CARS OF THE WORLD

Range Rover Evoque 2020.

The 2020 Range Rover Evoque has been completely redesigned. You may not understand this at first glance — the appearance of the new product very much resembles the design of the previous model. But Land Rover officials say 99 percent of the parts are new. What remains unchanged? Door hinges.

The basic concept of the new product is exactly what you expect from a Land Rover. Despite the fact that the Ewok 2020 occupies the bottom of the Land Rover model line, it is still a luxurious off-road SUV equipped with the latest high-tech safety equipment. We recently spent a few days driving an Evoque to see how much this new second generation model has improved.

How does he ride?

One notable change this year is an updated transmission. The standard 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is more powerful than last year and currently produces 246 horsepower and 365 Nm of torque. A 48-volt hybrid version is also available, which increases power output to 296 hp. and 400 Nm of torque. Both engines are connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.

On the road, performance is excellent. The engine provides enough power to drive on highways, and the gearbox shifts confidently and quickly. On steep slopes, the electronics work clearly and selects the perfect gear, rather than constantly switching from one to the other. Acceleration at full throttle causes a slightly creaky engine sound, but this is not very annoying. According to Land Rover estimates, the Evoque 2020 with a hybrid setup will have an acceleration time of 0–100 km per hour, equal to 6.3 seconds, or 7.0 seconds for a standard engine.

On the winding mountain roads, the Ewok 2020 behaves like a well-balanced and smooth car. Body roll is minimal. However, one of the significant drawbacks is slurred steering. The steering wheel is heavy and has a clear sense of the center, which is good for road and off-road scenarios. But you practically don’t feel anything that front tires do when you turn enthusiastically.

Comfortable and spacious?

On the highway, the new Evoque is an extremely smooth and silent car. During sharp maneuvers, the driver and front passenger will appreciate the ergonomics of their seats. The rear sofa has decent lumbar support and lateral support on the outside seats. The landing itself in both rows gives a pleasant feeling. Placing elbows on the soft armrests in both rows will be comfortable, regardless of the duration of the trip.
As part of the Evoque redesign, the wheelbase has increased by 2.5 cm, and the total length of the car remains about the same. This means that the Ewok 2020 now has 86 cm of legroom for the rear passengers. Also, the rear doors became about 2.5 cm wider, which significantly increased the doorway. Now adults can easily enter and exit, even if they have to bend a little because of the low back line of the roof. While the ride comfort and ride quality are top notch, the legroom in the front is decidedly narrow. People with long legs or large feet may feel a little cramped.

The luggage compartment of the Evoque 2020 is 609 liters for a five-seater or 1430 liters when the rear seat is folded. This cargo space is unlikely to impress you with its volume, but it is on a par with the “classmates” and enough for several large suitcases. Hybrid batteries are located under the front seats, so the volume of its luggage compartment does not change.

Good off-road?

Previously, the Evoque came standard with the Terrain Response base all-wheel drive system. Now the Ewok 2020 is equipped with Terrain Response 2, a sophisticated Range Rover traction control system that has additional locks. The Ewok 2020 received five modes selected by the driver to provide more off-road capabilities. On the rocks, in the water and on the hills of the Evoque is unperturbed. With 21 cm of ground clearance, you have enough space under the car to go through large stones and ruts.

The slope, lift and hold control functions on slopes make it easy to navigate steep off-road slopes. Forget rolling back on a slippery hill — just let the vehicle ride for you. In more rough terrain, the Ewok 2020 can detect slippage on each individual tire and adjust engine power to help you in dangerous situations. Many Evoque 2020 drivers will never drive off the sidewalk in their vehicle, but they can do it! This crossover is capable of absolutely everything except the most difficult off-road scenarios, and in this regard it is unique in its class.

Technologies.

Inside the Ewok 2020 is a new infotainment system that the Land Rover calls the Touch Pro Duo. The upper touch screen controls functions such as navigation and music, while the lower one controls climate control. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included in the basic equipment. Both of these features are new to the Evoque.
The screens look great and respond quickly to your actions. But the location and layout of the two displays are very distracting while driving. You have to look away from the road to really see anything on the screens, and the icons are small and hard to see at a glance. Some knobs and buttons are located directly behind the gear lever. It will be difficult for you to use them to adjust the climate or radio volume on the fly.
The safety equipment available on the Evoque 2020 includes features such as assisting with lane keeping, a head-on warning with automatic braking, and monitoring driver drowsiness. There are also some unique technical features that are worth noting. The ClearSight rear view mirror is an affordable option that displays an exceptionally clear camera image behind the vehicle instead of the standard mirror image. This is especially useful if the cargo bay is full of objects that block your view.

With ClearSight, you can also get a front view, which is another image created by the camera, showing what is directly in front of the Evoque 2020. In essence, this makes the hood and engine of the car transparent, showing the contours of the wheels and allowing the driver to see what is under front bumper. This technology is especially useful in cramped city yards, or when you are off-road and trying to avoid particularly unpleasant stones and ruts.

Price and start of sales.

The starting price of the Evoque 2020 is $ 43,645 and easily rises to $ 50,000. And some models are getting even closer to $ 60,000. These numbers may not be understood by many, given the abundance of competitors at more reasonable prices. But you will get a lot of opportunities and luxury for your money with Ewok 2020. For some, it will be worth the cost.

There are many great options in the compact premium crossover segment. For example, the Audi Q3 2019, Mercedes-Benz GLC 2020 and Porsche Macan 2019 have their own strengths. But none of them have a unique combination of road manners, off-road capabilities and luxurious interior details of the Evoque 2020. If you are looking for the intersection of luxury and opportunity, start your search here. Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 2020 model year goes on sale in the spring of 2019.