We slid behind the wheel of our very first Range Rover test vehicle in the shape of the Range Rover Evoque P300e Dynamic HSE to bring you this review.

It seems as though the Range Rover Evoque has been around for some time, which it has. The second generation of the smallest Range Rover was introduced in 2018. The model came under the knife for a mid-life facelift early this year. It is this latest version with a hybrid powertrain that we recently had in our care.

Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content.

Refreshed Appearance

The refreshed second-gen Evoque has all the hallmarks that made the first car such a standout. The monolithic shape, short overhangs and narrow greenhouse were all already in place with V2.0. However, V2.1 has added a few touches that make the baby of the family even more reminiscent of its older siblings. These include super-slim ‘pixel’ headlamps and thin grille. Other design cues that carry over across the range are the ‘floating’ roof and the flush-fiitting door handles that are only deployed when needed.

The facelift has brought with it a few new exterior shades as well. This includes the rather eye-catching Corinthian Bronze (as pictured) of our test unit. This shade worked well with the dual-tone treatment, which includes the roof, supporting pillars and shiny black alloys. The latest update has kept the Evoque fresh, modern and eye-catching, something which the nameplate has managed to do since it was launched many years ago.

Reductive Interior

The Evoque’s exterior is simple in execution and the same can be said about the interior. One is immediately struck by clean surfaces and the lack of any buttons, aside from the protruding gear shifter. This ‘reductive’ treatment is made possible by integrating all basic functions into the curved touchscreen. The unit is set slightly away from the facia and not integrated within. Land Rover refers to it as ‘floating’ but we think it’d look neater if it were flush fitting.

Land Rover’s touchscreen system has the same minimalistic appearance as the rest of the interior. The layout is clean and the graphics are crisp and there seems to be loads of space on the screen ie its not cluttered with too much info. We found the system quick to respond and pretty intuitive to use. In just a day of taking delivery of the Evoque we seemed to be in tune with where most functions were located within the system. Thankfully, there are some functions, such as the heater controls, which can be accessed quickly.

The cabin, by and large, provides a really comfortable and pleasant place to be. The front chairs are cushy with a decent level of bolstering. We’d have preferred seat heating in a car at this price point. The rear bench seems large enough for most, although we are seldom accused of being ‘tall’ so it may prove tight for beanpoles. The boot is large enough to swallow a few weeks’ worth of laundry, as we have to do here in the depths of a wet Cape winter.

Under the (Clamshell Bonnet)

The party trick of the Range Rover Evoque P300e, of course, lies in its name. The P300e bit, in particular, describes the power output (in hp) and the electrified powertrain. This derivative is fitted with a The 1,5-litre three-cylinder turbopetrol engine. It is mated with an electric motor that is mounted on the rear axle. As a result the car has a combined power output of 227 kW (300 hp) with 540 N.m of torque. This Evoque can drive purely on battery power, solely on petrol or a combination of the two. The battery pack just 15 kWh of storage, which provides about 60 km of pure electric range. That’s enough to get one to and from the shops, or your office if you are that lucky, without firing up the petrol engine.

Once the battery is flat the three-cylinder ICE kicks in to take over propulsion duties. You can charge the battery from an EV charger or a wall socket. Or you can even use the ICE to generate some electricity to store. In this regard the Evoque P300e offers the best of many situations. You can drive with zero tailpipe emissions almost daily and there is no range anxiety. Incidentally, the electric drive is good for speeds of up to 135 km/h, but higher speeds naturally reduce the batteries range.

Braving the Roads

The greater Cape area has been beaten by storm after storm these last few weeks. As a result we did not venture out unless it was absolutely necessary. We did, however, add a few hundred km to the Evoque’s odo but all of it was at a slow pace. The driving sensation in pure EV mode was great to isolate us from the harsh conditions outside. The car gliding along in near silence as the view out of the cabin was gloomy. The battery delivered just shy of 60 km in these conditions. Once that was done the powertrain reverted to the petrol engine. As the ICE unit recharged the battery under braking the Evoque would use the electric motor for silent pull aways.

We didn’t get to drive the Evoque quickly, though we sense that the three-cylinder will become a bit vocal when pressed into service for a (high r/min) fast overtake. If anything, the ride from the large alloys on low profile rubber felt, at times, as though it wasn’t up to the task of dealing with local road conditions. In all the Evoque displayed a level solidity and assurance to its presence on the road that we really appreciated during the stormy Cape winter. Perhaps this is an offshoot of the Evoque’s home country sharing a similar climatic outlook.

Summary

When Range Rover introduced the Evoque to the market it opened up brand ownership to a whole new set of owners. Here was a group of affluent, style conscious buyers who wanted the badge and, as importantly, something different from the usual offerings from other automakers. And the Evoque delivered just that. In its second generation the model has lifted its game to new heights with high-tech solutions inside and out.

However… no car is judged in a vacuum, so there is the matter of the price. The list price of this Dynamic HSE derivative is a shade over R1,7m. Additionally the loan unit had over R90k worth of extras that aren’t on the standard specification list. That takes the Evoque into the space occupied by the likes of the Lexus RX500h, another hybrid that is for the style conscious. Then there is the option of a Volvo XC60, another left-field option with style and tech. If you are fortunate enough to be shopping in this price range, there are definitely good options around. Is the Evoque the best of the bunch? Hmmmm… we’re not so sure.

Model: Range Rover Evoque P300e Dynamic HSE
Price: R1 702 000
Engine: 1,5-litre, three-cylinder turbopetrol +80 kW electric
Transmission: nine-speed automatic, AWD
Max power: 227 kW
Max torque: 540 N.m
0-100 km/h:  6,4 sec
Top speed: 213 km/h
Consumption: 1,4L/100 km (claimed)