While many of its SUV rivals are busy justifying their existence with stirring performance or outsized cargo capacity, the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque goes for the jugular with one of the most attractive designs in the business. The Evoque’s cabin is similarly stylish and inviting—at least for front-seat passengers, as those too slow to call shotgun may find themselves feeling claustrophobic in the back seat. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides adequate power, although rivals such as the BMW X1 and the Volvo XC40 T5 are both quicker. The Evoque’s handling is less poised than its rivals, too, but its tall seating position delivers an SUV-appropriate feel from behind the wheel, which is something we think many buyers in this segment will appreciate. Following Bestechz!
Contents
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Unfortunately, the Evoque’s chunky exterior dimensions belie its cabin space, which is tight—especially for those in the back seat. When compared with other subcompact SUVs such as the X1 and the XC40, the Evoque’s rear seats feel downright confined. That said, interior materials are quite nice. The Evoque can be ordered with a very cool textured-cloth upholstery that covers the seats, door panels, and dashboard; leather is still offered as standard, though. Other standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, and ambient interior lighting. Cargo space behind the rear seat isn’t as generous as you’d expect from an SUV, but it held six carry-on suitcases in our testing, which aligns with a good part of the segment.
2020 vs. 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: What’s the Difference?
Following a full redesign for the 2020 model year, the Range Rover Evoque sees more notable changes for 2021. The previously optional 296-horsepower engine is no longer available, leaving all models with a 246-horsepower setup. Satellite radio and a surround-view parking camera system are now standard, and a Wi-Fi hot spot and wireless device charging are newly optional. Additionally, the infotainment system now runs the Pivi Pro software, which is easier to use and performs better than the outgoing Touch Pro Duo interface.
Here are the key changes for the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque over the last few years:
- 2017: convertible body style became available
- 2018: 286-horsepower engine made available; two-door coupe model discontinued
- 2019: minor updates to infotainment graphics and operation
- 2020: fully redesigned with new 246- and 296-horsepower engine choices, longer list of standard infotainment and active safety features, and extended rear-seat space; convertible model discontinued
- 2021: optional 296-horsepower engine discontinued; infotainment software upgraded; more standard and available features
If you’re considering an older model, be sure to read our 2018 Range Rover Evoque, 2019 Range Rover Evoque, and 2020 Range Rover Evoque reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.
Behind The Wheel
Despite our tester’s 21-inch rollers, the Evoque rides surprisingly well around town, absorbing small impacts without protest with our tester’s optional adaptive suspension set to its most relaxed mode while also keeping road noise at bay. Switching the drive mode from Comfort to Dynamic firms up the response noticeably, but it remains far from objectionable for most daily driving situations. While it’s not outright sporty, the well-weighted steering and responsive brake pedal give the Evoque sure-footed confidence on twisty stretches of tarmac.
The powertrain is where the Evoque stumbles a bit, however. The crossover’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder power plant comes in two different flavors, with the standard mill making 246 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, while R-Dynamic models add a mild hybrid system to the mix and receive a healthy output bump to 295 hp and 296 lb-ft.
The former’s grunt is enough to move the Evoque around with reasonable haste, but overall response is far from perfect. Even with auto stop/start disabled, the drive mode set to Dynamic and the transmission in sport mode, off-the-line throttle response is so poor it had us reconsidering how we drove the vehicle. Drop the hammer from a dead stop in those settings and you’ll still have enough time to say “What the…” before anything resembling urgent acceleration begins to happen. Add auto stop/start back into the mix and dial the vehicle back into its typical driving settings, and the problem is only exaggerated.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All Evoque models come with a 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen running Land Rover’s Pivi Pro interface. The system offers good functionality and is much improved over the 2020 models’ InControl Touch Pro system, but buyers will still need to get accustomed to its quirks. Navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration are all standard; a head-up display, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a Meridian premium audio system with SiriusXM satellite radio are both optional.
