The 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque still bristles with energetic looks and turbo-4 power, but more refinement and more back-seat room are overdue.
Pros Stunning exterior shape Better powertrain Power bump on top trims One of the few SUV convertibles on the road...
Cons for good reason Not all that practical Aged structure Cramped rear seat
The 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque ranked #4 in Luxury Subcompact SUVs. Currently the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has a score of 7.8 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 45 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Sophisticated cabin Robust engines Excellent off-road abilities Athletic handling
Cons Unrefined transmission Below-average fuel economy Small cargo area in convertible models Pricier than competitors
Refreshed touchscreen interface.Subcompact luxury crossovers have grown in popularity over the last few years in part due to their relatively low cost. While many vehicles in this class are similarly priced, the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover bucks convention and costs almost as much as larger compact crossovers. Still, the Evoque's substantial list of standard features and superior off-road performance could make it worth the financial stretch for the right buyer.
PROS Striking exterior and interior design Available convertible variant is the only one of its kind Fun to drive
CONS Limited visibility, especially for the convertible Not a lot of backseat space Premium pricing compared to subcompact competitors
The first-generation Chevrolet Captiva offered buyers a lot of car for their money. It was a large, seven-seater SUV with powerful diesel engines and decent off-road capability thanks to its four-wheel-drive system. A facelift in 2011 brought revised looks and simplified the engine line-up down to just a single diesel. Two models are available: an entry-level, five-seat, two-wheel-drive version and a high-spec, seven-seat, four-wheel-drive one. Although all Captivas are comfortable and well equipped, they don't lead the class when it comes to efficiency and the range-topping LTZ specification can be quite expensive.
Despite its name, it seemed like the Chevrolet Captiva was merely content as the wallflower of the compact crossover segment. While everyone else boasted head-turning good looks or formidable performance (or both), the Captiva had an available diesel variant and seven seats. Sure, it was enough for a select few to part money for one, but the vast majority of Filipinos passed on it. Well, Chevrolet has finally understood that having a diesel and seven seats maybe good for few, but an updated styling and some spec tweaks are much more important. Enter the 2015 Captiva, a compact crossover that’s now slicker than your average. While it’s not a real fuel miser, at least it handles tidily. Along with the new engine, the 2015 Captiva receives a re-tweaked suspension. Chevy calls it a soft ride suspension, but it feels firmer than the pre-facelifted version. It sharpens the road manners, but the flip side is the ride isn’t as relaxed as it should be for this class. Bumps get easily transmitted into the cabin which isn’t helped by the less than solid feeling body structure. It doesn’t flop or flip through corners, but the overall experience is still very pedestrian. The steering isn’t as quick and feels rather numb, mainly because it still relies on a non-variable ratio hydraulic assist steering, but at least there’s still good grip. Unlike more modern offerings, it doesn’t have stability control to speak of and this causes the front tires to chirp at full throttle. But at least the torque steer is largely controlled.
