Price Check
Maybe the baby Range Rover isn’t as bulletproof as we thought, admits Dave Phillips
Maybe the baby Range Rover isn’t as bulletproof as we first thought, admits Dave Phillips
THE ink on last month’s Pricecheck had hardly dried when I got an irate response from a reader who had good reason to disagree with my rash assertion that the quality and reliability of the first-generation Range Rover Evoque was a bit special. Having recently shelled out £13,000 for a new transfer box on the 2014 model that his partner has owned from new, I can see his point. And I can understand he was particularly irked because the passenger side door had just failed to open. No doubt another expensive bill looms large…
It was time to dig a bit deeper and a search on the internet revealed plenty of Evoque woes – topped by gearbox failures (no surprise there) but also including various computer glitches (a potential problem with all technology-laden cars).
According to What Car, build quality can be variable on the Evoque: “Most problems centre on the non-engine electrics, especially around the air-con and sat-nav units, with gearbox woes a close second, followed by engine and suspension issues.”
Automatic gearbox problems on the
Evoque are fairly common and can vary greatly – anything from a software fault to actuator problems, but including mechanical failure of the gearbox itself. There are also known issues with the Evoque’s tailgate alignment, which in turn puts the reversing camera on the dashboard out of alignment, leaving frustrated drivers unable to get the full picture.
Meanwhile, on vehicles with engine start-stop technology, the flywheel is prone to early wear due to the continual starting and stopping. Excessive vibration through the clutch pedal is the telltale sign, so watch out for this.
Rather scarily, the Evoque has seen eight recalls so far, including for fuel leaks, short circuits and the front passenger airbag not deploying in an accident.
Obviously it is only a small percentage of secondhand Evoques that have suffered these problems, but at LRM we reckon it’s important to give buyers a balanced view. After all, any Evoque purchase is a significant financial investment – and makes it all the more vital to follow the advice I gave last month and buy from a reputable dealer who offers a full warranty.