Range Rover Evoque P270e

Have updates to the plug-in hybrid version of this upmarket small SUV helped or hindered it? On sale Now Price from £49,110

- LAWRENCE CHEUNG [e-mail]

IN THE SAME way that you might watch your savings grow by a small percentage each year, it’s not unusual to see cars gain a modest power boost during their time on sale. But with the Range Rover Evoque, it’s gone the other way - for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, at least.

What used to be the Evoque P300e has discreetly become the P270e, with the combined power output dropping from 305bhp to 265bhp (mainly so that it can meet more stringent emissions regulations). This results in a slightly slower 0-62mph time (7.2sec versus 6.4sec), while official fuel economy is much the same as before.

The electric motor delivers the same 107bhp to the rear wheels when the car is running in pure electric mode. That's fine for around town and just enough to get you up to motorway speeds at a moderate rate.