Range Rover Evoque – What you need to know

Land Rover has trimmed down its Range Rover Evoque model line to just four distinct variants from the previous 25, making the selection process much easier for the buyer but at the cost of a higher entry-level price and the loss of some diversity.

The revised line-up for 2021 is officially on sale already, and introduces an upgraded infotainment system with Bluetooth facility for two phones at once and the Spotify music-streaming app.

Owners are now handed an ‘Activity Key’ to take with them when they go swimming, skydiving, walking across hot coals, etc, without leaving the vehicle unlocked.

And a new Ingenium diesel engine powers one of the four variants, the other three being 2.0-litre petrol engines in two different states of tune.

There are other changes for the MY21 Range Rover Evoque as well, pertaining to driver-assistance technology and climate control.

While the starting price – $66,530 plus on-road costs for the Evoque R-Dynamic S P200 – is higher than before, it’s a jump of just $12,000 to the new flagship, the Evoque R-Dynamic HSE P250, at $78,512 plus ORCs.

All the variants are now R-Dynamic models too, featuring cosmetic upgrades to badging, grille, bumpers, side vents, mirror caps bonnet louvres and exhaust tips.

At the base of the model walk-up the Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic S P200 comes with these standard features:
• 10-inch Pivi Pro infotainment touch-screen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Six-speaker audio system
• Dual-zone climate control
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Driver fatigue detection
• Lane keep assist
• 360-degree camera monitoring with front and rear parking sensors
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Compact space-saver spare on steel rim
• Auto-on LED headlights

There are 11 colours to choose for the Range Rover Evoque, but 10 of them will cost you more. Fuji White is the only solid colour, the other 10 comprising: Firenze Red, Santorini Black, Yulong White, Seoul Pearl Silver, Nolita Grey, Eiger Grey, Carpathian Grey, Silicon Silver, Portofino Blue and Lantau Bronze. Fuji White is, naturally, a no-cost option, but the premium colours Carpathian Grey and Silicon Silver will add $2020 to the cost of the Evoque. The other metallic colours cost $1480.

Working our way down through the options list, here’s just some of what there is on offer, and what it will cost:
• Configurable Dynamics – $390
• Adaptive Dynamics – $1950
• Red brake callipers – $325
• Black contrast roof – $1050 (N/A with Santorini Black)
• Fixed panoramic roof with powered blind – $2100
• Sliding panoramic roof with powered blind – $2300
• Black exterior pack – $1680
• Privacy glass – $690
• Solar-attenuating windscreen – $430
• Heated windscreen – $380
• Heated washer jets – $250
• Advanced tow assist – $660
• Powered tailgate with gesture control – $170
• Premium LED headlights with signature daytime running lights – $1570 (S only, NCO for SE/HSE)
• Matrix LED headlights with signature daytime running lights – $3170 (S), $1600 (SE/HSE)

• Front fog lights – $330
• Headlight power wash – $380
• Auto high beam assist – $250 (S), NCO (SE/HSE)
• Animated directional indicators – $190 (S), standard (SE/HSE)
• Alloy wheels, 20-inch – $320 to $640
• Alloy wheels, 21-inch – $740 (HSE) to $3500 (S)
• Heated front seats* – $810 ($1610 with rear seat heating, $1700 with front seat position memory)
• Premium carpet mats – $290
• Ash woodgrain veneers – $160
• Electrically-adjustable steering column – $380
• Heated steering wheel – $690
• Suede-cloth headlining in either of two colours – $2020
• Extended leather upholstery upgrade – $405
• Full extended leather upholstery upgrade – $2530 ($2125 for HSE)
• Perforated leather upholstery – $4188 (NCO for HSE)
• Premium textile and suede-cloth upholstery – $4188 (NCO for HSE)
• Meridian sound systems – $800 to $2000
• Digital radio – $400
• Head-up display – $1300
• Rear seat vents and controls for dual-zone climate control – $1000

Land Rover offers numerous seating options, including cooling and massaging functions at different prices up to $5860 across the three trim levels. Some of the options are available at no extra cost, but mostly they’re not.

In addition, Land Rover can package the Evoque with a number of option packs, including Dynamic Handling Pack ($2265), Convenience Pack ($1500, $1360 for HSE), Premium Upgrade Interior Pack ($3070, $2310 for HSE), Technology Pack ($3340 for S), Cold Climate Pack ($1010), Premium Textile Pack ($405).

Standard driver-assist features for the MY21 Range Rover Evoque comprise autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring an all-round view camera system, a Clear Exit Monitor (to alert the driver of passing traffic when leaving the vehicle), adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue monitoring, lane keep assist, rear AEB, rear cross traffic alert and traffic sign recognition.

All Evoque variants come with parking sensors front and rear, but the associate feature, Park Assist (steering and throttle control), is an extra-cost option priced at $310.

Passive safety features on board include airbags for frontal impacts, for side impacts and side curtains to the protect the head of outboard seat occupants. In addition, there are ISOFIX anchorage points servicing the rear seats and an auto-locking system that can be configured by the user.

All three R-Dynamic variants in the Range Rover Evoque line-up share many standard features, despite the trim levels starting at the ‘S’ grade and finishing at the flagship ‘HSE’ grade, with ‘SE’ in between.

There are some conspicuous differences, however. All three come with a power-operated tailgate, for instance, but only the Evoque HSE offers the convenience of gesture control to open it.

Headlight levelling is available across the range, but buyers have to order the SE or HSE models for automatic levelling. Similarly, the ‘animated directional’ indicators can be ordered with the Evoque S as an extra-charge option, but are standard for the mid-spec and range-topping models.

Illuminated metal treadplates featuring branded script are standard for the Evoque HSE and can be specified for the two lower-grade variants.

An auto-dimming rear-view mirror is standard for the Evoque S and SE grades, but the high-spec Evoque HSE is fitted with the ClearSight mirror, which incorporates an advanced high-definition camera display for a wider-angle view. The driver can toggle between the standard mirror view and the wide-angle camera system.

A 400W Meridian sound system with 12 speakers is a no-cost option in the Evoque HSE, but this system requires an extra outlay in the lower-priced variants, and even ordering the flagship won’t get you the 650W version with 14 speakers unless you slip the salesperson an extra $800, which is $2000 for the other variants.

Are you satisfied with the standard 10-inch touch-screen to select your different infotainment choices? Or would you prefer the upgrade to the more advanced Touch Pro Duo system that’s standard in the Evoque SE and HSE?

How about an ‘interactive driver display? Once again, you’ll have to order the SE or HSE grades for the sophisticated system over the analogue instrument cluster with TFT trip computer display of the Evoque S.

While three out of the four variants of MY21 Range Rover Evoque are powered by turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engines, the powerplant at entry level, under the bonnet of the Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic S, produces lower output.

Power peaks at 147kW and maximum torque is rated at 320Nm, for a combined-cycle fuel economy figure of 8.1L/100km.

Like all other Evoque engines, the P200 engine, as it is known, drives all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

In contrast, the P250 engine – also a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder – develops 184kW and 365Nm for the same fuel economy figure as the P200 unit, 8.1L/100km.

The more powerful engine is standard in both the Evoque R-Dynamic SE and HSE grades.

Just one diesel is offered, the D200 engine in the Evoque R-Dynamic SE, generating 150kW and 430Nm. Fuel economy for this variant is yet to be advised.

Any purchasing decision where the Range Rover Evoque is concerned will be driven by the buyer’s specific wants or needs.

Will the buyer have the cash or finance to pay for the plethora of options and option packs that can be ordered with the Evoque? If so, then there’s no doubt; buy the Evoque HSE unless you really want the diesel-engined Evoque SE.

If money is an object, you probably shouldn’t consider purchasing the Evoque anyway.

I like the idea of the diesel in the Evoque, despite that engine technology falling out of favour in recent times, but the P250 variant can polish off 0-100km/h time in 7.5 seconds, which is not bad for an SUV of this ilk.

The roughly $2000 saved by opting for the petrol-engined Evoque SE rather than the diesel would pay for a nice premium metallic colour, or something of similar value, like the 14-speaker Meridian audio system. Or just save the money…

So I would choose the Evoque R-Dynamic SE P250.

How much does the Range Rover Evoque cost?
R-Dynamic S P200 – $66,530
R-Dynamic SE P250 – $73,823
R-Dynamic SE D200 – $75,800
R-Dynamic HSE P250 – $78,51

*Prices exclude on-road costs