2020 Range Rover Evoque launched in India at Rs 54.94 lakh

Team OD Updated: January 30, 2020, 03:33 PM IST

Land Rover has launched the second-generation Evoque in India at a starting price of Rs 54.94 lakh, ex-showroom. Available with a choice of 2-litre diesel engine, the new Evoque carries over the drivetrain from the outgoing model. The two trims available are the base S trim and the SE with R-Dynamic pack. We've driven the diesel S variant, with full road test figures for the new Evoque as well. At launch, the new Evoque is available with diesel powertrains only, while the petrol variants with 48V mild-hybrid assistance are expected to be announced within the month.

Variant-wise prices for the second-generation Evoque diesel are as follows:

Diesel

S - 54.94 lakh ex-showroom

R-Dynamic SE - Rs 59.85 lakh ex-showroom

The new Evoque is the first car from JLR's platform to feature the Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA), which uses a mix of ultra-high strength steel and aluminium for a 13 per cent stiffer structure, as claimed by the company. Engineers have also increased the wheelbase of the new Evoque over the outgoing car by 20mm for a resultant 2,681mm, all going towards greater interior space for rear passengers. Despite which, dimensions of the new Evoque are as compact as ever, with only a 1mm increase in overall length. Exterior dimensions clock in at 4,371mm length, 2,100mm width and 1,649mm height.

This of course is some way short of the Velar, which the new Evoque resembles quite closely, from the front and rear. Sleek wrap-around LED headlamps are borrowed from the larger sibling, while a new grille and cutout in the front bumper help differentiate the Evoque from the Velar when viewed head on. While the profile of the new Evoque hasn't changed much from afar, up close the changes in the trim applied on the front fender are noticeable, apart from the flush door handles which pop out when the vehicle is unlocked. Both variants come with 18-inch alloy wheels, with different designs for each.

The cabin sees several improvements as well. Most noticeable being the twin 10-inch touchscreen layout, the Touch Pro Duo system as seen on current Range Rovers, which bring with it revolutionary technology such as the ClearSight rear camera system which displays a view from an external camera, allowing rearward vision even with cargo laid up till the roof. The Touch Pro Duo and ClearSight are available on the top variants only, along with fully-digital instrumentation and Meridian 11-speaker sound system. As standard, the Evoque gets a single 10-inch touchscreen with Apple/Android integration, 6-speaker system, 10-way powered front seats, two-zone climate control, 360-degree parking cameras, and seven airbags among many others. It must be noted, the iconic rotary gear selector has made way for a stick-type gear shifter, borrowed from the F-Type.

As for the drivetrain, the Evoque is available in D180 and P250 specification. The BSVI compliant 2-litre diesel produces 180PS and 430Nm of torque, while the 2-litre petrol makes 248PS and 365Nm torque. Both are coupled with a 9-speed automatic transmission and on-demand all-wheel drive, with Land Rover's Terrain Response System 2 accessible via a rotary dial on the central stack. The SUV is high on refinement levels and has better NVH optimisation than the previous generation. The new Range Rover Evoque, as before, straddles the lines of the compact luxury SUV segment, as well as the mid-sized SUVs when pricing is considered. As such, its chief rivals range all the way from the likes of the Audi Q3 to the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3.