Automotive

2020 Range Rover Evoque: The SUV you didn’t know you needed

Being ordinary is boring

Published

August 29, 2019

Joash Maramara

The Range Rover Evoque is one of Land Rover’s best-selling vehicles and is the most affordable in the brand’s line-up. It sold over 800,000 units since its launch and has been a very popular SUV worldwide.

This second-generation posh compact SUV has been revamped to keep up with the latest in automotive technologies while maintaining the original Evoque styling with its iconic sloping roofline, ascending beltline, and wide shoulder lines. Although, at the same time, it also borrows design cues from its bigger brother, the Velar.

Just by looks alone, this car would definitely sell since it’s plain beautiful and well-styled. It’s not just made to look good, though, since Land Rover has the reputation of producing well-performing and capable luxury vehicles.

They have set the standard high in this segment and we expect nothing less in the introduction of the all-new Range Rover Evoque — an SUV that could be considered from the future.

Out of the four available variants in the country, what we have here is the R-Dynamic HSE Diesel model and it sports a Shadow Atlas front grille and copper inserts on its bumper air intakes, rear exhaust, and bonnet vents. It also has sophisticated-looking LED lights that we instantly fell in love with.

The Evoque stands on 20-inch wheels with what the company calls Diamond Turned Finish. These, together with its pronounced shoulders and wheel arches, make the exterior look dynamic — a mixture of robust elements and elegance in one sleek package. In terms of dimensions, the Evoque is wider and longer thanks to Land Rover’s new Premium Transverse architecture. It is now 100mm longer than the old model which is evident when you step inside.

The interior is plush and is padded with premium quality materials. The dash, steering, and center console are wrapped in stitched high-quality soft leather with black piano finish accents and soft-touch plastic which make every surface of the interior look and feel luxurious.

Gone are the knobs and switches that normally clutter the dashboard and have been replaced with Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro Duo system; a dual high definition 10-inch touch screen that controls everything — from navigation to air-conditioning to the terrain management system.

Overall, everything looks clean, minimalistic, modern, and we’d even dare say futuristic. Other standard features you will find are USB ports, cup holders, and 12-volt outlets up front and at the back. The interior is exceptionally spacious and comfortable, not to mention extremely quiet even at high speeds.

Audio is also superior in quality thanks to the Meridian 10-speaker setup. It offers superb, authentic, and immersive surround sound with Meridian cabin correction technology that harmonizes with the precise acoustics of your Range Rover’s interior.

In short, the entire cabin aims to pamper your senses with aesthetically pleasing lines, premium and comfortable materials, and a sound system that delivers high-quality audio for everyone inside.

The Evoque was designed to be more of a street-friendly luxury SUV than a rock crawling hard-core off-roader. But don’t be fooled — this does not mean that this SUV is incapable. It is basically a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s a Land Rover for crying out loud, and we know what they do best.

It’s a proper off-roader with a low range gearbox and it can even compete with the big boys like the more purpose-built off-roaders. In its segment, this could very well be the most capable crossover. We had the chance to test its off-road capabilities and boy was it easy. The Evoque is well-equipped and armed to the brim with the latest in off-road and driving assistance technology.

Mudding and rock-crawling was no trouble for this beast using Land Rover’s latest terrain response system. An inexperienced off-road driver can take on rough terrain with ease thanks to the ClearSight Ground View that makes the bonnet and floor invisible. Being able to see where the tires are is a game-changer.

It uses five HD cameras that let the driver see every corner of the vehicle in 360 degrees. This simply makes off-roading a lot easier. On the downside, this SUV is not the best in wheel articulation as there is a limited amount of wheel travel and will definitely get some wheels in the air in uneven terrain. Although in general, the Evoque will give you the confidence to get you where you need to be even with rough road conditions.

If I were to drive just one car for the rest of my life, I would choose this. It has everything you could possibly want — the luxury of a large sedan that pampers you throughout, the attractive looks of a concept car, the capabilities of a rugged off-road SUV, world-class safety, and lastly, to exaggerate a bit, the technology of a spaceship. It truly is an all-in-one vehicle.

See the Range Rover Evoque in action through this video:

Related Topics:Evoque Land Rover Range Rover

Automotive

New EV player XPENG to launch in the Philippines in September

XPENG to unveil two models in the market

Published

August 13, 2026

GadgetMatch

AI-driven mobility company XPENG is launching in the Philippines next month, adding to the list of smart electric vehicle (EV) players in the market.

XPENG Philippines will commence operations as the country’s direct subsidiary, as well as national sales and marketing company.

As part of the launch, XPENG will launch two smart EV models: the XPENG X9 and XPENG L03.

The XPENG X9 is the brand’s flagship intelligent seven-seater. It is positioned as an EV for executive-class comfort, featuring AI-powered technologies and a premium cabin for modern families, businesses, and professionals.

Meanwhile, the XPENG L03 is an intelligent SUV coupe that brings together a contemporary design, AI-powered innovation, and software-defined mobility. It promises to deliver a smarter, more intuitive driving experience for today’s car owners.

Additional pricing details, variants, and complete specifications of each model, as well as their availability, will be unveiled soon.

XPENG is a global AI technology company based in Guangzhou, China. It specializes in smart EVs, driven by a mission to shape the future of mobility through innovation.

The company designs, develops, manufactures, and markets such vehicles, supported by its in-house, full-stack, advanced driver-assistance system, smart in-car OS, and core vehicle technologies.

The brand has a presence in more than 60 countries and regions across Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Latin America.

Automotive

VinFast debuts two-wheeler models, opens 21 e-motorcycle showrooms

Evo, Feliz II, Viper officially launched

Published

August 3, 2026

GadgetMatch

VinFast is pouncing on its growing presence in the Philippines, expanding with 21 electric motorcycle showrooms housing its new two-wheeler offerings.

The electric vehicle company just launched three two-wheeler offerings in the market: the VinFast Evo, Feliz II, and Viper.

Such milestone marks an important step in VinFast’s expansion in one of Southeast Asia’s largest two-wheeler markets.

The introduction of the three VinFast two-wheeler models offer drivers a modern, cost-effective, and sustainable mobility alternative.

Evo, Feliz II, and Viper each offer distinct characteristics designed to meet a wide range of mobility needs and riding styles.

Evo has a top speed of 80 km/h and a range of up to 150 km with two fully charged batteries. The Feliz II emphasizes practicality and versatile performance, with a top speed of 90 km/h.

Rounding out the lineup is Viper, featuring a sporty design, maximum power output of 5,200W, and a top speed of 90 km/h.

The aforementioned 21 pioneer dealerships will begin operations in major cities nationwide. This allows VinFast to offer products and authorized services directly to consumers.

The network is expected to grow further in the coming period, progressively expanding with VinFast’s presence in the country.

Just over a month ago, VinFast’s early booking program drew thousands of customers nationwide.

The strong market response can be attributed to VinFast’s battery-swapping approach, contributing to the appeal of the e-scooters.

Following the launch, the public can expect immersive experience activities across the new dealerships throughout August 2026.

Customers will be able to see and test ride the three models. They can also learn about battery technology and sales policies, and explore flexible ownership options.

Automotive

Xiaomi debuts SkyNomad Series featuring new Kunlun platform

Intelligent, reconfigurable large-space SUV

Published

August 1, 2026

GadgetMatch

Xiaomi EV is ushering in a new era with the launch of the Xiaomi SkyNomad Series in China, the first model built on the new Xiaomi Kunlun Platform.

The new EV is positioned as an intelligent, reconfigurable large-space SUV built around on three core strengths: expansive interior space, completely flat cabin floor, and reconfigurable seating.

It is paired with the Xiaomi Kunlun HyperRange, Xiaomi Armor Scale Battery, and Xiaomi Kunlun Total Safety.

The SkyNomad’s cabin electronics run on a four-in-one domain control model built on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform. It features Dual 5G and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

The launch unveiled two models: the first is the flagship 7-seater extended-range SUV Xiaomi SkyNomad N90 Max (RMB 299,900) while the other is the 5-seat AWD SUV Xiaomi SkyNomad N70 Max (RMB 259,900).

These EVs have a battery capacity range of 52 to 76kWh. On CLTC, the N70 Max can reach up to 505 kilometers of EV-only range. Dual-motor all-wheel delivers 310kW of peak power.

Design born for space

The Xiaomi SkyNomad’s design philosophy is based on prioritizing function, while form complements it.

Every design feature traces back to a specific spatial need. And the spatial logic shows up directly in the body, through squared-off proportions.

Three lines define the upright stance: a flat roofline for maximized second and third-row headroom, a continuous waistline, and a rising sill line to lift the visual center of gravity.

A rounded-rectangle motif carries theough the headlights, taillights, door handles, and side cameras for a cohesive design language that features over 140 aerodynamic optimizations.

Smart electric doors open by touch or voice, while rear doors open to nearly 90° for easy passage.

Xiaomi Kunlun built for space

Where the Xiaomi Kunlun architecture comes in is for optimizing packaging across three axes to minimize structural intrusion in the cabin.

The front cabin integration includes a five-in-one EREV system, integrated water-cooling module, mid-mounted HVAC unit, and PTC-compressor two-in-one, compressing the front cabin length to just 1,265mm.

Springs and shock absorbers, on the other hand, are separated into a split layout. This releases 15mm of wheel-arch height for the third row.

Moving the shock absorbers outward optimizes the overall wheel-arch packaging for a full-cabin spatial experience.

Lastly, the rear electric drive unit comes with a highly integrated rear coaxial electric drive to free up 145mm of vertical space.

An integrated-linkage independent suspension uses an H-arm structure to lower the floor by an extra 37mm. Additionally, the large battery pack control module relocated inside reduces floor thickness by 180mm.

The N90 Max comes with 2,760mm of total occupant space and 1,831L of cargo space.

The cabin also includes 34 storage compartments, including an 18.4L front passenger glove box and extended door-panel storage.

Elevated cabin experience

Inside, the SkyNomad’s cabin has an elevated and homelike atmosphere. A cabinet-style center console extends 1,530mm horizontally for a wider visual and physical footprint.

Hidden mechanical air vents keep the dashboard clean while retaining precise manual adjustment. There’s also an accessory port for 27W fast charging, along with mounts for phones, action cameras, and more small devices.

There is a customizable head-up display, 25-speaker audio system, and 6.9-inch rear control screen for full control from the back seat.

Moreover, the front and second row backseats use a 12-layer comfort structure, with the front seats coming with 16-point massage ventilation and heating.

Built on a flat floor, every model comes with extra-long seat slide rails with up to 900mm of travel for both second and third rows.

These rails use aerospace-grade 7-series reinforced aluminum alloy, validated through 15,000 cycles.

The entire interior varries OEKO-TEX certification, applying to infant-grade safety standards.

Extensive personalization options

The Xiaomi SkyNomad comes in three colorways: Volcanic Gray, Mountain Green, and Valley Blue.

Meanwhile, owners can choose from Cream Beige and Mocha Brown for the interior.

The N90 Max wheel options include standard 21″ Prism-shaped Rims, plus optional 21″ Beam-shaped Rims, and 21″ Starbust-shaped Rims Stealth Black Edition for a sportier look.

The variable space inside is designed around real usage patterns. There are plenty of seating configurations, which can all be accessed through the Xiaomi HyperXiaoAi AI assistant.

The independent first and second row seats can face each other. The second and third rows can slide all the way back for even more leg room like a first-class cabin.

Moreover, one touch can turn the second and third rows into a bed. The front seats can be rotated as well to extend the bed’s length.

For transporting plenty of cargo, one touch can activate Ultimate Storage Mode as well.

Safety features

Through Xiaomi Kunlun Total Safety, the SkyNomad’s engineering comes with a system spanning materials, structure, airbags, battery, and the variable-space design itself.

Safety features include: