2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Performance

The 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque leads the class in off-road ability and can handle virtually any terrain. However, there are some complaints that the Evoque doesn't accelerate with any urgency when starting out from a stop, and the transmission is reluctant to downshift. The Evoque delivers agile handling and is very maneuverable.

• "The Evoque is really meant for fast, sporty driving, and its 240-horsepower turbocharged engine, responsive handling and refined, compliant suspension make it an energetic partner for driving, whether you're on the way to the opera or just going to work" -- Edmunds
• "In the civilized world, the Range Rover Evoque demonstrates a poise and level of ride and handling much more akin to a polished sports sedan. Body motions are measured and predictable, the steering firm and communicative and the power from the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine abundant." -- Kelley Blue Book (2015)
• "Don't let the Evoque's stylish exterior fool you, however. This sleek little SUV is every bit a Land Rover, with standard all-wheel drive and a rugged LR2-based chassis and suspension to take it far off-road." -- Autotrader (2015)

Acceleration and Power

The 2017 Evoque features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 240 horsepower. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard. The Evoque gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, which is lower than the estimates of many rivals.

The turbocharged engine delivers good power but can sometimes feel like it has no urgency when starting from a dead stop. The nine-speed transmission also draws mixed reviews, as some may praise it for having a positive effect on fuel economy, while others may be annoyed when it hesitates to downshift when attempting to pass on the highway.

• "On the road, the 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides performance that can best be described as passable, as there's just not enough power for this heavyweight package. Acceleration from a stop is rather lackluster at first, though it does build noticeably once the engine speed increases. The nine-speed automatic delivers smooth shifts, but its hesitation to downshift when your right foot calls for more power in passing or merging situations can be a bit unnerving." -- Edmunds
• "The 9-speed automatic seems like a bit of overkill, but it does help return impressive fuel economy when cruising along at 70, 75 or 80 mph." -- Kelley Blue Book (2015)
• "The power produced by the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is impressive. Even with light application of the accelerator pedal, the Evoque eagerly rockets forward with relentless hp and torque." -- Autotrader (2015)

Handling and Braking

The 2017 Range Rover Evoque features standard four-wheel drive that switches between two- and four-wheel drive automatically. The Evoque feels athletic and agile on the road, with steering that inspires confidence. Its ride is generally comfortable, but it feels firmer than Land Rover's other vehicles.

• "Just as it promises, the personal-size Evoque feels decidedly more agile than its larger siblings. Responsive steering and the standard suspension deliver above-average handling, although the ride quality is on the firm side, much like in the Porsche Macan. The clever Terrain Response system gives this citified crossover rather remarkable abilities when the traction is a challenge, and programmed modes for a wide variety of conditions including grass/gravel/snow and mud/ruts make the Range Rover Evoque as good riding the range as it is driving to dinner." -- Edmunds
• "Drivers who are familiar with the driving characteristics of other Land Rovers will find the Evoque atypical. It's noticeably stiffer than you would expect over bumps and through the corners, but the suspension and chassis aren't overly rigid, just taut enough to allow the Evoque to handle with firm precision." -- Autotrader (2015)
• "Over the road, the Evoque feels polished and sophisticated yet sporty and maneuverable. The body doesn't lean or bounce around too much, the steering feels right." -- Kelley Blue Book (2014)

Off-Roading

The 2017 Evoque features Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, which lets you choose drive modes for different types of terrain, including grass/gravel/snow, mud and ruts, and sand. The Evoque is a class leader in off-road capability.

• "I also had the chance to drive the Evoque Convertible on a mild off-road course. It comes equipped with Land Rover's very good Terrain Response system that offers four different settings … for whatever surface you may find yourself on. On the dirt trails I covered, I didn't notice any extra wobbliness and the traction control was able to find grip even on loose surfaces. This was also the first time I'd ever gone off-road with no roof and I found myself thinking that if I did roll over, I'd be pretty worried. Even though there are bars that pop up from behind the backseat headrests when a rollover is detected, that's still a lot of open space for a foreign object to intrude the cabin area." -- Cars.com
• "Land Rover earned its reputation for building luxurious sport-utility vehicles with unequaled off-road prowess long ago. Given that, it's probably not much of a surprise that the 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque trumps other compact crossovers when the asphalt turns to dirt." -- Edmunds (2016)
• "Off-road, we were impressed at just how well our Evoque SUV handled mud, deep rutted back roads and slippery inclines. One or more wheels always seemed to find traction, and the competent suspension managed to absorb the brutal impacts that surpassed the Evoque's 8.3 inches of ground clearance." -- Kelley Blue Book (2015)