All-New 2020 Range Rover Evoque: Sleek, Refined, And Electrified

Nov. 22, 2018 3:00 PM ET by Martin Bigg Reveal / 14 Comments

Land Rover's best-selling SUV gets electric assistance for the first time ever along with an assortment of revolutionary new tech.

When it launched back in 2011, the Range Rover Evoque was a revolution. The compact luxury SUV introduced a younger generation to the Land Rover brand, and it went on to become the automaker's best-selling model by a significant margin, with sales reaching over 772,000 units worldwide. Seven years later, Land Rover is finally ready to lift the covers off the all-new, second-generation Range Rover Evoque.

"When the Range Rover Evoque made its debut back in 2010, it transformed the world of compact SUVs; the new model is set to continue that remarkable journey," said, Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer. "This characterful vehicle combines refinement and fun to create that all important emotional reaction that will turn heads and make people smile."

In terms of the design, Land Rover describes the new Evoque as "a sophisticated evolution of the original," while the overall design language takes its cues from the larger Velar with new slim LED headlights. Like its predecessor, the Evoque looks exquisite thanks to its coupe-like silhouette, fastback roofline, and rising belt line. Pronounced wheel arches and optional 21-inch wheels give the compact SUV extra presence.

Overall though, Land Rover hasn't altered the design too much, which makes sense given how successful the current model has been. Two new exterior colors are also available: Seoul Pearl Silver, which is named after the South Korean Capital, and Nolita Grey, which is exclusive to the First Edition model featuring a metallic finish with burnished copper accents as a homage to New York City.

Inside, the cabin is as sleek, luxurious, and minimalist as you would expect for a Range Rover, with more interior options than ever. Customers can choose seats upholstered in a premium alternative to leather developed by Danish textile experts, Kvadrat. The high-quality material combines a durable wool blend paired with a technical Dinamica suedecloth, made from 53 recycled plastic bottles.

Alternatively, there's also a new Eucalyptus textile available produced from natural fibers that, uses significantly less water than traditional materials and features alongside a new lightweight performance material not derived from animals. An optional dual-screen infotainment system featuring new, faster software, 16-way seat controls, and cabin air ionization can also be equipped.

Several technologies have also been introduced in the new Evoque for the first time in a Land Rover model, including ClearSight Ground View tech that allows drivers to virtually see through the hood and under the front end of the vehicle by projecting a 180-degree view of the ground onto the upper touchscreen. It's also the first Land Rover to feature Smart Settings, an AI system that learns the driver's preferences to adjust comfort and media settings such as the seat and steering column position, music and climate settings.

Compared to the previous model, the 2020 Evoque has a longer wheelbase providing 0.8 inches of extra rear knee room an increase in small item storage such as a larger glove box and center console. The luggage space is also six percent larger (21.54 cu-ft) than the previous model and is also much wider, with cargo space increasing to 50.5cu-ft when the second-row seats are folded.

For the first time in the model's history, the new Evoque supports electrification thanks to modifications made to the architecture. At launch, the 2020 Evoque will be available with a 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain joined with a 2.0-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder gasoline engine that delivers a combined 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

The hybrid powertrain harvests energy normally lost during deceleration and stores it in the underfloor battery. At speeds below 11 mph, the engine shuts off when the brakes are applied. The stored energy is then redeployed when the driver accelerates, making the new Evoque ideal for driving in congested cities. Without electric assistance, the 2.0-liter turbo unit produces 246 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque.

Don't think, however, that the Evoque isn't capable of handling rough off-road terrain. Land Rover's standard Terrain Response system can automatically detect the surface being driven on and adjust the driving characteristics accordingly. According to Land Rover, the new Range Rover Evoque can now wade through water up to 23.6 inches deep.

Pricing and customer delivery dates for the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque will be announced at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show in February.