SHOULD WE ALL BUY AN EVOQUE?
QI’m intending to trade up my 2009 Freelander 2 but the replacement Discovery Sport looks much like any other SUV and I’m used to something that looks like a Land Rover. For the price of a Disco Sport, or probably considerably less, it seems I can buy a clean secondhand Evoque, and I really like the look of them. I’m thinking of a diesel again.
Before I second mortgage the house, what is your opinion of the Evoque? I realise there won’t be as much boot space as my Freelander, but what are they like to drive long-term? What should I look out for when buying? D Thorpe
AApart from the boot space, the only issue you’re likely to have is that the rear seats can seem a little claustrophobic for some people due to the low roof line. This doesn’t apply if you find one with a panoramic glass roof though, and it’s perhaps a small price to pay for the distinctive styling.
I haven’t owned an Evoque, but I’ve driven many of them over long distances. They are comfortable and they feel quite big from the driver and front passenger seats and, although they don’t look like a conventional Land Rover or Range Rover, they do have that big Land Rover feel about them. The cockpit is streets ahead of Freelander 2, though the glitsy instrument lights are something you love or hate. Evoque handles exceptionally well, and it’s a far more engaging drive than Freelander 2 – quite chuckable, in fact.
Freelander 2 was one of the most reliable Land Rovers ever, and Evoque, built on the same platform with similar mechanical underpinnings, has inherited that reliability while avoiding teething issues that were rectified during Freelander production. It works well off-road, too, especially the later nine-speed auto model with it’s lower bottom-gear ratio. Approach and departure angles are good, though wheel articulation is inevitably limited by its low stance, and it’s notably better on and off road than Freelander 2 which is, itself, a lovely green laner. If you want to drive off-road you’ll need the four-wheel drive version and will have the advantage of improved Terrain Response, otherwise the two-wheel drive will give better economy but you won’t have that 4WD dependability in winter conditions.
So, what goes wrong? I’m trying to think of something – no, it’s not happening. The fact is that Evoque is mechanically and electronically based on the incredibly reliable Freelander 2 which was fully sorted and developed before Evoque went on sale. Evoque just doesn’t break. Though there are always the hard-luck, scary stories on the internet, this applies to nearly every type of car. You have to remember that the vast majority of owners have no need to vent anger regarding uninvestigated and unproven, albeit expensive, issues.
Of course, all the usual pre-sale checks that apply to any car need to be made before buying, including a good test drive to confirm handling, braking and and steering is precise, and that the engine stays cool and quiet when cold and when hot. Check for clutch slip, odd tyre wear, and try a re-start when hot and see it starts from cold. Note that the stop/start system activates in traffic. A good and full service history is essential, though most Evoques have been well cared for. Any that show signs of abuse or lack of expenditure should be avoided. If you have any doubts, move on to another because there are plenty to buy. The safest place to buy is from a Land Rover main dealer or a known good independent specialist (as opposed to one that claims to be). These outlets know how to check a used vehicle and will iron out any faults before selling it with a good warranty. If non-specialist dealers offer to sort out an existing issue on a car, then walk away because there’s nothing worse than having a non-specialist fix what might be a complex fault on a modern vehicle.