Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 2021 Review

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque can be thought of as the smaller and more affordable choice in the Range Rover lineup. It's fresh off a complete redesign in 2020 and gets several technology features and updates for 2021. The most significant change is the new Pivi Pro infotainment system. Land Rover says it's easier to use and has quicker responses than the previous system. It also features over-the-air updates to keep your system, vehicle services and apps up-to-date.

For 2021, the Evoque's lineup is streamlined. There's now just a single powertrain, for example; gone is the optional engine that made nearly 300 horsepower in last year's model. But one helpful addition is a new surround-view camera system to take any guesswork out of parking in tight spaces and a new rear cross-traffic collision monitor to ensure you don't back into an approaching vehicle.

Overall, the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque maintains the model's curious appeal as an adorable luxury town runner with a quiet side of legitimate off-road ability. That's always been the Range Rover promise, of course, but the Evoque represents a bite-size way into the historic English brand. But this little Land Rover also suffers from a lack of space and comfort. If those qualities are priorities, you might be happier with an Acura RDX, BMW X3 or Volvo XC60.

Which Range Rover Evoque does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is a subcompact luxury SUV available in five trim levels: S, SE, R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE. All come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (246 horsepower, 269 lb-ft of torque) paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

S Comes with a well-rounded set of features including:

• 18-inch wheels
• Power-folding heated mirrors
• Auto-dimming driver's side mirror
• LED headlights
• Privacy glass
• Push-button start

Interior and technology highlights include:

• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats
• 40/20/40-split folding rear seat
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• 10-inch touchscreen display
• Navigation system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Six-speaker sound system

The Evoque also comes standard with driver aids such as:

• Lane keeping assist (steers the Evoque back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
• Surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the Evoque and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Moving up to the SE trim level adds features such as:

• 20-inch wheels
• Power liftgate
• Upgraded LED headlights
• Dual 10-inch touchscreen displays
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

The R-Dynamic S and R-Dynamic SE versions share the same features as their base-model counterparts but add sportier exterior treatments, such as gloss black trim accents and side vents. The R-Dynamic HSE goes a little further and adds:

• Hands-free liftgate
• Proximity keyless entry
• Premium leather upholstery
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Evoque and the car in front) with traffic and speed limit sign recognition
• 10-speaker Meridian sound system

Many of the features found on the upper trim levels are available on the lower trims as options.