RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

A dated powertrain is taking some of the shine off our premium SUV

- RACHEL BURGESS

MILEAGE 1732

WHY WE'RE RUNNING IT Can this upmarket SUV still hold its own in the face of fresher competition?

A few years ago, I ran a Jaguar E-Pace long-termer. Remember those? I enjoyed it immensely, but one of my few complaints was the execution of the powertrain. Now in this new Evoque I find the same set-up - and, sadly, the same gripes remain.

It’s a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the type of which have become very common in recent years as car makers (a) desperately clamour to make engines more efficient and cleaner and (b) realise they are a good choice to pair with an electric motor for various hybrid options. In this case it’s a plugin hybrid that offers 29 miles of electric-only range.