Adventurous & Effortless Range Rover Évoque Hybrid P300e PHEV 2023 Review
We decided the best way to get the measure of the Range Rover Evoque Hybrid was to take it on a few adventures. First, we cruised down to Brighton Marina for a long jet ski safari with the amazing team at Lagoon.co.uk. See our review of the superb Jet Skiing experience at Brighton Boating Lagoon Watersports. https://www.lagoon.co.uk/course/stag-and-hen-grou…
Then we undertook a lengthy tour south to Falmouth for a little luxury pampering at St Michael’s Resort and Hydrotherapy Spa in Cornwall. See our review of the fabulous St Michael’s Resort. https://www.stmichaelsresort.com
Finishing up with a trip to Norwich for a historical tour of the old medieval marketplace. All accompanied by a week of blazing late September sunshine.
But back to the Range Rover Evoque Hybrid. Let’s go straight to what makes the Evoque so interesting. It’s a plug-in hybrid that can do 38 miles (62 Km) on electric alone, and combined with the 1.5 litre, 3-cylinder 309 bhp turbocharged Ingenium petrol engine will do 189 mpg controlled by an 8-speed automatic gearbox. There is a diesel version too, so some people must still be buying diesel.
189 mpg? That’s great news for touring and probably more eco-friendly than the electricity production used for your home supply. Certainly cheaper now that electricity prices have soared at the chargers. Make no mistake, 189 mpg in an SUV is fantastic, particularly one as legendary as the Range Rover, not normally known for being green.
You can set it to hybrid or just electric mode, and coast for those 38 miles. Good enough for most days: shopping, popping into town and dropping the kids back and forth. You can also set a saved preference. Talking of modes, it has Dynamic, Eco, Comfort, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Sand And Mud Ruts. There’s not much difference between Dynamic, Eco and Comfort; you get a slightly sharper response, better mpg and more bounce in that order, but it’s barely noticeable when driving. Grass/Gravel/Snow enhances the traction but Mud Ruts is a lot of fun and was extremely useful in navigating some of the hairier parts of the journey in Cornwall.
Mud Ruts mode will get you through anything, this is still a true all-terrain vehicle, with a wading depth of 53 cm. Unbelievably useful, not just for chasing sheep around but for those steep coastal Cornish roads with their deep ditches.
It comes with two ports, one for petrol and one for the recharge cable. There are two cables supplied, one for independent chargers and another with a normal house plug. Home charging takes just over two hours overnight, so you always have 38 miles in the tank. The 15 kWh lithium-ion battery powers an 80kW electric motor with 227 kW of power.
0-62 mph is achieved in a nippy 6.4 secs with a top speed of 132 mph and it weighs just over two tons. There are four distinct models, Evoque S, Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE and Autobiography, which are basically the same, each model simply adds more features.
The exterior is extremely stylish, yet still evokes (pun intended) the design of past Range Rovers. No mean feat as it is a compact SUV rather than the monstrous mobile living room of old. It’s just under 2 metres wide and 4.3 metres long. The shape is now so ubiquitous that you must step back and look again. The side view is a masterpiece of design, unique amongst a horde of similar-looking SUVs. The 20″ wheels are surprisingly stylish too.
The roofline swoops down from the front whilst the bonnet line rises to meet it. Dark lines, top and bottom, frame the car, enhancing the beauty of the Nolita Grey paint with a blueish tint. Privacy glass boosts that colour contrast even further. Plus the gold side vents at the front air intakes balance well with the honeycomb grille. Everyone instantly knows this is a Range Rover, part of its hugely popular appeal. Weird to think the first one came out in 2011, it’s still such a modern design.
The interior is striking, you immediately notice the soft faux suede with contrast stitching and tweed-like vegan-friendly Kvadrat lining the doors, dash and seats. Landrover has stepped up its use of eco-sustainably produced materials in all its ranges. The subdued black-grey tones enhanced by flowing lines of chrome imbue a certain air of gravitas and luxury, excellent for the price point.
Two screens keep you entertained and informed, the wide top one which unfolds from the dash shows music, sat nav, CarPlay etc. Bright and clear, it can be angled up or down as per your preference. The bottom 10″ screen displays the car information; modes, heated seats, climate and de-misters. The classic driver’s console with two analogue dials and the digital readout in the centre gives you all the necessary info, including the speed limit and map directions. The cabin ambience can be changed via two large solid knobs with the temperature marked in the centre, with a smaller control button for volume in the middle. Meridien surround sound speakers will keep you musically inspired on long journeys.
The Pivi Pro sat nav does the job well, sometimes beating Mac Maps, though it does glitch occasionally. Think of it as a friend who will tell porkies every so often to liven things up, so keep an eye on it.
Headroom is excellent even for the tallest drivers and there is good legroom in the back three rear seats, with 591 litres of boot space. And the seats are as supremely comfortable as always. Let’s face it they started the big comfy seat trend with the ‘Classic” in 1969. The panoramic glass sunroof is a must as it illuminates the cabin, giving an impression of greater interior space.
Almost everything else is controlled from the steering wheel with cruise control, lane warning, satin chrome gearshift paddles, plus a good rear and front camera for parking and extremely precise warning beeps if anything gets too close. And there is a wireless charger under the centre console, with a handy phone signal booster. Voice control is handy for jumping over any unsuitable songs in your playlist too. You also get a free 12-month Secure Tracker Pro subscription, probably a good idea as Range Rovers are the most stolen car brand in the UK. Not just popular with the Polo set, then.
As per usual with Range Rovers, the Evoque earns a 5-star safety rating from NCAP. All in all, everything is well-built with quality materials and a pleasing feel. Think comfortable, reassuring, functional luxury.
Performance is good, not sports car good, it’s more about off-road capability and extreme comfort. 309 bhp is more than enough, the 250 bhp version will do for most, though 0-62 in 6.4 secs is the sweet spot for overtaking or changing lanes easily. Roll is improved too and less noticeable than in older versions. The steering is soft and ideal for a luxury SUV.
Overall, it is mega-comfortable. On the road, it flies as if on air. We tested it on the three worst types of speed bumps and it took even the newest, highest and most vicious bumps with ease. You know the ones, super narrow and so high they scrape the bottom of every sports car.
Everything about this car is effortless. Recharge from a simple 240 V outlet in just over two hours for all electric day-to-day driving. 189 mpg makes long-distance touring affordable, whilst its sophistication, safety and sheer ease of use make for a pleasurable, relaxing journey. The Range Rover Evoque takes the hassle out of every type of travel situation. The words that come to mind after driving the Evoque 1200 miles are simplicity, luxury, comfort and most of all absolute convenience.
Hybrid is the way to go. We’ve tested all the top electric cars, and our current recommendation is a hybrid. And the Range Rover Evoque Hybrid P300e is the one to beat at this price range. It’s the best Range Rover ever made, gaining in performance, style, handling and sheer simplicity.
We saw a lot of them on our tour, at the hotel, the beach and the yacht marina. Still the car for those who like adventures, but compact enough for towns too.
Base Price from £49,000
https://www.landrover.co.uk/range-rover/range-rov…
