Review

The Evoque is coming to the end of its time on our fleet and I have to admit I will be sorry to see it go: great design and good looks have been coupled with a practical car that lives up to its premium billing.

Outside, its wide stance and sleek lines cloak a spacious cabin that oozes quality, with all trim levels benefitting from leather seats, Bluetooth and a touchscreen display.

Land Rover has always managed to keep the cockpit of its cars uncluttered and the Evoque is no different, with its sparse mix of chunky buttons not requiring an intimate knowledge of the handbook. Everything, including the infotainment system, is negotiated with relative ease.

Ambient lighting can also be configured to bathe the cabin in a blue, white or red glow – depending on your mood.

Our version includes several options, which are well worth considering. They include: heated steering wheel (£185), privacy glass (£100), and a fixed panoramic roof (£950).

Meanwhile, under the bonnet, a 2.2-litre diesel engine delivers 148hp and a claimed combined 56.5 mpg. A heavy right foot sees that slump to the low 40s, but keep the revs down and 50mpg should be achievable on the motorway. 

In town, it feels responsive and nimble for its size, and accelerates through the gears with ease, even if that takes you further away from quoted fuel efficiency figures.  

The only downside is CO2 emissions of 133g/km – putting it in a benefit-in-kind tax bracket of 24% for 2015/16 – with a P11D price of £29,020. However, good news is on the horizon for fleets operating a CO2 limit. Land Rover has launched an updated model, with emissions from 109g/km.

Design updates include a new front bumper, two new grille designs, all-LED headlamps and three new alloy wheel designs, with deliveries beginning in August. The Evoque has already proved to be an enormous success in the UK since its launch in 2011. This current model is sure to add to that.

Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.    

twitter linked in rss