The Range Rover Evoque really is a great car to tow with. Like the larger Land Rover models on test, stability at speed is outstanding. It needed a really strong crosswind to push the Evoque even slightly off course, even when towing beyond the legal limit, and the Al-Ko ATC showed how little the caravan moved around.
Few cars tackled the lane-change test as well as the Evoque. Even in wet conditions the car found grip, with only the slightest slide from the back of it on the final, fastest run.
Hill starts? A doddle. The electronic parking brake does its job without fuss, and the combination of a beefy engine, automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive makes pulling up a 1-in-6 slope seem easy.
In regular driving the Evoque is refined, comfortable and corners well, while the nine-speed automatic gearbox shifts smoothly and is rarely caught in the wrong gear. A little less wind noise at motorway speeds would make the Evoque even better.
As a practical family tow car, however, the Evoque isn’t without flaws. The small boot was nowhere near taking our full load of holiday luggage, and plenty of rivals offer more space for rear-seat passengers.
There’s no doubt that you’re paying a hefty premium for the Range Rover name, but strong resale values are some compensation.