massive front glass and squished down rear, as well as its oversize wheel wells which are at their best when filled with optional 20 or 21' alloys rather than the puny stock 18's.

Overhangs are minimal, form following function in a car that is off road capable. The Evoque body sits more than eight inches off the ground and can safely wade through nearly two feet (23.6 inches) of standing water. Appropriately fitted models have Wade Sensing with measurement of depth displayed on the touchscreen. Another feature, Clear Sight Ground View, gives access to a real time view of what is below and in front of the front fascia.

Land Rover is an established leader in off road technology and the Evoque is the beneficiary. Torque vectoring, hill descent control, traction control, and Low Traction Launch are all part of the package. The system can actually detach drive from the front or rear depending on need. New to the Evoque is Terrain Response 2 which Driving Impressions has experienced in other Land Rover products; it's a useful feature which senses the terrain and adjusts multiple modalities accordingly. All Terrain Progress Control, an off-road cruise control which can be set from 1-18 mph, is worthy of note.

Most will never see rugged terrain in their Evoque; luxury, utility and tech will determine the buy. The interior is upscale. Mine was fitted with Deep Garnet leather, a rich color and a rich surface. The driver's seat was multi adjustable with movable side bolsters. Both fronts had ventilation for cooling and heating. Rear seats were heated and plush and comfortable as well though foot room and head room were a bit limited. The console contained vents for the rear but no independent control.

Most interior surfaces were well padded though this 5'10' driver's knees rested against the hard edge of the lower touch screen on the right and the seat memory buttons on the left. Only the upper end models have the lower touch screen (the Touch Pro Duo). The standard 10-inch touch screen swings out from the dash below the vents. The optional screen sits further below. It features paired dials with graphics within to allow precise control of climate, driving modes, sound and more. Both are augmented by a 12.3' interactive driver display and an optional heads up display. The touch screen's low placement puts it and its controls within easy reach but can distract one's focus from the road. Driving Impressions favors the use of programmable switches or hard buttons for commonly employed functions.

The Evoque is a joy to drive. It absorbs bumps well, reacts to input and in the proper modes has a sporting feel. One can depend on factory settings or pre-program one's preferences for steering and suspension dynamics, shift points and engine performance. The throttle is responsive and the car seems to move a bit faster than the factory claimed 7.0 second zero to sixty time credited to the two liter 246 horsepower four cylinder and the 9 speed automatic transmission. The hybrid version adds fifty horsepower and cuts that time to 6.6 seconds. Top speeds are stated to be 143 and 150 mph respectively.

Groceries and luggage can be easily loaded in to a 21.5 cubic foot space. There's a curb accessible gesture controlled powered liftgate. Rear seats can be folded in multiple configurations allowing a maximum of 50.5 cubic feet of storage behind the front seats. Fill the space to the panoramic roof and a roof mounted camera can be employed to provide a live feed to the rear-view mirror. Its graphics and especially those of the surround view system are enviable.

I enjoyed my time with the Evoque. Driving Impressions recognizes that this is a discretionary purchase; the cost of service and repair after the sale should be factored in. Past those hurdles this is a fun and able vehicle and especially appropriate for couples or singles daring enough to exploit its off-road potential.

* Fixed panoramic roof, powered gesture tailgate, premium carpet mats, electrically adjustable steering column, clear sight interior rear view mirror, ambient lighting package, keyless entry, blind spot assist, 360° surround camera, adaptive cruise control, high speed of emergency braking, leather steering wheel with atlas bezel, full extended leather upgrade, 16 way heated and cooled memory front with heated rear seats, Sirius XM, HD radio, 21 inch wheels, adaptive dynamics, Meridian sound system, heads up display, power socket pack 2, wade sensing, natural gray ash veneer, click and go integrated base unit, configurable dynamics, Ebony morezine headlining

Photo credit: Mark Moskowitz MD

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