Behind the wheel of the Range Rover Evoque

17 August 2023

By Henry Khov

Editor-at-large, Nicole Saunders, faces her fear of flat batteries and public charging stations and gets into the driver’s seat of the head-turning Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic SE P300e.

I’ve long been pondering when exactly I’ll ditch my petrol-fuelled car and invest in an EV. With the planet in mind and various legislation on the horizon that will change the way we get to where we need to be, an electric vehicle makes sense for a number of reasons. Despite the pros, which undoubtedly outweigh the cons, I can’t be the only one who finds the thought of cruising from A to B with zero petrol in the tank — or should I say, with no petrol tank! — uncharted territory and even a little terrifying.

So, when I was handed the keys to the uber-sleek Range Rover Evoque P300e, there was no escaping the fact that I’m a total electric vehicle novice. Naturally, my first question pertained to what happens should I find myself in a situation where I run out of charge. Fortunately for this EV amateur, the Evoque is a PHEV — a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle — aka the perfect starting point for someone, like me, who is interested in discovering all the benefits of an electric vehicle but isn’t quite ready to give up the security and reliability of that tank of petrol. With a very quick press of the button, you can switch between full EV, hybrid, and ‘save’ mode, which is full petrol.

Once I’m assured there’s absolutely no need to worry about flat batteries on my daily commute, the first thing I notice is the Evoque’s size. While I love a spacious vehicle — I need room for the baby, the dog, and the kitchen sink — I’ve always been slightly overwhelmed by the size of certain SUVs.

I’m quite the opposite of tall, and I’ve often struggled to feel at ease in gargantuan vehicles. The Evoque surprises me — it’s neither too big nor too small; it’s just right. And gosh, it’s comfortable — so comfortable, in fact, that I find myself in a state of zen while stuck in traffic, daydreaming about getting out of town and cruising down the Thames coast road. The fixed panoramic sunroof adds to the Evoque’s inner ambience — plus, it’s a great party trick to entertain and distract a grizzly 11-month-old who’s protesting being in his car seat by flailing all limbs and wailing.

The Evoque handles like a dream — it’s fun to drive: quite peppy if and when you need it to be, but feels incredibly safe — a must-tick box when you’re transporting your family from
A to B.

I’m the kind of person who dreads going to the petrol station; therefore, the thought of charging the Range Rover Evoque P300e whilst out and about was a little intimidating for this electric-vehicle-charging neophyte. Would I be judged by competent and experienced EV enthusiasts as I awkwardly fumble with the charger, trying to figure out what on earth I’m doing?

Much to my delight, my fears are quickly assuaged and I surprise myself — and any bemused onlookers. The Evoque, as I quickly discover, is very straightforward to charge regardless of whether you opt for charging at home with the AC cable or at a fast-charging station while going about your day.

Once I got over my initial nervousness, all I needed to do was download the ChargeNet app, park, plug into a Combined Charging System (CCS) charging point, and saunter off into the supermarket with a definite air of satisfaction in my stride. I’m surprised how quickly the Evoque charges, but I shouldn’t be; unlike the majority of its competitors, the Evoque takes a DC rapid charger at charging stations. While the 62-kilometre EV range doesn’t sound like a lot, the average commute to work in New Zealand is around 11.5 kilometres, which means my daily trips are easily covered. Although it’s great having the petrol and hybrid modes as options, you could easily decide to use the electric mode for all of your day-to-day travel provided you recharged at home every second evening
or so.

Not only does the Range Rover Evoque deliver a seriously good dopamine hit, but, knowing you’re doing something to reduce your fossil-fuel consumption, there’s something supremely satisfying — exhilarating even — about parking, plugging in, heading into the supermarket for your weekly grocery shop, and then coming out and being welcomed by a fully charged, extremely good-looking Range Rover.

While we’re on the subject of Evoque’s attractiveness, there are definitely a few features that deserve a mention. For starters, I’m a sucker for detail and the Evoque has attention to detail in droves. The design is slick; the Evoque’s silhouette is curvaceous and sporty — what you would expect from an SUV — but it remains true to that iconic Range Rover shape that we know and love. It exudes understated luxury with both its exterior and its striking interior.

What’s on the inside counts, too, and when I’m in the Evoque driver’s seat everything feels exceptionally intuitive. I’ve never been a big fan of voice-activated virtual assistants but the Evoque introduces me to Android Auto and there’s no turning back. I feel more in control of each journey as I’m able to ask how the traffic is and get an accurate answer instantly.

Ticking the practicality, luxury, and sustainability boxes in one go is no mean feat, but the Range Rover Evoque manages to do just that for me. After spending a week with the Evoque, my fear of flat batteries and public charging is a thing of the past and I’m a definite PHEV convert. Having the flexibility to switch between full electric, hybrid, and petrol opens up a world of possibilities.