2021 Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic SE D200 review
The 2021 Range Rover Evoque is posh, premium and packed with tech, but it’s not perfect.
- Styling is sleek and elegant
- New infotainment system is a winner
- Warranty is longer than its main rivals
- The drive doesn’t inspire
- No ports for back seat passengers
- Once you start adding options it becomes very pricey
Introduction
The 2021 Range Rover Evoque is one of the more posh-looking cars in the luxury medium SUV segment. It’s not just its style that’s worth boasting about, though, it’s a pragmatic vehicle too.
The previous model of the Evoque offered a far more complicated line-up. Similar to when you go into a restaurant and are handed a menu with far too many choices, it can be quite the head-scratcher.
Thankfully, the new Evoque range has been refined with four versions on offer – all with the sportier-looking R-Dynamic design package fitted as standard. The fresh model also scores snazzy doorhandles, a new-look infotainment, and new underpinnings designed for the overseas hybrid models.
It kicks off with the S that has a starting price of $67,415, followed by the mid-spec SE from $74,849 for the petrol, also offered in a diesel from $76,685, and tops out at $79,538 for the range-topping HSE. All prices are before on-road costs.
The model we had on test was the 2021 Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic SE D200. Options were plentiful with ClearSight interior rear-view mirror ($1230), black contrast roof ($1050), cabin air purification system ($777), privacy glass ($690), DAB radio ($400), and premium carpet floor mats ($290) – bringing the total test model cost to $81,122 before on-road costs.
The SE D200 packs a four-cylinder turbocharged diesel mild-hybrid engine paired to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and is all-wheel drive. More on the drivetrain later.
The Range Rover Evoque sells, and fairly well I might add. But its numbers don’t quite match up to the high flyers of the class in the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. Style is a personal preference, so you can be the judge of which you like the most, but let’s delve into the price tag.
In comparison, for around $74,900 plus on-roads you can pick up the Audi Q5 2.0-litre 40 TDI Sport or the BMW X3 2.0-litre xDrive20d. While pricing for these is slightly lower in comparison to the Range Rover, once you start adding options to any of these, it’s much of a muchness.
Though the prices are similar, it may just come down to the badge or personal choice in terms of style. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Evoque sits in the medium SUV segment and therefore has competition from within, with the Land Rover Discovery Sport and slightly larger Jaguar F-Pace and Range Rover Velar overlapping on price. So, when you’re shopping in a Jaguar Land Rover showroom, there’s a heap of choice.
Standard feature highlights in the Evoque include a powered tailgate, 14-way power-adjustable front seats, automatic high-beam headlamps with auto-levelling LED daytime running lights, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, flush exterior doorhandles, leather steering wheel, 3D surround camera and 20-inch wheels.
It’s worth noting the exterior styling of this car that is bold and no doubt a head-turner on the road. The standard R-Dynamic design gives it that extra edge adding a black grille and mirror covers, black bonnet and side vents, body-coloured lower front bumper, and burnished copper exhaust tips.
| Key details | 2021 Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic SE D200 |
| Price (MSRP) | $76,685 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Fuji White |
| Options | ClearSight interior rear-view mirror ($1230), black contrast roof ($1050), cabin air purification system ($777), privacy glass ($690), DAB radio ($400), and premium carpet floor mats ($290) |
| Price as tested | $81,122 plus on-road costs |
| Rivals | Audi Q5 | BMW X3 |
Inside
You’ll want to spend plenty of time in the Evoque cabin. It all looks rather swanky with its sloped dash and premium-looking materials throughout including leather seats and gloss trims. Our interior was kitted in ebony grained leather with ebony interior, but there’s also the cloud/ebony combination available.
The leather steering wheel has a real presence carrying that familiar luxe-looking Range Rover badge, while the steering wheel touch buttons not only look plush in a piano black, but are also easy to use.
The storage isn’t bad – while the storage compartment underneath the centre console is decent, there’s no other space up high to store anything, so I found myself throwing a lot of items into the cupholders, of which you get two, plus an extra in each of the door bins. This car doesn’t get a wireless charger, but there is a USB-A, USB-C and a 12-volt socket up front.
The back seats are roomier than I initially suspected. For a car of this size, the back gets enough leg and head room, which my passengers found extremely comfy on trips through the week. It’s certainly a car you want to pick your friends up in, and even with two taller adults in the back, I didn’t hear any complaints.
The back row also has a pull-down armrest with two cupholders, dedicated air vents, door bins and seat back pockets. They don’t get to charge their phone, though, missing out on USB ports.
The boot is accessed via a power tailgate, and in terms of size it’s 20cm wider than its predecessor and measures 591L. So while it’s not overly deep, it’s wide enough and includes a full-sized spare, lights, and hooks on either side for added convenience.
Overall, aside from lacking a few niceties, I really enjoyed sitting inside this cabin on test. It’s plush, stylish, comfortable and has just enough space, even if you were looking at it as a potential family SUV.
| 2021 Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic SE D200 | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 591L |
| Length | 4371mm |
| Width | 1996mm |
| Height | 1649mm |
| Wheelbase | 2681mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
The new infotainment system is a real asset to this car. It scores the company’s Pivi infotainment system that allows simultaneous Bluetooth connection with two phones, integrated Spotify with music streaming, and over-the-air software updates via an in-built data connection. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are packed into this.
The layout looks really snazzy, too, with a 10.0-inch display on top as your main touchscreen and a climate-control screen just below, which also houses your vehicle settings. It’s all designed perfectly in terms of placement and the size of the controls – in particular, the temperature dials that are large and within easy reach.
Phone pairing is simple, and if you’re a fan of a good sound system, I’m happy to report that the 180W sound system is of great quality. The camera is exceptional with both on- and off-road views, and with 3D capability it made parking in tighter spots a lot easier. The reverse sensors’ noise is a little overpowering, but other than that they’ve done a great job not only with presentation, but with the quality of the system.
Safety and Technology
The Evoque is packed with plenty of advanced safety features including adaptive cruise control, driver-condition monitor, emergency braking, blind-spot assist, wade sensing, clear-exit monitor, lane-keep assist, front and rear parking aid, front and rear parking sensors with autobrake, rear collision monitor, rear traffic monitor, traffic sign recognition and adaptive speed limiter customer. I must mention the nifty fixed speed camera alerts that chime and pop up on the infotainment screen when driving, which I haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing too often.
It also has six airbags, two ISOFIX points and three top-tether points, and scored the maximum of five ANCAP stars when it was tested in 2019.
| 2021 Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic SE D200 | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2019) |
| Safety report | Link |
Value for Money
It wasn’t too long ago that Range Rover stepped it up a notch and adopted a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty (previously three). A good move that puts them ahead of main competitors in BMW and Audi who are both still only offering three. Servicing will cost you $1950 as a part of the five-year plan.
In terms of consumption, Land Rover claims 5.7L/100km, and we weren’t too far off by returning a reading of 6.3L/100km. The driving during testing was a mixture of freeways and urban.
| At a glance | 2021 Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic SE D200 |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited kilometres |
| Service intervals | 12 months – condition-based |
| Servicing costs | $1950 5yr/102,000km |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 5.7L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 6.3L/100km |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Fuel tank size | 65L |
Driving
As mentioned, this particular model packs a four-cylinder turbocharged diesel mild-hybrid engine paired to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and sends power to all four wheels. It delivers 150kW of power and 430Nm of torque. Respectable numbers, but this car feels anything but powerful.
The Evoque is slow off the mark, and when the power eventually kicks in it feels inconsistent. With peak torque available in the lower range, it sounds almost angry when it hits higher revs.
It does perform better if you kick it into Sport mode and even engage the paddles, which offers a much sharper drive. What’s more, while Comfort mode wasn’t the most polished around the urban streets, the drive felt a lot more refined cruising along freeways.
One thing that irritated me that I had not yet encountered was the brake hold, which has both an auto hold and manually engaged operating mode.
Basically, the brake hold function will hold the brakes on after you’ve come to a complete stop, but even with the auto hold function switched off, it’ll manually engage brake hold with a moderately firm press on the brake pedal when fully stopped. It made a few situations like reversing into a park rather trickier than usual, when you expect the car to creep by itself but it doesn’t.
The function may be a little redundant, as this works as an off-road assistant for a car that may never go off-road. Speaking of which, I didn’t get to try this off-road myself, but it does offer a variety of programs if you’re wanting to venture off the beaten tracks, including grass, gravel, snow, auto terrain, sand and mud ruts.
On a brighter note, the suspension is decent and supple enough to handle rougher surfaces. The steering is light and handling exceptional with the Evoque able to glide easily through tighter corners.
Land Rover has set this car up to make it more approachable, which I can appreciate; however, the feedback and response that you get don’t inspire the drive.
| Key details | 2021 Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic SE D200 |
| Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel mild-hybrid |
| Power | 150kW @ 3750rpm |
| Torque | 430Nm @ 1750-2500rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Nine-speed torque converter automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 82.7kW/t |
| Weight (tare) | 1814kg |
| Tow rating | 2000kg unbraked, 750kg braked |
| Turning circle | 11.9m |
Conclusion
The Range Rover Evoque is a stylish, sophisticated and good-looking SUV. Its latest upgrades have made it even better, with highlights such as the standard R-Dynamic package and infotainment system that I couldn’t fault.
I’ll give it to the brand for making this car practical, and even one I’d recommend to a friend. It’s packed with safety, great tech, and has all the attributes for a superb medium SUV. If the drive were a touch more refined, it would be the perfect, pretty package.
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