Land Rover already offers the Discovery Sport if you’re looking for a compact luxury crossover, but if you want something more stylish there’s the better option – the 2020 Range Rover Evoque. The 2020 Evoque is all-new and just like its predecessor, it places a high emphasis on style, for those that care more about how they look than how much stuff they can carry around with them.
At a quick glance, the 2020 Evoque’s shape hasn’t changed that much from the original and its still about the same size. Under the skin the new Evoque rides on Land Rover’s new Premium Transverse Architecture, which gives it more interior space, while on the outside we see lots of Velar styling cues. The reskin gives the Evoque a more refined look than before and thanks to some of the design cues from the larger Range Rover models, the Evoque now looks even more stylish.
Thanks to the new architecture, the Evoque now also offers an electrified version and a plug-in hybrid is also on the way. Right now buyers can choose a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 246 horsepower and 296 lb-ft. in the P250 model. If you want more power the P300 version mates the turbocharged four-cylinder to a 48-volt hybrid system to give it 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. Both engines are mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive is standard.
The base 2.0-liter engine is rated at 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, while the mild-hybrid version is rated at 21/26 mpg.
Zipping around town the P300 packs enough power to get you from point A to B. The P300 reaches 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds, while the P250 takes seven seconds to reach 60 mph. On the road the Evoque is nimble tackles corners with minimal body roll, but the overall driving experience isn’t as sporty as the Porsche Macan.
While several of the Evoque’s rivals may pretend they are just as capable off-road as they are on the paved road, the truth is many of them aren’t. Luckily the Evoque can, with its 8.3-inches of ground clearance and 25-degree approach angle. It can also wade 23.6 inches of water and there are five driving modes for nearly any situation you’re in, like driving over sand, grass or mud. Its ClearSight Ground View system is also really cool since it lets you see what’s in front and under the Evoque as you tackle the trails.
We already alluded to it, but here it is. The Evoque’s stylish exterior looks great, but it comes at a cost. The Evoque’s interior feels much smaller compared to other small crossovers, like the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. Thanks to its low roofline, the rear seats feel cramped and its cargo capacity is on the small size. With the rear seats up there’s only 21.5 cubic feet of space. The slightly longer wheelbase does give it a bit more rear legroom, but overall the Evoque’s interior is snug.
Space issues aside the Evoque’s interior is wrapped in high quality materials and it comes packed with features, like dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting and a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also a second optional 10-inch display that controls the climate control system. In front of the driver there’s a cool customizable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The multiple screens are great, but the 10-inch screen does lag a bit.
On the safety front, the 2020 Evoque comes standard with lots of driver-assistance features, like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.
The pricing for the cheapest Range Rover starts at $42,650.
The second-generation Range Rover Evoque builds upon everything we loved about the first generation, but now with sleeker styling, improved tech and improved powertrain options. The Evoque still holds the title as one of the most stylish luxury compact crossovers and now it’s better than ever.
