Class: Premium Subcompact Crossover
Miles driven: 329
Fuel used: 15.0 gallons
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | C |
| Power and Performance | B |
| Fit and Finish | A |
| Fuel Economy | C |
| Value | C- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B |
| Tall Guy | B+ |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 246-hp 2.0-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbo 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 9-speed auto |
| Drive | AWD |
Real-world fuel economy: 19.7 mpg
Driving mix: 50% city, 50% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 20/27/23 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Premium gas recommended
Base price: $47,200 (not including $995 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Demo Specification Pack ($4770), Drive Pack ($1700), Interior Luxury Pack Plus ($2220), 16-Way Heated & Cooled Memory Front w/Heated Rear Seats ($1500), Head-Up Display ($900), 21-inch Style 5078 alloy wheels ($800), Meridian premium audio system ($800), Adaptive Dynamics ($715), Yulong White paint ($610), SirusXM radio All-Access Package and HD Radio ($500), Configurable Dynamics ($355), Click & Go Integrated Base Unit ($305), Ebony Morzine Headlining ($280), Natural Grey Ash Veneer ($205), Power Socket Pack 2 ($155)
Price as tested: $64,010
Quick Hits
The great: Posh interior materials; lively acceleration
The good: Sleek, distinctive styling; decent ride and handling
The not so good: Tight back seat; price rises significantly with options; disappointing fuel economy; intrusive stop/start and lane-keep-assist systems
More Range Rover price and availability information
John Biel
Land Rover has redesigned its fashion-forward Range Rover Evoque premium subcompact SUV for 2020. There’s updated styling inside and out, and more power on tap from both versions of its 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. That ought to make this pricey little bauble a little more desirable, but it has some quirks that can cool the ardor.
First, Consumer Guide editors drove an SE, which is the middle of three available trim levels. Then they grumbled. Dislikes ranged from somewhat big issues to relatively small stuff.
The two biggest complaints were an overly aggressive lane-keeping assist and a stop/start system that was always showing up late to work. The lane-minder would not be denied when it thought the driver had veered too close to the lane markings—and its definition of “close” was pretty conservative. A forceful wrench of the steering wheel that felt like it wanted to yank the helm from the driver’s hands at times was frequent and disconcerting, all the more so at higher expressway speeds, when momentum is likelier to lead the vehicle toward the outer limits of a lane on a curve. Unlike most stop/start systems, the Evoque’s didn’t refire the engine as pressure on the brake pedal was being released. Instead, it took a press of the accelerator to get the ball rolling, which resulted in delayed, boggy-feeling restarts. Fortunately, both can be switched off—but you’ll still be paying for them during the term of your lease or purchase plan.
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Much less critical from an operational standpoint but still less than ideal is, of all things, the cover for the cup holders in the console. A cover for drink receptacles is a subtle marker of automotive status: mass-market-brand vehicles tend not to have one; premium nameplates usually do. The Evoque cuts things pretty close with a pull-off lid, but if you’re using the cup holders, then the lid has to be stashed someplace. A graphic on the back of the lid suggests the glove box, but if this piece were sized and shaped properly, it could be stowed in the console box and double as a suspended small-item tray. Unfortunately, it’s not.
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The second-generation Evoque is not dramatically different visually from the previous package. Styling is evolutionary, with a “chopped-top” look that falls away slightly to the rear still in evidence. Total length is virtually the same, and wheelbase has been increased just 0.8 inch. However, that design choice locks in a tight rear seat with exit difficulties (foot room is tight), and while cargo space has been increased a little, 22 cubic feet behind the second-row seat isn’t really a lot for an SUV. One trick, new feature is flush door handles that pop out from the body when the vehicle is unlocked.
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P250-series Evoques wring 246 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque from the engine, gains of nine ponies and 18 lb-ft from the ’19 model. (There will also be a 296-horse P300 version of the turbo 2.0 fitted with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system in the form of a belt-driven motor-generator.) Power is channeled through a 9-speed automatic transmission now with a stand-up shift lever in place of the former pop-up dial gear selector.
The engine is pretty lively, and the transmission is—mostly—smooth and cooperative. With this powerteam the Evoque can tow up to 3306 pounds. As for fuel consumption, the EPA rates it at 20 mpg for city driving, 27 in highway operation, and 23 combined. When this tester put 172.2 miles on the test vehicle, 40 percent of that under city-type conditions, it returned 20.9 mpg.
CG’s test Evoque rode and handled well with the Adaptive Dynamics and a 21-inch wheel/tire package, both optional. The former monitors wheel position and body movements, and then relies on electronically controlled dampers to manage the ride. Standard equipment includes Terrain Response 2, which can automatically tailor the all-wheel drive to five different surface settings, or allow the driver to individually select a mode; hill-descent control; All Terrain Progress Control, a low-speed “cruise control” that maintains a consistent pace over rough terrain; and brake-enabled torque vectoring.
On the SE, the redesigned interior includes Touch Pro Duo, a pair of central touchscreens, neither of which is impenetrably difficult to follow or work. The upper one displays and controls things like standard navigation, audio, smartphone connectivity, and more. The lower one governs the standard dual-zone climate system. Two big dials are present to set temperature, but by pressing a fan-function icon, the right-side dial becomes a speed-setting rheostat. A 12.3-inch screen hosts virtual driving controls, including a configurable information display.
Interior materials are fairly luxurious, with standard grained-leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and plenty of soft-to-the-touch surfaces. The test vehicle was even plusher with extra-cost premium carpet mats, extended-leather upholstery, heated-and-cooled front and heated rear seats, and gray ash wood accents. Personal storage is fairly average. In front there is a passable glove box, modest covered console box, and door pockets. Second-row accommodations are small door pockets, hard-sided pouches on the backs of the front seats, and cup holders in the pull-down armrest. The rear seat folds—at a slight incline—in a 40/20/40 split to increase overall cargo capacity.
The SE that Consumer Guide tested started at $48,195 with delivery. In addition to standard items already mentioned, that also buys LED headlights with automatic high-beam control, heated auto-dimming power mirrors with memory function, ambient lighting, push-button starting, Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, emergency braking, driver-condition monitor, and rear cross-traffic monitor. However, a short list of the considerable option load that ran the total cost up to $64,010 included a hands-free tailgate, keyless entry, blind-spot assist, and satellite and HD radio—some things you might expect to be built in to a luxury-brand vehicle, especially one that’s a step up from the base model. OK, so we found one more thing to grumble about. . .
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