6 Reasons The 2020 Range Rover Evoque Will Make it on to Your Bucket List Too
Connie Peters
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This has been on mine for years.
I don’t know what started the fantasy or how this car brand made it on to my top 10 in life list or why it conjures up ‘Look Ma, I made it!” vibes for me, but it does.
Luxury, speed, perfect for the city while being completely capable off-road (and in the crazy snow storm we had here the week I had it), the 2020 Range Rover Evoque doesn’t disappoint. Redesigned for 2020, the body style and rear passenger space have been refreshed considerably in the second generation Evoque.
Here are six things I discovered when I finally had a chance to drive a Range Rover (after years of daydreaming about it).
Read more about the facts, pricing, and detail about the 2020 Range Rover Evoque here.
The sleek driver cockpit in the 2020 Range Rover Evoque. ?: Connie Peters
1. It’s Highly Capable of Going Off-Road or Handling Winter Conditions
The week I had the Evoque, we had a few snowfalls, which isn’t our typical weather here on the West Coast. We get less than a handful of snowfalls each year here so the roads don’t get plowed immediately and generally, people aren’t great at maneuvering on the roads around the city (especially our local hills and mountains) in that weather. I took the Evoque out, put it in Gravel/Grass/Snow mode and off I went. Even with All-Season tires, it handled corners, braking, and acceleration with no hesitation. This drive mode setting “assess gradient, slip and yaw (twist), temperature and pressure to engage intelligent traction on slippery surfaces” with its 4×4 capability.
So there you have it, for occasional off-road fun or handling bad weather driving conditions, the Range Rover Evoque delivers.
The updated 2020 Range Rover Evoque body style. ?: Connie Peters
2. The Range Rover Brand Screams Status
Just like other European car brands do, Land Rover, and especially Range Rover, carries with it a brand-name status, making it feel a little fancy and pretty special when you’re driving in the carpool lane or off to work. This car had me feeling like a million bucks and like I should be wearing high heels and sunglasses every single day. I was channeling my inner big city diva all week.
Not only status and luxury, but history. Land Rover has been making high-end SUVs since 1978 and before that for over 100 years at Rover.
The Grass/Gravel/Snow mode navigated snowy roads with no hesitation. ?: Connie Peters
3. It’s Smaller Than You Think
The Evoque is the baby of the Range Rover family at only 172″ in length. If it’s more space that you want, you’ll need to move up to the Velar, Sport or full Range Rover. The Evoque is classed as a compact SUV and it really is, the interior feels compact and tight – even in the driver and passenger seats. The doors feel small and the back seat isn’t very spacious, making it great for city dwellers without kids.
Just have a look at the lineup, you can see the size upgrades as the price increases:
From Evoque to Range Rover, the body style changes as it gets larger.
While the interior felt small for passengers, you still get 21.5 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk and the higher ground clearance of an SUV.
Related: 2018 Range Rover Velar Review: This Brit Will Delight Design Fans – and Luxury SUV Fans too!
I can’t love the rear look of the Evoque any more! ?: Connie Peters
4. Its Size Makes it Perfect for City Life
It just fits. Its size makes it super easy to maneuver tight parking lots and quick city trips in comfort and style. I loved the peppy drive as well when the snow finally melted. Towards the end of the week, the roads dried up and I could drive in Comfort mode. The 296 horsepower HSE 300 engine performed very well and felt powerful under the luxurious leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The night lighting on the Evoque is like nothing I’ve seen before. ?: Connie Peters
5. Advanced Safety and Technology is Here
Even on the base model, plenty of advanced safety features are standard and included, like lane-keeping assist, emergency braking, front and rear parking aid, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition.
Moving up to the R-Dynamic HSE (300 hp) model gets you blind-spot assist, adaptive cruise control with stop & go and high-speed emergency braking.
Related: 10 Luxury SUVs You’ll Want
We get a big snowfall the week I had the Evoque! ?: Connie Peters
6. Maintenance is also Luxury Priced
Land Rover maintenance costs reflect the initial cost of the purchase and run on the expensive side. Regular oil changes can run upwards of $125 depending on your location.
Starting at $42,650 USD / $47,950 CAD and running up to $73,000 CAD for the nicely equipped model like the one I test drove, you can read more about what you get for your money here.
Iconic Range Rover branding on the Evoque. ?: Connie Peters
The Evoque is the entry-level option for those of you looking for the luxury and finesse of the Range Rover brand but with a more entry-level price point. Still not inexpensive, but you can have the luxury and head-turning design of this iconic brand if you can handle the small size.
Is Range Rover still on my life’s ‘bucket list’ after driving it for a week? Yes, of course! Its body styling, lux finishes in the interior, and capable drive feel (including snow and off-road) all add to my love for the overall look and feel of the Range Rover brand.
I played an upbeat throwback playlist the entire week I had the Evoque. Here’s what set my mood:
*The Range Rover Evoque was provided for a one-week test drive to facilitate this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
