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Premium compact SUV; Built in
  • 2-door wagon
  • 4-door wagon
  • transverse front-engine/all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $26,300 – $45,300*


2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque


2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque


2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque


2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • All-wheel drive
  • Interior materials
Cons:
  • Entry/exit (2-door)
  • Price
  • Rear visibility

Evoque strays from the typical Land Rover template with its compact footprint, rakish styling, and turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant. This spunky, sporty new premium-compact SUV is both the smallest and (when new) the priciest vehicle in the class. Still, it should appeal to style-seekers looking for the utility of an SUV, the off-road ability of a traditional Land Rover, and the fuel economy of a much smaller vehicle. Skip the impractical 2-door model, however. It sacrifices much functionality.

Overview

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque made its debut as the smallest vehicle from this British SUV manufacturer. Evoque was a 5-passenger wagon available with 2 or 4 doors. All-wheel drive was standard and included Land Rover’s Terrain Response System, which automatically tailored AWD performance to specific off-road conditions. The sole engine was a 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Initially, it teamed with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This was replaced by a 9-speed automatic for 2014. Maximum towing capacity was rated at 3500 pounds. Available safety features included ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Additional standard safety enhancements included the AWD with Terrain Response and Hill-Descent Control, a Hill-Ascent Control that prevented rolling backwards when starting up steep slopes, and the standard rearview camera and front/rear obstacle detection. Evoque came in three trim levels: base Pure, sporty Dynamic, and top-line Prestige. Available features included dual-zone automatic climate control, navigation system, keyless access/engine start, power tailgate, and DVD entertainment. Also offered was a surround-view camera system that used five cameras to display a 360-degree view outside the vehicle.

Brand-conscious buyers doubtless saw Evoque as an alternative to the Audi Q5, BMW X1 and X3, and, to some extent, the Mercedes-Benz GLK. Others may also shop Volvo XC60 as well as the Acura RDX and Infiniti EX37.

Yearly Updates

2012 Range Rover Evoque
The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque entered 2013 with predictably few changes: a lower-priced base 4-door, a new parking-assist option, and off-road mapping and guidance as added functions for the available navigation system. In addition, all 2013s wore a subtly restyled grille that bore the Land Rover logo, which had been omitted to stress Evoque’s status as an upper-crust Range Rover.
2013 Range Rover Evoque
For 2014, the Range Rover Evoque got a 9-speed automatic transmission in place of a 6-speed automatic, and Land Rover’s “Active Driveline” on-demand 4-wheel-drive system came standard.

Engines

transverse front-engine/all-wheel drive

Initially, all Range Rover Evoque models used a single powertrain. This comprised a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that sent 240 horsepower through a 6-speed automatic transmission to a full-time all-wheel-drive system without low-range gears. For 2014, the six-speed automatic was replaced by a nine-speed.

Turbocharged dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.0/122
Engine HP 240
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 250
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic
9-speed automatic 		20/28
21/30 		21

Road Test

Evoque might seem “under-engined” for a near-two-ton SUV, but the 2.0 turbo-four delivers brisk takeoffs and good passing power with minimal throttle lag. Land Rover says 0-60 mph takes 7.1 seconds, which seems credible to us. The 6-speed automatic transmission is generally responsive too, but it sometimes “hunts” busily among gears, and shifts were bit harsh on one test car.

Consumer Guide’s test 4-door Evoques averaged 19.7 mpg in city/highway driving and a satisfying 24.3 with more highway miles. A 2-door returned 21.4 mpg in mixed use. Premium-grade gasoline is required.

No opportunity yet to evaluate models with the standard 19-inch wheels, but the available 20s combine with firm suspension tuning for a rather busy ride on some surfaces. Nothing jars, but there’s mild, unwanted fore/aft pitch and lateral rocking on uneven pavement and moderate thudding over large bumps and potholes. With all this, we suspect ride would be little different with the smaller wheels.

On-road cornering is marked by secure grip and only modest body lean, but Evoque seems heavier and less agile in quick direction changes than some other small SUVs. The electric-assist steering is light around town, but firms up nicely at higher speeds, though road feel could be better. Off-road ability is as expected of a Land Rover product. Despite a fairly simple AWD setup and no low-range gears, the Evoque can cope with all but the most severe situations, abetted by the Terrain Response System and Hill-Descent Control.

Though not as hushed as its big brothers, the Evoque is generally premium-class peaceful. The engine is never raucous or boomy, and wind noise is modest, though the large door mirrors generate some highway-speed whoosh. Low-rolling resistance tires are standard, to maximize fuel economy, but tend to be noisier than normal treads over coarse surfaces. Still, road ruckus isn’t irksome, just apparent, as in most SUVs.

A clean, stylish driver’s station features a novel rotary transmission selector, cribbed from Jaguar, which rises from the console on startup and retracts on switching off. Behind it is a row of Terrain Response buttons whose icons are not all self-evident. A large, 8-inch touchscreen at mid-dashboard governs fairly straightforward audio and navigation settings, but the screen itself is subject to the usual daylight washout. Below the screen are separate climate controls comprising just three dials and a few buttons, a convenience plus. The available surround-view camera system is a mixed blessing. It displays five exterior views, two of which can be enlarged, to aid maneuvering in tight spots. Trouble is, the touchscreen controls are a bit complicated. And unlike most vehicle cameras, these don’t automatically switch off when moving forward above walking pace, a potentially major driver distraction.

All Evoques offer a modern and, yes, stylish cabin ambiance featuring rich leather and ample-soft touch surfacing, though a few cheap-looking plastic bits are visible. Dynamic interiors are the jazziest but far from gauche, with tasteful two-tone upholstery, accents trimmed in metal and piano black. One test car was marred by slightly flimsy-feeling climate controls and steering-column stalks, plus a driver’s seat that could not be tilted up at the front.

Entry/exit is easy in 4-doors, but coupe doors are long enough to be cumbersome in tight spots. Front seats are well-padded and supportive, but their power adjustments are a bit short on range. Even so, legroom is 6-footer sufficient and headroom is fine, helped by minimal intrusion from the full-length sunroof and its opaque interior sunshade. The latter powers open to alleviate an otherwise coffin-like cabin feel, but we think it silly that the roof itself doesn’t open to assist ventilation–especially in 2-doors, whose rear side windows are fixed too. Rear visibility is limited by the sloping roofline and shallow side and rear glass, but the standard rearview camera helps compensate.

Evoque has more back-seat space than appearances might suggest. Still, like most small SUVs, the cabin isn’t wide enough for three adults except on short hops. The 4-door models furnish adequate headroom and legroom for two average-sized grownups, but 2-doors have less head clearance, so taller passengers will feel cramped. With all this, the coupe-optional rear bucket seats seem a waste of money. Entry and exit are OK on 4-doors and mission impossible on coupes. Though the latter’s doorways are large and step-in manageable, the front seats usually must be powered ahead to create an adult-size opening; even then, getting in or out requires much stooping and twisting–and the seats move at a glacial pace.

The standard power liftgate opens onto a fairly boxy flat-floor cargo bay. Land Rover claims 31.3 cubic feet of space behind the 60/40 split-fold rear seat and 62.2 maximum. The rear seatbacks lay nearly flat when folded, but reaching the releases in 2-doors requires a very long stretch. Useful small-item storage comprises a large glovebox, a deep center console bin, small cubbies in back, several door and seat pockets, and a Volvo-like semi-hidden tray behind the climate panel.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2013 Dynamic 4-door 20-inch wheels

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 6
60%
Fuel Economy - 5
50%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 6
60%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Front - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Rear - 5
50%
Cargo Room - 7
70%

Other

Value - 6
60%

Total: 61

Specifications

2-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
104.8 171.9 77.4 63.2
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
47.6 18.5 5.0
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.1 38.2 40.1 35.7
4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
104.8 171.9 77.4 64.4
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
51.0 18.5 5.0
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.3 39.7 40.1 36.4
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: N/A

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Engine noise
Description: A whistling noise from the engine at low speeds may indicate balance shaft gear failure. (2012)
Suspension problems
Description: Front suspension lower control arms could fail because of incorrectly torqued bolts. (2014)

Recall History

2012 Range Rover Evoque
Description: Insufficiently torqued brake-caliper bolts could result in a detached brake caliper and loss of brake function.
2012-13 Range Rover Evoque
Description: A faulty control unit may prevent the front passenger airbag from deploying or deploying properly in a crash.
2014 Range Rover Evoque
Description: Connecting bolts of the right-side rear suspension link arm may have been damaged during production and could separate from vehicle causing loss of control.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 20, 2016.
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