Used 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Can an off-road-capable SUV double as an ultramodern work of art and still be taken seriously? It can if it’s Land Rover’s 2015 Range Rover Evoque compact-luxury SUV. The Evoque takes it to competitors like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 by offering styling that’s supercar slick, and then tossing in a truly off-road-capable suspension and all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. Rubbing salt in the wound is the 3-door Evoque coupe, a unique vehicle in this segment that should hold strong appeal to those seeking exclusivity in their daily ride. A 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine attached to a lightweight body provides power to all five of the Evoque’s diverse trims.

In the civilized world, the Range Rover Evoque demonstrates a poise and level of ride and handling much more akin to a polished sports sedan. Body motions are measured and predictable, the steering firm and communicative and the power from the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine abundant. The 9-speed automatic seems like a bit of overkill, but it does help return impressive fuel economy when cruising along at 70, 75 or 80 mph. Off-road, we were impressed at just how well our Evoque SUV handled mud, deep rutted back roads and slippery inclines. One or more wheels always seemed to find traction, and the competent suspension managed to absorb the brutal impacts that surpassed the Evoque’s 8.3 inches of ground clearance. The system may lack the locking differentials and low range of its more expensive stablemates, but against its direct competitors the 2015 Evoque is as good or better.

Contrasting with the flashy exterior of the 2015 Range Rover Evoque luxury SUV is a simple-laid-out interior. Material quality is excellent, and the details like buttons and switches have a quality feel. The seats are comfortable yet supportive, and passenger space is good though a little tight in back. Sitting three across is strictly short-term. Accessing that rear seat is obviously more challenging in the 3-door. Cargo space is okay in both models with fold-down rear seats adding some room for loads, but the rakish, tapering body design does squeeze space.

The initial design for the Range Rover Evoque was carried over largely intact from the Land Rover LRX concept vehicle, and the 2015 Evoque SUV is little changed. That’s fine with us. While retaining the signature Range Rover details like a clamshell hood and "floating roof," the 2015 Evoque displays a less radical front end to coexist with an ultra-narrow greenhouse and sharply drawn features. Pragmatic types might gravitate to the more useful and $1,000-cheaper 5-door body style, while style-focused buyers will appreciate the slightly lower roofline and stylized hood vents found on the Evoque coupe.

ACTIVE DRIVELINE AWD
This system uses only the front wheels when cruising at speeds above 22 mph; it automatically activates the rear wheels when it senses extra traction is needed. Torque vectoring redirects engine torque among the four wheels to enhance stability in corners.

POP-UP SHIFT KNOB
Sometimes it’s the little things in life that delight most. The 2015 Evoque by Land Rover features a solid aluminum rotary shift knob that rises up from the console once the engine is started, then hides itself away again once the vehicle is powered down.

The 2015 Range Rover Evoque comes with an all-wheel drive system called Active Driveline. It also features such amenities as keyless entry and engine start, power-adjustable leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, 19-inch alloy wheels and an 11-speaker audio system with an 8-inch touch screen. Evoques also come standard with Land Rover’s Terrain Response system with its different modes for sand, mud and snow, and safety features like stability and traction controls, roll-stability control, Trailer Stability Assist (to help when towing) and six airbags.

Options are grouped into trim levels Land Rover calls design themes: Pure Plus, Pure Premium and Dynamic on both 3- and 5-door models, and also a base Pure and top-line Prestige on the 5-door only. The Pure Premium trim adds a 5-camera surround-view system, navigation, adaptive xenon headlights and a 17-speaker audio system. From there buyers can move up to either the sporty Dynamic or the luxurious Prestige trims, each offering specific interior and exterior upgrades. The optional Adaptive Dynamics system serves to improve ride and handling, while Adaptive Cruise Control manages the distance between the Evoque and cars ahead.

There’s only one engine available for the 2015 Range Rover Evoque: a 2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged 4-cylinder that provides good power, impressive running smoothness and virtually no throttle lag. Based on the engine in the Ford Explorer EcoBoost – a legacy from when the company owned Land Rover – the Brits have tweaked it for better waterproofing and operation at more extreme driving angles. The sole transmission offered is a new 9-speed automatic that includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual control. Full-time AWD is standard on all 2015 Range Rover Evoque luxury SUVs.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
240 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
250 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/30 mpg