New 2024 Range Rover Evoque Review: Expensive Premium Plug-in Hybrid! The updated Evoque has been equipped with new technology and an impressive plug-in hybrid powertrain to remain competitive, but this comes at a considerable cost.
Indictment
The Evoque is still a standout offering in the premium compact SUV sector. The interior now comes with the technology to support class-leading quality, and the plug-in hybrid powertrain is impressive – as long as you keep it charging. However, they are expensive, and there are more practical alternatives.
Range Rover describes the Evoque as its “biggest sales success story” and it's not hard to see why. It takes the luxury appeal of the big-bodied Range Rover and condenses it into a smaller, more affordable offering.
It's fun to drive and most importantly, it stands out visually in the super competitive premium SUV market. For 2024, Range Rover has refined its baby SUV and we've tried it with plug-in hybrid power in the top-end Autobiography trim.
Despite the exterior changes, you wouldn't call it a facelift. There's a new front grille and slimmer front and rear lights, following Range Rover's new reductive design approach. The front also features a revised 'Pixel LED' with new matrix dimming technology.
It seems more effort has been made to give the interior a refresh. The biggest change is the move from a dual-screen display to a single, larger touchscreen in the center of the dash. Where previously you'd find a 10-inch unit above a smaller climate control panel on the bottom, everything has been combined into a new 11.4-inch touchscreen.
As installed on other models, the brand's latest Pivi Pro operating system is excellent. The menus are easy to navigate, and there aren't many unnecessary steps to find the main functions. The response was also quick and resolution sharp, although we did notice the screen getting a bit hot. The new layout looks very slick (not that the old setup is outdated) and the removal of the bottom screen allows for additional storage and a smartphone charging pad. The center console also has a classy 'Grey Ash' finish on our car.
But this was not a complete success. When you're on the go, it's harder than ever to adjust climate control without a physical switch to work with. The gear selector has been replaced with a stiffer lever, which provides decent support for your wrist when using the screen, but the integration of the volume control into the screen is a pain. At least there are physical buttons on the steering wheel for the driver.
The rest of the interior remains virtually unchanged, although Range Rover is encouraging customers to consider leather alternatives to make it more environmentally friendly. That said, our car had quite lovely elongated leather in Cloud/Ebony (standard on this top-spec Autobiography) – although we probably wouldn't recommend this color combination to parents of naughty kids.
There's also plenty of space in the front and back – even for tall adults. You wouldn't call the rear particularly gloomy, but the large sliding panorama that's standard on the Autobiography (a £1,600 option on the entry-level S and Dynamic SE) helps make it roomier. The placement of the battery on this PHEV model means you get a smaller fuel tank, but boot space is unaffected, with an average of 472 liters available.
Regarding how the plug-in hybrid P300e drives, the story is similar to before. However, its rivals have improved their plug-in recipes since the PHEV-powered Evoque was launched in 2021. The 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol-electric engine is unchanged – at least in size. Range Rover has tweaked the chemistry of the 15kWh battery to increase the electric vehicle's range, which now stands at 39 miles. For company car users, this is a shame, as it means the Evoque falls into the Benefit in Kind tax bracket of 12 percent, losing out on just eight percent of the appeal for cars capable of traveling 40 miles or more. The Mercedes GLA 250 e and BMW X1 xDrive30e may appeal more to business users.
The Evouqe's plug-in hybrid system is still impressive and is offered across the Evoque trim range. We found the 39-mile range claim to be quite realistic even in sub-zero temperatures. As with most PHEVs, the headline figure of 190.9mpg is only achievable if you make the most of the electric assist; run the Evoque with just its petrol engine and you'll struggle to break 30mpg.
The three-cylinder petrol unit may sound a little tiny for a two-tonne Range Rover, but when in hybrid mode its 304bhp and 540Nm of torque provide plenty of power. The switch between petrol and EV operation is also quite smooth, and it's only when you lean into the engine that you hear a distant rumble.
For a Range Rover, the Evoque is excellent at cruising around town with tight and responsive handling, although using its bigger sibling's steering wheel doesn't seem necessary. It's on the road that the Evoque does its best work, feeling much larger than its dimensions comfortably and reassuringly. You can use 18- or 19-inch wheels, but the ride felt very smooth even on our car's 20-inch rims.
The majority of updates for 2024 have improved what was already a solid choice in the plug-in SUV sector, but this has also been accompanied by a fairly sharp price increase. The Evoque now starts from £40,080 in the most basic S trim level – an increase of more than £5,000.
This version specs a hybrid powertrain and the car costs £53k – making it much more expensive than a BMW X1 or Mercedes GLA with similar specs. At £63,565, our top-end Autobiography is placed at the same price point as the larger Lexus NX (which now comes with a PHEV option) and the BMW X3 xDrive30.
Model: Range Rover Evoque P300e
Price: £49,000 (£63,565 as tested)
Power source: 1.5 liter 3 cylinder petrol, 1x e-motor, 15kWh battery
Power/torque: 304bhp/540Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
0-62mph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed: 132mph
Range: 39 miles
Efficiency/emissions: 190.9mpg/33g/km
Length width height 4,371mm/1,904/1,649mm
On sale: Now
