Evoque vs Discovery Sport

They’re Land Rover’s best-sellers, but which is the better value secondhand? Dave Phillips investigates

IT’S winter and there’s nothing better to look forward to than the traditional rush to buy 4x4s. In Britain it’s as inevitable as Christmas and this year it’s likely to be even more hectic than usual, because in late 2020 the SUV officially became Britain’s biggest-selling type of car.

Among the most popular are Land Rover’s best-sellers: the Range Rover Evoque and the Discovery Sport. Both are remarkably similar in many respects: they’re the smallest models produced by the company and offer much the same engine choices and performance.

So if you’re in the market for an SUV this winter, which one should you go for?

Discovery Sport

Launched in 2015, it’s a proven performer on and off-road and also hugely versatile, with an optional third row of seats accommodating seven people. Folded down, it offers impressive load space. DIY fans will be thrilled to know that standard 2.4 metre lengths of timber will fit inside, with the rear door closed.

Six-speed manual and nine-speed auto boxes are available. The latter is so smooth that changes are imperceptible. Frugal diesel engines are the most popular, but beware of the early 2.2 Ingeniums, which suffered well-documented oil dilution problems. The later 2.0-litre diesels are largely trouble-free – as are the petrol versions.

I was in Iceland for the launch of this model. It’s performance on icy, snow-covered roads was impeccable.

The Disco Sport is holding its secondhand values well and you will struggle to find anything under £12,000.

Range Rover Evoque

This wasn’t a huge hit with enthusiasts, not least because Posh Spice was involved in its glitzy launch in 2011 and two-wheel drive was optional – a controversial choice for any Land Rover, but a practical one to achieve better fuel economy.

Neither of the above points deterred buyers and the Evoque quickly became Land Rover’s best-seller. An updated second-generation model was introduced in 2018.

It’s a great-looking car and, because it’s a Range Rover, there are a lot of very highly specced-up models out there. Early models are now nine years old, which means you can pick up a very well-appointed Evoque 1 for as little as £8000.

Petrol and diesel engine options are much the same as the Disco Sport. A plug-in hybrid version was introduced in 2020, but have yet to trickle down in numbers to the secondhand market.

The five-door model is most popular, not least because the three-door coupe version is very cramped in the back. A convertible version enjoyed limited success – and isn’t a great choice for winter driving, anyway.

The verdict

For sheer versatility and incredible winter driving ability, you simply can’t beat the Discovery Sport.

If you’re looking for Range Rover style on your drive at a bargain price, an early Range Rover Evoque is hard to beat – but make sure you buy the 4WD version.