There are cars, and then there are cars that look like they’ve just stepped out of a GQ photoshoot, sunglasses on, latte in hand, and ready to sneer at your hatchback. Meet the Range Rover Evoque, Britain’s idea of what a luxury crossover should look like when you shrink-wrap a full-size Range Rover, send it to the gym, and hand it a black credit card.
Originally launched in 2011, the Evoque became the best-selling handbag in SUV form. Fast forward to 2025, and you’re looking at the second-generation facelift (codename L551)—a machine that oozes Gerry McGovern’s design drama with Phil Simmons’ flair. It’s as if Savile Row stitched an SUV.
Price, Power & Prestige
The Evoque starts at a crisp ₹69.50 lakh ex-showroom, which is a lot of money for something only 4.4 metres long. But remember: you’re not just buying a car, you’re buying an entry ticket into Range Rover WhatsApp groups where people casually discuss roof colours the way we peasants talk about onion prices.
The one we’re driving today is the P250 Autobiography, powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol Ingenium engine with a mild-hybrid system. That means 246 horsepower, 365 Nm, 0-100 in 7.6 seconds, and a top speed of 230 km/h. Basically, it’s quick enough to leave your neighbour’s Creta in existential crisis, but refined enough to keep your double espresso from spilling.
There’s also a diesel (201 hp, 430 Nm, 8.5 seconds to 100) for those who believe torque is love, torque is life. Both drink from a 65-litre tank, which empties faster than a champagne bottle at a Monaco yacht party if you’re heavy-footed.
Design: Mini Range Rover, Maximum Drama
The Evoque’s design has always been its trump card. The flush deployable door handles, 3D grille, and signature hi-line tail lights are Range Rover’s equivalent of eyeliner. And in Santorini Black with those 19-inch gloss grey alloys, it looks like Darth Vader finally upgraded his company car.
It’s still short and squat, like a bulldog in Prada loafers—only here, the bulldog comes with a shark fin antenna camera, a panoramic sliding glass roof, and pixel LED headlights that not only bend around corners but can probably judge your Spotify playlist too.
Size & Capability: Small but Mighty
It may be compact, but the Evoque can still flex its Range Rover DNA. With 212 mm ground clearance, the ability to wade through 530 mm of water, and Terrain Response 2, it’ll happily climb a kerb outside an art gallery or ford a river if you accidentally typed “forest” into Google Maps instead of “Fort.”
Towing capacity? 1.8 tonnes. Roof loading? 75 kg (perfect for two suitcases and an overconfident Labrador). Turning circle? 11.6 metres—about the same as your local bus, but at least you look cooler doing U-turns.
Interior: Boutique Hotel on Wheels
Inside, the Evoque feels like you’ve checked into a very posh boutique hotel—except here, the minibar is replaced by a 591-litre boot, expandable to 1383 litres if you fold the rear seats (40:20:40, of course, because symmetry matters).
The seats? 14-way electrically adjustable, heated, ventilated, and wrapped in maroon perforated Windsor leather. If you’re still not comfortable, maybe try lying down in the Taj Falaknuma Palace instead.
You also get a Meridian 14-speaker 650-watt system, perfect for reminding pedestrians that you’ve arrived. The 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen supports wireless CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, AI, and real-time traffic—because nothing screams luxury like being told you’re still stuck in Delhi’s Ring Road jam.
Ambient lighting with 10 configurable colours ensures you can set the vibe—red for rage in traffic, blue for chill when you finally find a parking spot, and purple when you want to feel like a nightclub owner.
Driving Tech: Brains Behind the Beauty
The Evoque is smarter than your average SUV. It constantly analyses your driving inputs via Adaptive Dynamics, while electronically controlled dampers adjust 100 times per second. That’s faster than your brain deciding between ordering biryani or butter chicken.
Other party tricks:
- Torque Vectoring by Braking (a.k.a. cornering without embarrassing yourself)
- Low Traction Launch (snow, mud, or wet mall ramps)
- All Terrain Progress Control (basically off-road cruise control up to 30 km/h, perfect for Instagramming while crawling through slush)
- Clearsight Rear-View Mirror (a rear camera that saves you when luggage blocks your view)
Safety? Euro NCAP gave it 5 stars, and with 7 airbags, lane keep assist, trailer stability assist, hill descent control, and emergency brake assist, the Evoque is basically a helicopter pilot away from flying itself.
The Numbers Game
- Kerb weight: ~1900 kg (heavy, but hey, so is royalty)
- Boot space: 591–1383 litres
- Tyres: 235/55 R19 Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season (sounds more Marvel superhero than rubber)
- Average economy: 10 kmpl petrol, 14 kmpl diesel (your wallet may cry, but your ego will purr)
Verdict: The Compact Couture SUV
The 2025 Evoque isn’t just a car—it’s a fashion statement on wheels. It’s for the buyer who doesn’t just want an SUV; they want a Range Rover that fits into tight city streets, valet parking slots, and Instagram reels.
It may not have the space of a Discovery or the intimidation factor of a full-fat Range Rover, but the Evoque makes up for it by being the SUV equivalent of a designer wristwatch—expensive, beautiful, occasionally impractical, but guaranteed to make you feel like royalty every time you open the flush handles.
Should you buy it? If you want your neighbours to know you’ve made it—but not so much that they ask you for a loan—then yes. Absolutely.
