Review: Range Rover Evoque Plug-In Hybrid

The Range Rover Evoque changed Land Rover forever. Before its launch in 2012, the 4x4 maker's SUVs were attractive, but in a functional, boxy sort of way. After it, the British brand was as much about the latest trends and fashion as off-roading and country estates.

Speaking at the launch event in 2012, Victoria Beckham spoke about her hand in creating it. “I’ve designed a car that I want to drive,” she said at the time. Since then, however, chief creative officer Gerry McGovern has corrected matters somewhat, stating that Posh Spice exaggerated her role in the creation of the Evoque.

Still, by 2016, more than half a million Evoques have been sold globally in more than 180 countries, with Land Rover describing it as its “greatest sales success story.”

It’s hardly surprising, then, considering the model's history, that the designers of the latest Evoque opted to take an evolutionary approach in terms of technology to the urban-orientated SUV.

This iteration comes in four different models; Range Rover Evoque S, Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, and finally Autobiography, all of which have a plug-in hybrid option. WIRED got its hands on the top-end Autobiography model on a brand-hosted drive in the Champagne wine region in the northeast of France. But will it be a vintage year for JLR?

On the surface the changes are subtle; inside is where the overhaul has really happened. That said, the Evoque’s exterior presence is enhanced by a new grille and revised super-slim Pixel LED headlights with signature DRL (daytime running lights), which deliver a technical, jewel-like appearance. New exterior accents also complement the characteristic “floating roof” that defines Range Rover’s design DNA.

The new super-slim Pixel LED headlights aren’t just for show, either—they house JLR’s new advanced headlight tech. Each light has 26 individual LED segments, which switch on or off automatically to supposedly provide the most effective forward beam at all times. These segments are also home to sensors, which scan the roads ahead and at each side. When another vehicle is in sight, the LEDs within the section it’s covering shut off, ensuring that you are not blinding any oncoming vehicle.

Speed-capturing cameras placed within the headlights pick up speed warning signs, instantly letting you know what speed you should be going on any given road. However, when driving down the freeway, the cameras would occasionally pick up side road signs, and in doing so show an incorrect reading on the dash.

All About the Inside

Photograph: Land Rover

The interior is where we see the big changes. The Evoque does channel its big brother, the flagship Range Rover to good effect inside, with comfortable seats, high-end materials, and a slick touchscreen infotainment system that’s consumed all the tech around it from previous examples. More on that in a bit.

Unfortunately, the Evoque's generous dimensions on the outside do not completely transmit inside—especially for those in the rear. It’s tight. In saying that, the boot size is enough for a car of this size, as we managed to load three suitcases with ease.

The materials are what you'd expect. Danish fabric brand Kvadrat was again called upon to lend its textile knowledge to create high-end recycled seat coverings, headlinings, and floor mats. Our Autobiography had a remix wool blend fabric, which, according to Land Rover’s color and materials manager, Arvinder Singh Powar, “has all the tactile qualities of leather but is 30 percent lighter and generates only a quarter of the CO₂.”

The textile was subjected to extensive in-house durability testing in the Range Rover materials lab, going through 60,000 cycles of abrasion testing (the equivalent of 10 years of use), plus UV testing that simulates three years’ exposure to harsh sunlight in just one month.

Screen Over Buttons

Photograph: Land Rover

Now for the big change. All models come with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, running JLR’s latest software, killing the previous setup of a 10-inch unit above a smaller climate control panel below. You get all the gadgets, including; Apple CarPlay, Android Auto plus Amazon Alexa, so you can control some of the car’s functions by voice. The 3D surround cameras, clearsight ground view and rear view come as standard, which are super easy to navigate via the infotainment screen.

But the new look means everything is done via the one screen, of course. It makes the touchscreen the hub of the car, and buttons a thing of the past for JLR. I liken it to when Apple removed the iPhone home button: It takes some getting used to, but in the end, some think it’s better.

The brand’s operating system is excellent. The menus are easy to navigate, and you don't have to do too much unnecessary diving to find key functions. The screen is quick and sharp, but it can get hot. And the loss of that lower screen means a smartphone charging pad has been added along with some handy storage.

Photograph: Land Rover

But it's not all good news. With no dedicated buttons it’s more difficult than before to adjust temperature, and the integration of volume control into the screen is a real failure. If it weren't for a physical volume button on the steering wheel it would be a disaster. Elsewhere, car brands are already realizing the folly of ditching buttons for certain vital functions, and I am sure Range Rover will come to this view soon as well.

One piece of technology I was impressed with is the new optional Cabin Air Purification Plus. It’s air-filtration tech that automatically senses and removes microscopic particles in the cabin. It reduces odors, bacteria, and allergens within seconds. One real boon is it can be activated to clean the air even before you get in, via the Land Rover app. A fellow journalist, wanting to put the odor purification to the test, visited a fast-food restaurant while having “Purify” active. They claimed, surprisingly, they couldn't smell the food in the cabin at all while eating.

Hybrid Power

Let’s talk batteries. The Evoque comes with a 14.9-kWh battery, which has updated software, plus a new EDU (electric drive unit) that gives it a real-world EV-only range of up to 39 miles, which is pretty accurate on the road. This makes it a realistic option for those shorter journeys around towns and cities.

Offered as standard is 50-kW DC rapid charging, which is good for an 80 percent charge in 30 minutes, while a full charge takes approximately two hours using a standard 7-kW home charger. All pretty reasonable for the range given. The ICE portion of the car has a compact but efficient 1.5-liter, three-cylinder petrol engine, and in hybrid mode it delivers 304 bhp and 540 Nm of torque to provide ample power. Zero to 60 mph is 6.1 seconds.

Pleasingly, the switch between petrol and EV is seamless, and you only notice the ICE when you’re really leaning on the engine.

Speaking of leaning on the engine, we gave the Evoque hybrid a very spirited drive, and over 73 miles we averaged just 24 miles per gallon. This is of course nowhere near the maximum 193-mpg figure suggested by Range Rover, and it suggests we barely allowed the car to make use of the electrical assistance. This woeful efficiency figure was undoubtedly down to our driving style on the day, but it still reveals that it will be supremely hard to hit that 193.

The experience of driving, however, remains distinctly Range Rover. The Evoque may be compact compared to the rest of its family, but it is comfortable, responsive and, for its size, has power should you need it.

Photograph: Land Rover

We briefly went off-road, and it was more than capable for the muddy ruts encountered. The Evoque may not have the air suspension, but it does have JLRs all-terrain response with a multitude of driving modes. But we wouldn't advise going through any major off-road trails in the Evoque—it’s an urban SUV. Leave such matters to its bigger siblings. But if you do find yourself a little off the beaten track, you should have no issues getting out.

The final issue with this hybrid is a big one. For some reason, despite the coming flood of hybrids to US streets, Range Rover has, in its wisdom, decided not to bring this powertrain option on the Evoque to America for now.

We asked why, and we got this response: “We are always evaluating our offering across different markets. While there are no immediate plans to introduce Range Rover Evoque PHEV derivatives to the US, we will continue to evaluate our product range to ensure we are giving customers a broad choice of electrified and efficient vehicles.”

It's a shame, because even though the price of this hybrid in its high-spec form is thousands more than rivals such as the BMW X1 or Mercedes GLA, the Evoque PHEV is tremendously engaging and comes with enough luxury cachet to set it apart. Let's hope JLR looks at the US market again after the new US emissions rules kick in. This hybrid would do well.