The Range Rover Evoque, which has been in production since 2011 has got a facelift this year. It is produced by the British manufacturer, Land Rover which is a part of Tata’s Jaguar Land Rover group. The Evoque is similar to the Land Rover LRX concept vehicle which was unveiled at North American International Auto Show in January 2008. The Evoque is a compact luxury crossover SUV and has been produced in 5-door and 3-door versions. The Range Rover Evoque Convertible is said to be launched soon. One in every Land Rovers sold across the world is the Evoque. The Evoque for sure has been a head turner and has a huge fan following and the new MY16 Evoque gets sportier design and many other cosmetic changes.
Price of 2016 Range Rover Evoque – Rs. 49.03 Lakhs (Ex-showroom, Pune)
Exterior Design: Well, on the exterior, if you are aware of the Evoque’s design, then you will be able to make out the new changes done on the MY16 Evoque. It gets revised headlights with brighter DRLs with a new design; newly designed front grille treated in gloss black, LED taillights and a redesigned rear spoiler which makes it looks sportier. Also the front and rear bumpers are revised. The front bumpers get bigger airdams with fused fog lamps and the rear bumpers get the gloss black treatment near its skid plates. On the side nothing seems to have changed except for the new 7-spoke wheel. The MY16 Evoque is undoubtedly a beautiful looking car which for sure turns every head at every corner.
Interior Design: The MY16 Evoque does not only looks beautiful from the outside but it also has lavish interiors. The new model gets new seats at front and rear. The seats are 12-way adjustable with massager. The leather quality is top notch. The steering wheel feels good to hold and manoeuvre the car. On the push of Start/Stop button, the rotary gear knob comes out and the dual-zone climate control AC does its work of cooling the interior quickly and efficiently. The dashboard looks neatly done and the integration of bigger 8-inch touchscreen in the center of the dashboard is impressive. The center console is stacked nicely at a steep angle and is uncluttered which is very pleasing to the eyes. The rotary gear is placed well and is within the perfect reach of the driver. The compatibility of the smartphone with the Land Rover’s InControl goes a long way and the touchscreen offers decent user interface. The front seats offer great comfort but the sloping roofline makes the headroom space fall short for the adults sitting at the back. The legroom is limited too. The rear visibility is average but you get 575 liters of cargo space to fit in your luggage for your getaways. The Meridian surround sound system in the MY16 Evoque is simply outstanding and it is one of the best sound systems that we have heard till date in any car.
Engine & Performance: The engine bay holds the same old 2.2L, 4-cylinder diesel mill which churns out 188 BHP @ 3500 rpm and 420 Nm of torque @ 1750 rpm. In the international markets the updated Evoque gets lighter and more efficient 2L Ingenium diesel engine. Talking about the Indian version, it performs well and moves off the line decently. The diesel mill performs quietly until you take the car to it’s redline limit of 4200 rpm. The mid-range cruising is exciting and the car cruises effortlessly; thanks to its new 9-speed auto transmission. The 9-speed auto transmission is standard on all variants, as is the 4WD system.
The engine feels refined but there is a bit of turbo lag under 2000 rpm and the 9-speed auto gearbox downshifts slowly. The paddle shifters then come in handy and you can change the gears manually for quick shifting of gears and relaxed cruising. Not to forget there is also an S mode on offer which stands for Sport mode and you can unleash a beast by simply shifting the car from Drive mode to Sport mode. Fuel efficiency returned by this car is really good as it can go around 600 kms in a tank full of 57 liters in real world conditions. Land Rover’s Terrain Response system too performs well on every type of road. 195 km/h is the top speed which this compact crossover can achieve and the 0-100 km/h sprint is achieved in 8.5 seconds which is below the average time. The 0-100 km/h time may not be that impressive but the Evoque is a comfortable cruiser above 100 km/h.
Driving Dynamics: The MY16 Range Rover Evoque is a compact crossover and is the most nimble handler to come out of the Land Rover’s stable. The car’s compact size, electric steering and bigger wheels offer excellent grip on asphalt as well as on gravel and also helps you to manoeuvre quickly. The suspensions can be adjusted in the HSE Dynamic variant, the top variant and they simply soak up every bump that comes across this car without making the car’s ride a bumpy one at all. The Evoque also corners aggressively and the torque vectoring system helps to keep the car stable at tight turns. Body roll is kept under proper check too. Here in our country most of the luxury SUV buyers don’t take such vehicles for offroading but the Evoque drives well in the dirt as that on the tarmac. The Land Rover’s terrain response system adjusts according to the terrain chosen and the optimized traction control lets you drive calmly on the selected terrain. It was rainy season when we tested the MY16 Range Rover Evoque and we did have a quality time testing this car by pushing it to its limits on slippery roads and in mud. It performed beyond our expectations and it did not disappoint us at any point. The 9-speed auto gearbox works smoothly but you should opt for paddle shifters in heavy traffics for quicker gear shifts. Four ventilated discs get this 2 ton vehicle to a stop without any drama.
Safety & After Sales Service: The MY16 Range Rover Evoque scores 5 stars in the EURO NCAP crash test. So, there are a lot of safety features in the updated Evoque. It comes with 7 airbags (driver airbags and knee bolster airbag; front passenger airbag, curtain airbags and side airbags), ABS, Torque Vectoring by Braking, Hill Descent Control, Roll Stability Control, DSC, Smart key (remote lock, unlock, double locking, lights on and global window opening/closing), Traction Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Surround Camera System, etc. The JLR offers decent after sales service as its network is limited. But, the company is offering 3 years/1 lakh kms warranty and a 3 year service plan with the new Range Rover Evoque.
Verdict/Conclusion: When the Range Rover Evoque was launched in India, it was liked by every other petrol-head for its ultimate looks. Now, with an updated version it is even liked more by the people. It really looks beautiful. The updates may be few but they are mesmerizing. It captures every person’s attention. Be it your long route getaways or cruising through the traffic, it won’t disappoint you at all. It was first brought in India via the CBU route but now its being brought in via the CKD route and is assembled at the JLR’s plant in Pune which has reduced its price than before. It lets you arrive in style and it is also a capable offroader. The car only disappoints you with the rear seat’s space which is not that great. Otherwise this car does not fail to prove that it is a traditional Range Rover in a smaller package for the features and performance it offers.
2016 Range Rover Evoque Technical Data:
* Engine: 2.2L, 2179cc, 4-cylinder, Turbocharged, Diesel
* Power: 188 BHP @ 3500 rpm
* Torque: 420 Nm @ 1750 rpm
* Transmission: 9-speed automatic
* 0-100 km/h: 8.5 seconds
* Top Speed: 195 km/h
* Fuel Consumption: 10-12 km/l
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: McPherson Struts (Front and Rear)
* Tyres: 225/65 R17
* Brakes: All wheel ventilated discs
* Safety: 7 airbags (driver airbags and knee bolster airbag; front passenger airbag, curtain airbags and side airbags), ABS, Torque Vectoring by Braking, Hill Descent Control, Roll Stability Control, DSC, Smart key (remote lock, unlock, double locking, lights on and global window opening/closing), Traction Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Surround Camera System
2016 Range Rover Evoque Dimensions:
* Overall length: 4465 mm
* Overall width: 2120 mm
* Overall height: 1635 mm
* Wheelbase: 2660 mm
* Ground clearance: 210 mm
* Turning radius: 5.65 m
* Cargo Volume: 575 liters
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 57 liters
* Kerb Weight: 1766 kgs
