HOW TO GET ONE IN YOUR GARAGE

An expert’s view JAMES HOLLAND, SERVICE ADVISOR, KEITH GOTT

“I’m a former Land Rover main dealer technician and, apart from its well-documented problems with door latches, the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler and the Haldex pump, I don’t recall any major, common problems with the Evoque. If you use an independent specialist for servicing, ensure they have the right diagnostic equipment. Also, check the garage is connected to JLR HQ for service records and technical bulletins.”

Buyer beware ENGINE

Check for EGR coolant leaks. Inspect the turbo hoses for cracks and splits.

TRANSMISSION

Check for a ‘traction reduced’ message indicating a fault with the Haldex oil pump, which can become blocked (budget around £1000). Check effectiveness of 4x4 system by parking half on grass and half on Tarmac, accelerating and checking grass-side wheels don’t spin. Feel for lazy changes or shunting on the sixspeed auto. If nine-speed auto thumps into Drive after a prolonged engine stop/start standstill, it could require a software update. If stop/start doesn’t function, battery level may be too low.

SUSPENSION

Listen for knocks and groans from tired bushes and dampers, and feel for looseness and knocking through the steering wheel. You may have to accept suspension clonks over speed humps.

WARNING LIGHTS

Ensure they all go out. Engine warning light could suggest problems with the emissions control systems, including the DPF. This is sensitive to repeated regeneration cycles, which can cause oil-in-fuel dilution, creating more soot.

BODY

Any rust is probably accident related. Check underside for off-roading graunches. Failure of door latches to operate on remote control is common.

INTERIOR

Make sure all comfort features, including the infotainment, work. Take a test drive over rough ground to check the integrity of trims and fittings. Don’t accept saggy leather seats.

RECALLS

Check all safety recalls have been actioned.

How much to spend £8750-£10,999

Early diesels requiring a thorough inspection.

£11,000-£13,499

Early (2011-12) manual diesels, twoand four-wheel drive, with 100k miles.

£13,500-£15,999

Some 2013-reg cars and mileages down to around 75k.

£16,000-£19,499

Lots more 2013 plus some 2014-15 cars with under 55k miles.

£19,500-£22,499

Low-mileage 2015 2.2 diesels plus midmileage 2015-16 2.0 Ingenium diesels.

£22,500-£25,499

The first 2017 and 2018 cars plus low-mileage 16-reg Ingeniums.

£25,500-£27,999

More 2017-18 cars with 20k mileages.

£28,000 AND ABOVE

Dominated by low-mileage 2018 cars.

One we found RANGE ROVER EVOQUE 2.2 SD4 PURE TECH AWD 5DR, 2012/12-REG, 120K MILES, £13,250

Specialists reckon a high-mileage Evoque is a good buy as any problems will have been sorted. This black with cream leather example is a one-owner car with full Land Rover service history.