Thursday 21st April 2016

Range Rover Evoque facelift

Half a million cars sold and it's time for the special editions!

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It was bound to happen eventually, but you may have noticed the Range Rover Evoque hasn't been SUV flavour of the month recently. There have been all kinds of new models, both direct competitors and otherwise, that have taken attention away from the baby Range Rover. Would you believe it's now five years old, with 520,000 cars sold.

Of course it's on 20-inch wheels

As part of the latest (very mild) facelift, the Evoque now receives the 10.2-inch InControl Touch Pro infotainment system from the Jaguar F-Pace and a new 'Low Traction Launch', which apparently "further cements Range Rover Evoque's outstanding all-terrain capability." If the name sounds familiar then that's because the F-Pace also has a 'Low Friction Launch'; they're most likely the same system, benefitting low speed acceleration on slippery surfaces.

The biggest news as far as this facelift is concerned is the new 'Ember' special edition. No, this is not an SVR in disguise, instead a near-£50K flagship that "showcases Evoque's bold design". Based on the HSE Dynamic, it comes only in Santorini Black with Firenze Red accents. The theme is continued inside, it rides on 20-inch wheels and there's a new 'Evoque' badge for the back. Marvellous. It will be available for a three-month period this summer at £47,200, with first deliveries due in September. Just the thing for making an impression at the start of 2016-17 school year.

There's nothing drastic in this update then, but with the Evoque still proving popular it's not really surprising. That being said, the success of cars like the Macan Turbo, Mercedes GLA45 and Audi RS Q3 surely won't have escaped Land Rover's attention. The larger SVR has been received very well after all...

[MrBarry123]

The facelifted front makes the Evoque a really very striking car - a great looking sight on the road. It is however still let down by mediocre engine choices.