2020 Range Rover Evoque Review: S D180
Content
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10
- How practical is the interior space? 8/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
- What is it like to drive? 8/10
- Verdict
Last year, the second-generation Range Rover was introduced to great acclaim. Making a sequel to the ten year old original was a job I wouldn't enjoy, but mostly because I'm a coward who prefers to judge these things.
The second version of the Evoque has become a larger, more advanced and technological SUV. The previous car has been around forever, and the only real change was the new line of Ingenium modular engines.
However, the real question is, can you do without a low-spec Evoque (remember, these things are relative) and not feel like you've wasted your money? To find out, I spent a week in the D180 S.
| Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 2020: D180 S (132 kW) | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | |
| engine's type | 2.0 L turbo |
| fuel type | Diesel |
| Fuel efficiency | 5.8l / 100km |
| Landing | 5 Places |
| Price from | $56,000 |
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
The Evoque lineup is still dizzyingly large, with four trim levels and six engines. My Evoque this week was a base S model paired with the second of three diesels, the D180.
My Evoque this week was a base S model paired with the second of three diesels, the D180.
It might be the base model, and it's often compared to compact SUVs like the BMW X2 or Audi Q3 (it's not that compact), so the $64,640 base price seems a little stiff.
A little Range Rover is added to the price, but it's also significantly larger than its European rivals.
The base price includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with automatic high beams, power front seats, leather trim, dual-zone climate control, a six-speaker stereo system, satellite navigation, a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, control, electric drive. everything, wireless hotspot and spare part to save space.
It also comes with a massive 10-inch center screen with JLR's InControl software that's light years ahead of where it started.
With a nice tiled interface, you can connect a phone app to it to tell you everything about the car, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Satellite navigation is beautiful, but still a little lackluster.
If someone buys an Evoque without any options, did they really buy an Evoque?
The local Range Rover team certainly doesn't think so, with 20-inch wheels ($2120), 14-way heated front seats (also heated rear seats) for $1725, "Drive Pack" (adaptive cruise, blind spot detection , High Speed AEB, $1340), "Park Pack" (Clear Exit Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Park Assist), Keyless Entry & Start ($900), Safety Glass ($690), Digital Instrument Cluster (690 dollars), "Touch Pro Duo". second screen controls climate control and various features, $600), Smart View rear mirror ($515), power tailgate ($480), surround view cameras ($410), ambient lighting ($410), digital radio ( $400) and paddle shifters ($270).
Our test car had 20-inch wheels ($2120).
Some of these things really should be standard, like high-speed AEB, keyless entry and start, and reverse cross traffic alert, but they are.
Obviously, you can get away with far fewer options, but the Touch Pro Duo, Drive, and Park packages are a smart buy for a family car, and if the dealer doesn't throw in DAB for free, turn them in to the cops.
All of this pushed the price up to $76,160. So it was hard for me to judge if this "entry level" Evoque was worth the money, but I'll give it a kick.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10
Evoque is very beautiful and it's hard to find someone who disagrees with me. Even other designers are a little jealous of what Jerry McGovern and his team can do, this time without the annoying Spice Girl ads.
I think this car is much closer in design to the LRX concept that started the whole Evoque phenomenon (and, in case you're wondering, started the career of Rob Melville, now McLaren's chief designer).
Evoque is very beautiful and it's hard to find someone who disagrees with me.
The flush surfaces are quite nice and probably work a little better here than on the Velar. It just seems to be a better fit for this size. My only complaint is that there is no longer a three door version.
However, it works best on large wheels. The standard 17 is completely lost in the flared wheel arches, so spend some money on bigger hoops.
The cockpit is another triumph. The combination of traditional Range Rover bulkiness and sleek lines is a big step up from the old car.
With the Touch Pro Duo, it looks tech-y and everything works with everything else as far as graphics are concerned. A consistent look is something you don't notice, but when it's done wrong, it's annoying.
How practical is the interior space? 8/10
The new Evoque seems to be significantly larger than the old one. Passenger space is more spacious, in part due to the longer wheelbase, so four adults will fit comfortably. The fifth is not so much, but few cars succeed, and certainly not in this segment.
Trunk volume is 591 liters, which is unheard of in the compact SUV segment and hard to find in the next size up. Cargo space is pretty good, with over a meter between the wheel arches, but when you fold down the rear seats they don't go completely flat, which can be a drama.
You get two cupholders front and rear, as well as a large basket on the center console that hides the USB ports. If you plug it in, your phone has to be on the tray under your elbow, and frankly, it's annoying. I really can't figure out why this annoys me, but here it is.
If you want to go off-road, the Evoque has a ground clearance of 210mm, a wading depth of 600mm (I rode one on a river), an approach angle of 22.2 degrees, a liftoff of 20.7 and an exit of 30.6. Not amazingly good, but there aren't many cars in this class that can do it all.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
The 2.0-liter Ingenium engine is exactly the same size as all engines offered in the Evoque. Of course, there are six of them, and why not? The D180 is the second of three turbodiesels, delivering 132 kW of power and 430 Nm of torque.
The 2.0-liter Ingenium engine is exactly the same size as all engines offered in the Evoque.
It's a Range Rover, so it has all-wheel drive with an electronic rear differential and nine-speed automatic power to the wheels.
Range Rover claims to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.3 seconds and can tow 2000 kg.
The chunky little beast weighs 1770kg and has a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVM) of 2490kg.
How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
Even though it's a diesel, the stocky boy's claimed fuel consumption figure of 5.8L/100km looks a bit optimistic. It did, but not much.
Our week with the car (during which it was driven carefully because I managed to do something unspeakably painful to my back, causing genuine fear of even the slightest bump or roll) we got 7.4 l / 100 km. Quite good.
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10
The Evoque comes with six airbags, a pedestrian airbag, ABS, Stability and Traction Control, AEB with Pedestrian Detection, Rollover Stability, Hill Descent Control, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Assist lane keeping, speed zone recognition and driver fatigue warning.
As mentioned earlier, you can add various security features with Drive Packs and Park Packs.
The Range Rover Evoque received the maximum five stars from ANCAP in May 2019.
There are two ISOFIX anchorages and three top cable points.
The Range Rover Evoque received the maximum five stars from ANCAP in May 2019.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
3 years / 100,000 km
guarantee
ANCAP Safety Rating
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
Annoying is the fact that the Range Rover still has a three-year 100,000 km warranty, which I know is not too good for dealers.
Mercedes-Benz recently switched to a five-year plan, so hopefully the rest of the luxury sector will follow suit. In fact, perhaps part of the welcome to life after Corona could be just such an announcement.
On the other hand, the maintenance mode is really good. Like a BMW, this is condition dependent and means you will most likely only have to go back to the dealer once a year.
If you want to prepay for the service, you can do so for five years and it will cost you $1950, or just under $400 per year. To bargain.
The Mercedes GLA will cost you $1950 to $2400 in just three years, and five years is a lot more for $3500. A BMW X2 or Audi Q3 will cost you roughly $1700 over five years.
What is it like to drive? 8/10
Until I drove a D180, I didn't drive a diesel Evoque, even during the long run of the first generation. The P300 is the ultimate car, but you are certainly paying for the privilege.
I can't say I expected much from driving the Evoque (which I had driven before I got injured), but I left quite impressed.
The steering was very light.
There were only two things that truly annoyed me. First, the steering is too light. While it's fine-tuned for city driving and minimal effort, it took a while to get used to.
The second, and completely selfish, is that the Evoque's diesel engine isn't as fast as some of its smaller competitors. But that's all.
As soon as you start moving, the feeling of slowness disappears because the combination of the now much more advanced nine-speed automatic transmission and that huge amount of torque means very fast and/or relaxed movement.
Range Rover claims to reach 0 km/h in 100 seconds.
In the old days, a nine-speed car spent a fair amount of time looking for the right gear. It seems to be at home in the turbodiesel, ensuring it stays in that thick torque band.
It's also a terribly competent car to drive. Despite its off-road ability (no, you can't get too carried away, but it will do more than most), it feels great on the road. Not too soft, but with a pleasant ride and handling both in the city and on the highway.
Verdict
The D180 can be more expensive than other cars it compares to. You can thank Land Rover's odd habit of spreading out dimensions for that. But it comes with a fair amount of carefully chosen gear. It's a little annoying that you have to tick a few boxes to get the job done (at least the packages aren't too stupidly priced), but I think you know what you're getting into.
The Evoque is a great car that will delight you every time you look at it. Even with the D180 S, you get the many benefits that the Evoque has to offer. It's also a much more solid car than any of its German rivals, with far more options.
