2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

The original Land Rover Range Rover Evoque was a new concept for the brand when it burst onto the scene as a 2012 model. It married Range Rover's traditional off-road virtues to an extremely stylish body with a premium interior and refined road manners. It was an instant hit, and the car went on to sell 770,000 units worldwide during its lifecycle. So it was a no-brainer that the automaker would produce an encore, and the second-generation Land Rover Range Rover Evoque we review here duly arrived in the USA in 2019. True to its brand ethos, the Evoque surprises with its off-road ability, and in this respect, it's unique among subcompact crossover rivals such as the BMW X1, Audi Q3, and Volvo XC40, which are hopped-up hatchbacks rather than SUVs. Unfortunately, its pricing also reflects these extra abilities, and the Evoque is appreciably more expensive than rivals. All good and well if you buy into the premium off-roading Range Rover philosophy, but if you're going to be driving predominantly on tarmac, these competitors do a better job in terms of efficiency, handling, and performance. Considering that's where most people will use it, is there still an incentive to opt for the Rangey instead?

With its $46,400 MSRP, the price of the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque P250 S is up by $1,700 over last year's S. The P250 R-Dynamic S will cost you $48,000, and that is followed by the P250 SE at $51,000, the P250 R-Dynamic SE at $52,600, and the P300 R-Dynamic HST at $57,000. Land Rover's $1,175 destination charge is not included in these prices.

Land Rover has tried to imbue the Evoque with a sense of sportiness, so the suspension is firm, the damping perfectly judged, and body roll well-contained around corners, even when those are taken enthusiastically. The ride becomes a bit harsh on the 20-inch wheels, though. The steering's weighting is spot-on, but it provides little feedback, and the brakes are progressive and smooth. Considering its weight, off-road prowess, and a higher seating position than more car-like rivals, handling is more than acceptable. What it's not is fun, and while it won't embarrass itself, an X1 or Q3 is sharper and more satisfying to pilot. If you're spending all your time on tar, that might be something to keep in mind. It's just a shame that the auto 'box is so hesitant and unresponsive. In the rough, the Evoque will leave its rivals for dead, with a higher ground clearance and better off-road angles. Overall, driving satisfaction will very much depend on what you use your Evoque for.

The Evoque is an excellent subcompact SUV, but it doesn't finish at the top of the class due to mainly two reasons. First of all, its off-road abilities at the expense of some on-road aptitude will restrict its appeal to a certain niche of the market, so it won't make much sense in the face of better-driving rivals if you're never going to take it off-road. The second factor is that by imbuing the Evoque with dual personalities, all that additional engineering has pushed the car's price well beyond those of its obvious rivals and into entry-level X3 territory - you can get a bigger and more spacious compact SUV for the same price. We love its styling, premium cabin, and off-road skill, but that doesn't make it the best buy in its class.

The base engine lacks some punch, but the P300 HST is too expensive, so a P250 trim, it must be. Of these, the SE makes the most sense. The 20-inch wheels firm up the ride a bit, but they look much smarter, while this trim also gets some desirable features not found on the S, such as upgraded LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and a premium 12-speaker Meridian audio system. We'd add a gesture-activated tailgate for a mere $100 and be done with it.