Range Rover Evoque D180 SE R-Dynamic 2019 UK first drive

How to describe the new Evoque? Like the old Evoque but dialled up by 10%. And that’s exactly how Land Rover wants it.

Since launching seven years ago, the Evoque has done for Land Rover what the Porsche Cayenne did for Porsche, making it, perhaps, the most important model in its line-up. And while sales normally taper off as a vehicle ages, that hasn’t been the case here. The buyers just keep on coming.

When you have such a successful formula, wisdom suggests not to mess with it. The second-generation’s design is only a subtle evolution, yet looks can be deceiving because this car is fresh from the ground up.

The body structure is 99.9% new with only the door hinges remaining from the former car. Plus, it sits on a new platform, the Premium Transverse Architecture, which crucially allows for mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants and gives more interior space. 

Space was a major bugbear on the last Evoque. This new model has almost the same footprint as the previous generation – as dictated by buyers’ wishes - yet the wheelbase is 21mm longer. Land Rover admits that it lost prospective owners the first time round due to poor rear space versus rivals, so you’d imagine this was top of the ‘to improve’ list here.

When the Evoque launched, the compact SUV segment barely existed. Now, with a shedload of rivals, the Evoque must not only be on a par for space but everything else too. 

Diesel is certainly not dead when it comes to the Evoque: 75% of sales are expected to be oil-burners. There are six four-cylinder powertrain options, split equally between diesel and petrol. Bar the entry-level D150 diesel, all have a torque-vectoring four-wheel-drive system and are assisted by a 48V mild hybrid. 

Behind the wheel of the mid-range D180 diesel - likely to be the biggest seller – there’s enough grunt to satisfy on all but the steeper hills, although its pairing with the auto ’box can be troubled, acting overzealously when driving in anything but the smoothest of fashions. 

Still, the hushed tones of this engine should be applauded, as should the broader refinement of this car. It defiantly absorbs undulations and cossets the driver in equal measure, achieving this without the loss of decent dynamics. This doesn’t float around the road but instead moves with relaxed purpose and respectable body control into twists and turns.