2023 Range Rover Evoque: Big luxury in a smaller package
This generation looks far more cohesive, while retaining the luxury Range Rover manages to pack into its smallest SUV
Range Rover has long been one of the defining names in the luxury SUV market. While the Evoque is the smaller sibling in the lineup, the price tag and the sense of opulence still reach rather high ceilings.
The Evoque has had its fair share of controversy surrounding its design because, to put it nicely, earlier versions were interesting. This generation fixes many of those issues and looks far more cohesive, while retaining the luxury Range Rover manages to pack into its smallest SUV.
From the front, the sleek LED headlights extend towards the grille, creating an impressively broad appearance. The bonnet carries the familiar RANGE ROVER lettering, while the darker grille and lower bumper elements give the R-Dynamic variant, the one we tested, a more assertive character.
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Move to the side, and the Evoque becomes even more interesting.
The roofline gradually descends towards the rear, the windows are heavily tinted, and the body relies on smooth surfaces rather than unnecessary creases. The flush door handles are another neat detail and help keep the profile clean.
At the back, the Evoque receives a slim set of LED lights with a distinctive layered appearance. Since this is the R-Dynamic, the badges and exterior details are blacked out, which look particularly good against the red paint of our test car.
Then come the wheels.
On this particular car, the large two-tone alloys almost look too big for its compact body. Yet that is also what makes the proportions work. The Evoque does not look like a small SUV wearing oversized wheels. It looks as though it was designed around them from the beginning.
Inside, the dashboard does not try to overwhelm you with buttons. Instead, there is a sense of restraint.
It feels contemporary without becoming cold, and luxurious without relying excessively on chrome. Much of the climate control is operated through the lower touchscreen, accompanied by physical rotary controls for temperature adjustment.
The main infotainment screen can also be tilted upwards from the dashboard. It sounds like a minor feature, but being able to adjust the angle helps reduce reflections and makes the screen easier to use. It is one of those small details that separates a luxury cabin from something designed simply to get the job done.
The driving position is excellent as well. You sit high enough to see over much of the surrounding traffic, yet the Evoque never feels like a particularly large SUV from behind the wheel. That compactness is one of its biggest advantages, especially in Dhaka.
The seats are pleasantly soft and well cushioned, complementing the already supple suspension. You are surrounded by materials and details that constantly remind you this is still a Range Rover, despite the smaller dimensions.
Those dimensions, however, become more apparent in the rear.
The back seats are not especially spacious, particularly for taller passengers. The Evoque's exterior proportions suggest there is slightly more cabin room than there actually is, while the luggage compartment is hardly the largest in the segment, either.
This is one of those cars where the person sitting in the back may have a very different impression of it from the person behind the wheel.
The R-Dynamic treatment does not completely transform the Evoque mechanically. Instead, it gives the car a stronger visual personality. The combination of red paint, a black roof, dark trim and aggressive alloy wheels gives it an almost hot-hatch-like appearance, only sitting much higher and wearing RANGE ROVER lettering across the bonnet.
Once you start driving, the first thing that stands out is how manageable the Evoque feels for an SUV. Despite its weight and high seating position, it feels surprisingly agile around town.
The steering is light and deliberately isolated from the road. You do not get much feedback through the wheel, but that appears intentional. The Evoque is far more interested in keeping things relaxed than pretending to be a sports SUV.
The soft seats work almost like an extra layer of suspension, while the actual suspension does a good job of smoothing out broken city roads. Together, they create the sort of cushioned driving experience expected from something wearing a Range Rover badge.
Performance is less dramatic. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is not particularly exciting, but it is responsive enough and delivers sufficient torque for everyday driving. Around Dhaka, outright speed matters considerably less than effortless acceleration and easy manoeuvrability, both of which the Evoque manages well.
The Evoque lacks the physical presence of a full-sized Range Rover. It lacks the practicality of a larger SUV and the direct performance of more focused crossovers.
Yet those compromises also explain its appeal.
The 2023 Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic takes much of what people associate with the brand, the elevated driving position, luxurious cabin, distinctive styling and premium atmosphere, and packages it into something far easier to live with in a crowded city.
It may be the smaller Range Rover, but very little about the experience feels particularly small.
