The Evoque has always been about style, being the pampered younger sibling within the Land Rover range and now, it gains new updates which brings it closer to the bigger Land Rovers. The Evoque is more of a compact luxury SUV and actually, because of that, we like it more.
We drove the Evoque on a busy weekday in Mumbai and here, we were thankful of its smaller size which makes it less intimidating to slither through traffic. The proportions are spot on though with the high shoulder line, floating roof and the tight proportions. The basic shape of the Evoque has more or less remained the same and we like it that way with the coupe like stance.
What has changed is the styling around it with the new grille, bronze detailing below and slim headlamps with a new lighting signature. The wheels are new as well and it sits wide, low plus has a sporty look which gels well with its personality. The rear too has a refreshed look. Step inside and the doors close with a reassuring thud with a solid feel.
The Evoque is not some fragile city slicker but feels like a proper Land Rover. However, the interior is all new and is all about a minimalistic theme. There are no buttons- literally nothing with only a curved touchscreen having all of the controls. That might seem daunting but the touchscreen has been slightly angled towards the driver and major functions have been thankfully added to the side permanently. Also most functions require two taps- but you do need to take your eyes off the road to do that.
The touchscreen is slick too while the lower centre console now has more storage space. The digital dials are configurable as well and look the part while there are physical controls for the steering wheel.
The gear selector is new and the features list now includes, heated/cooled seats, powered seats, a massive panoramic sunroof, a surround view camera, digital rear view, PM2.5 Filtration and a premium audio system. With a sloping roofline, space at the back is limited and it is not the most spacious around. That said, this Land Rover is for the driver’s seat.
You sit slightly lower than your typical Land Rover seating position but visibility is still good. There are 2.0l mild hybrid petrol and diesels with a 9-speed auto. The engines are smoother with the diesel having a linear but reasonably smooth power delivery. Overtaking and instant power is available but when pushed the engine does get slightly noisy. The compact size means it is easy to drive while the suspension is slightly on the stiffer side. There is no tyre noise though and it can go off-road more than rivals while also feeling tough.
The new Evoque is Rs 67.9 lakh and it is a compact city-biased SUV that has all of the luxury plus style but can also take on the rough stuff if needed.
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