2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Land Rover is a name synonymous with luxury and off-road prowess, and the Range Rover name is even more recognizable. The automaker applies...

Land Rover is a name synonymous with luxury and off-road prowess, and the Range Rover name is even more recognizable. The automaker applies that name to a variety of SUVs, including the Evoque, a compact and stylish vehicle with surprising off-road chops. The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque got several improvements, including a brand new infotainment system, more standard tech features, and more optional gadgets, including wireless charging.

The Evoque competes with upscale SUVs such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Volvo XC40. Land Rover offers the Evoque in several configurations, but only one powertrain is on offer for the 2021 model year: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 246 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. It comes mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. There’s plenty of power to motivate the Evoque with enthusiasm, but the powertrain is let down by the nine-speed transmission. It sometimes fumbles for a gear, especially when the driver quickly changes what they’re doing with their right foot. At slower speeds and when off-roading—yes, the fancy Evoque is surprisingly nimble on the trails—the gearbox is just fine.

Land Rover makes sportier versions of the Range Rover, but the Evoque ain’t one. Handling and steering are confident and easy to deal with on an everyday basis, but the SUV feels clunky and disconnected at times. The good news is that the Evoque can hold its own off-road, and the Terrain Response 2 feature allows the driver to select between four modes for better performance on- and off-road. A depth-sensor is included as standard, and the SUV manages a water fording depth of 21 inches.

A 10-inch touchscreen is standard that runs Land Rover’s new Pivi Pro interface. It’s faster and more intuitive than the previous system was and it offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A second 10-inch touchscreen is available in higher trims, but it can be confusing and takes too much attention to use when the SUV is moving. Several additional features are offered as options, including a digital gauge cluster, two Meridian stereo options, an activity key, and ambient interior lighting.

Safety ratings agencies like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) don’t test all luxury vehicles or others, such as SUVs, because of the cost. The vast majority of vehicles do get tested, but smashing several new Range Rovers gets expensive quickly. Land Rover is fairly generous with safety tech, however. The list includes lane-departure warnings, lane-keep assist, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, a surround-view camera system, and automatic windshield wipers. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams are all available.