ALL SEEING TECH
Two common criticisms of the irst Evoque were appalling rear visibility and a claustrophobic second row. The latter persists, though rear-seat passengers get 20mm more legroom.
To an extent, that rear visibility issue’s been solved, if you can aord to spec the ClearSight rear-view mirror (standard only with HSE trim). Turning around and reversing the Evoque still feels like trying to back up a Countach (albeit without the handy foot-wide sill to sit on), but glance at the mirror and you get a far more expansive view than you could hope to get through the rear screen.
The ClearSight mirror links a high-de inition camera in the shark’s in on the roof with a 9.5-inch high-res screen where you’d expect a mirror. The result is a 50° ield of view that persists whether you stack the rear seats with crates of Bollinger or Australian hitchhikers.
‘The feed can also play with light levels and depth of ield to enhance visibility in diicult conditions, like fog,’ explains project leader Scott Higgins.
Perched high on a hillside with most of Herefordshire spread around us in all directions like a giant play mat, I can vouch for the resolution. In the ield of crops behind us, individual fronds lutter in the autumn breeze. Bundle in ClearSight Ground View, a full-colour HUD, capacitive switchgear, the mild hybrid system, CarPlay and Android connectivity, and an adaptive cruise control capable of rolling even with stop-start traic, and Evoque 2 backs up Land Rover’s assertion that this is its most progressive, tech-literate car yet.