I appreciate that those whose experience of the Evoque is less than perfect, must speak as they find, but to give a bit more balance here is a more positive review (updated from the one I posted some weeks ago on Evoque Owners Forum a few weeks ago).
So, here are my impressions after 2 months (1800 miles) of ownership of an MY16 TD4 SE Tech Auto (12-way memory seats, reversing camera, mats and flaps, load space mat, spare wheel, service pack, in Corris Grey). Sorry if this looks like a long essay, but there is a lot to talk about.
ORDERING/DEALER EXPERIENCE
I don’t want to get too much into the ordering experience- it was fraught and I was badly hit by the Q545 quarantine, with very little information coming out of JLR. I actually felt sorry for my dealer/salesman (Listers of Droitwich) and they did make a significant ‘goodwill gesture’ plus a courtesy car when my situation got critical. The eventual handover was very professional, and I got the free umbrella and a bottle of the strong stuff!
LIKES (AND RELIEF)
The 9-speed auto. Its the first auto box I’ve had and I find it so smooth. I don’t recognize any of the significant ’lag’ or jerkiness others have reported. - but then I do drive quite ‘conservatively’.
Very smooth ride, quiet, refined diesel engine, great suspension and generally a great driver experience. Looking forward to trying the special programmes, but will do my Experience Day first (imminent).
Fuel economy is better than I expected. My best so far (by the trip computer) is 54.4 mpg, on a 102 mile journey on mixed motorway and country A roads at an average speed of 56 mph. At the last top up I calculated 47 mpg for mixed journeys, and I reckon this has improved by about 6% since I first had the car.
The 12 way electric, heated seats with memory function, I use all three, M1 for normal driving, M2 for reversing out of the garage (reducing seat height because of the auto-dipped external mirrors), and M3 for driving into a garage with not much spare room (higher and further forward to give me a better view of the position of the wing mirrors in relation to the door posts).
Build quality seems very good to me- previous car was an Audi A3 diesel. The interior looks well done to me- much more refined than the Disco Sport which I drove as a loan car while waiting for my car to arrive at the dealers.
Reversing camera- I find it extremely useful (probably essential for an old guy like me who cannot contort his head/body as he used to) and I have not experienced any of the often-reported fogging so far- touch wood
No Wonky Exhaust Syndrome- maybe it was corrected at PDI since I did mention to the salesman that I had heard several reports of WES via this Forum.
No misaligned tailgate!
Satnav seems perfectly OK to me – but maybe my expectations are not that high and I don't think anyone should just rely on satnav for guidance anyway.
I can get my golf bag (minus the driver) horizontally across the load space, and the rear parcel shelf does stow away behind the rear seats if you need to take it down.
DISLIKES/CONCERNS
I did have a ‘water in fuel’ warning light 2 days after purchase. Needed JLR Assist and dealer to replace faulty sensor/fuel filter unit- and had no problems since.
The interior lighting is weak- yes I could change it for LEDs- but can I be bothered (and I wonder whether it might affect the warranty).
I went for the rubber floor mats (and the load space mat). Three of the four mats are great- but why is the driver’s so small? OK I guess it is all about minimizing the risk of getting something trapped under the brake pedal- but is that really an issue with these tethered mats?
As others have said, the whole JLR/dealer/customer experience is not great. I expected and had factored in a long delivery time because I didn’t want the car before Sept 1st, but in the end I did not take delivery until November 28th- despite knowing that the car had been built on Sept 16th. No-one could tell me what happened in the intervening 8 or so weeks!
Start-stop. Most of my driving is on country roads or motorway, so that’s OK and I can see that S/S can marginally improve economy. But, for me it makes less sense in an auto and if I remember, I switch it off when in heavy traffic or town. It just doesn’t seem sensible to have S/S cutting in every time you come to a brief stop.
DETAILING ETC. I did this myself, over 2 days, and quite enjoyed doing it (sad I know)! Basically I used Valet Pro pH neutral snow foam, power rinsed but using low power for pressure sensitive areas (esp. camera), 2 bucket/microfibre mitt wash with Autoglym Shampoo/Conditioner, power rinse, clayed with G3 clay mitt and AG Rapid Detailer, towelled dry, polished with AG Super Resin Polish, finished off with AG Extra Gloss Finish. External glass treated with GTechniq G4/G5. Alloys cleaned with Land Rover VPLSW0066 Wheel Cleaner, protected when dry with AG Wheel Protector.