2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Expert Review

Reviewed by Stefan Ogbac

The refreshed 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque comes gains available LED headlights, a revised exterior design, new seats, new colors, and a revised interior. Newly available driver assistance features include lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking and a surround view camera system. A gesture-controlled hands-free power tailgate is now available in the Evoque.

Vehicle Summary

The 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is a compact, four-wheel-drive luxury crossover that's available in either two- or four-door body styles.

Overview

A 2.0-liter turbo I-4 with 240 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission is the only powertrain combination available in the 2016 Evoque. Fuel economy is class competitive at 21/30 mpg city/highway. Cargo capacity is the same for both the two-door and four-door Evoque, 31.3 cubic feet with the split-folding rear seats up and 62.2 cubic feet with them folded.

Safety

Standard safety features include dual-front, front-side, and side curtain airbags. Additional safety and driver assistance options include automatic emergency braking, driver condition monitoring, and lane keeping assist.

Trims, Packages, and What's Standard

A new infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen is standard along with Land Rover's InControl Touch infotainment system. Higher trim levels come with the InControl Touch Plus, which uses a HDD-based navigation system, and includes a rear-seat entertainment system with two eight inch screens. An 11- or 17-speaker Meridian audio system are also available.

What We Think

In a 2015 First Test review, we said that the Evoque's nine-speed automatic was jolty while the steering was vague even at moderate speeds. The crossover's ride wasn't a strong point because it was overly stiff, and the cabin proved noisy for its class. Handling, on the other hand, was surprisingly good, enabling the Evoque to take corners with plenty of poise. Interior design is a strong point because of its tasteful and stylish appearance; however, there's too much hard plastics on the door panels. In a comparison test that also included the BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Lexus NX 200t, and Lincoln MKC, the Evoque placed third because of its harsh ride, poorly-tuned nine-speed automatic, and tight interior space. Additionally, entering and exiting the crossover was a hassle due to high sill while the stylish exterior design hurt outward visibility.