► New 2016 model year Evoque shown
► New 2.0 Ingenium engines, lower CO2
► Modest style refresh, new tech ‘n’ toys too
Land Rover’s given in to the inevitable and facelifted its most successful car: meet the new 2016 Range Rover Evoque.
Key changes include the addition of Jaguar Land Rover’s new 2.0-litre Ingenium engines – bringing down CO2 emissions to an admirably parsimonious 109g/km – and the company’s first full-LED lighting system. There’s also more personalisation available to the fashionista who lap up the Evoque’s vogueish charms.
In detail: the 2016 Range Rover Evoque
Spot the new Evoque by its freshly contoured front bumper with engorged air intakes, a choice of grille designs, that distinctive new LED headlamp graphic and three new alloy wheel designs. The bonnet vents previously fitted only to three-door ‘coupe’ models are now fitted to five-door HSE Dynamic and Autobiography models, too.
Yes, that’s right. The Evoque was always going to be a tough act to facelift, so they’ve barely bothered. Still, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…
Land Rover wasn’t in a rush to evolve this smallest Range Rover; after all, it’s the fastest-selling model in the company’s history, shifting 62,000 in the UK since launch in 2011. Globally, that figure is an astonishing 400,000 units.
Two grilles, you say? What’s all that about?
The standard front face has two horizontal bars and a fine-mesh wire-effect grille. Upgrade to the sportier Dynamic models, and you get a hexagonal design with a bolder mesh motif.
Those new all-LED headlamps aren’t standard, unfortunately, being offered only on higher-spec Evoques. They’re adaptive, throwing white diode light around corners and giving a suitably funky day-running light graphic running the full width of the light unit. There’ll be no trouble spotting this car from a distance.
Note also the optional roof fin, incorporating a 3G antenna for better phone signal on the move.
Ingenium engines for the Range Rover Evoque
The biggest news arguably lies under the same again bonnet of the Evoque. The new Ingenium engines are JLR’s own-brand four-cylinder motors, hailing from the Wolverhampton factory. There’s just a new 2.0 diesel from the new range so far. Choose from:
TD4 148bhp 68mpg and 109g/km on the eD4 2wd
TD4 178bhp 59mpg and 125g/km
Si4 236bhp 36mpg and 181g/km
The latter engine is a carryover, offering 0-62mph in 7.6sec and a 135mph top speed. The goody-two-shoes eD4 wears a blue Evoque badge to reflect its clean emissions.
Service intervals have leaped from 16,000 to 21,000 miles, making the new Ingenium-powered Evoque cheaper to own, Land Rover claims.
An improved cabin too
Land Rover has also sprinkled some fairy dust on the Evoque’s interior. No surprises for spotting the new JLR eight-inch InControl touchscreen to replace the frankly shocking sat-nav that’s blighted all of the company’s products for the past few years.
Big, smartphone-style graphics are in, tiny, inaccessible buttons are out. Hurrah!
Also new is the addition of DAB digital radio across the board, autonomous braking to keep the Evoque from bashing in to the car in front if a collision is detected and off-road cruise control that works up to 19mph. No more wobbling feet if you’re traversing a bumpy field that’s making your throttle control bouncier than Mr Blobby.
When can I buy the new 2016 Evoque?
Deliveries kick off in August 2015; prices will be announced nearer the summer.
Make no mistake about the import of the Evoque; sales have continued to soar and 2014 was in fact its most successful year to date, with 125,364 shifted worldwide. No wonder the company says this car is responsible for the creation of 3000 jobs in Halewood, north-west England.