How Much Can a Range Rover Evoque Tow?
As some Land Rover and Range Rover SUVs become increasingly urbanized, you might want to know how much can a Range Rover Evoque tow? The British brand built its entire reputation on producing some of the most capable off-roaders on the planet, and many buyers will understandably want to tow with them too.
The maximum you can tow with a 2020 Range Rover Evoque is 3,968 pounds, and the really good news is that it doesn’t matter which version of the Evoque you have. There is a small difference in the total amount you can tow and haul with the two available powertrains, but that difference is negligible.
Powertrains
Although it doesn’t help budget-conscious buyers get into a Range Rover Evoque on the cheap, many buyers in the US will be pleased to know that all versions of the Evoque sold there are standard all-wheel-drive. In its European homeland, there are six engine options – 3 gas and 3 diesel – and base diesel models are front-wheel-drive. In the US it’s much simpler with just two powertrain options….. for now.
The first of the pair is a 2.0-liter turbo-four gas engine that produces 246 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque, which is sent to all four wheels through a standard nine-speed automatic transmission.
The more powerful option is still a 2.0-liter turbo-four, but this time it’s a gas MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle) that puts out 296 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. Once again, the power goes to all four wheels through that nine-speed automatic transmission.
Towing and hauling capability
As mentioned earlier, the maximum towing capacity for both powertrain options is 3,968 pounds, but there are some differences buyers need to take note of because of the relative GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) of each powertrain.
The standard 2.0-liter gas-only powertrain has a GVW of 5,355 pounds, but the MHEV version is a little heavier at 5,400 pounds. This means you have an extra 45 pounds of payload capacity with the standard powertrain, so you can legally carry a little more cargo even though both powertrains are rated to tow the same trailer weight.
Whether that extra 45 pounds makes a difference to you is up to you, but most buyers would probably make that sacrifice to get the extra power and capability of the MHEV.
The extra horsepower of the MHEV will be welcomed by most buyers, but it’s the extra torque that really makes a difference when it comes to towing. If you’re not sure about the difference between horsepower and torque, I’ve written an article explaining the differences.
Evoque GCWR
As mentioned above, the Gross Combined Weight Rating of a vehicle is the maximum allowable weight of the vehicle doing the towing as well as what is being towed. This includes absolutely everything the powertrain is being asked to move, so that means passengers, cargo, the trailer, what’s on the trailer, and even the fuel being carried.
This is where that extra weight of the MHEV weighs comes into play. The maximum combined weight rating of the 2020 Range Rover Evoque is 9,325 pounds. Therefore, if you subtract the maximum trailer weight and the gross vehicle weight of the standard turbo-four version of the Evoque from the Gross Combined Weight Rating, you’re left with 2,002 pounds of payload capacity.
(GCWR) 9,325 lbs – (GVW) 5,355 lbs – (Max Trailer) 1,968 lbs = 2,002 lbs
If we do the same thing with the MHEV version, you’re then left with 1,967 lbs.
(GCWR) 9,325 lbs – (GVW) 5,400 lbs – (Max Trailer) 1,968 lbs = 1,957 lbs
How does the Evoque compare to its rivals?
If you’re interested in a premium luxury compact SUV and you’re going to need it to do some towing, you probably want to know how the Range Rover Evoque stacks up against its rivals. Here’s a handy table to show you how the maximum tow rating of the Evoque compares to its main rivals.
| Model | Max tow rating | Max HP | Max Torque |
| Range Rover Evoque | 3,968 pounds | 296 | 295 lb.-ft. |
| Audi Q5 | 4,400 pounds | 248 | 273 lb.-ft. |
| Audi Q3 | 1,800 pounds | 228 | 258 lb.-ft. |
| Land Rover Discovery Sport4,409 pounds246 269 lb.-ft. | |||
| Mercedes-Benz GLC | 3,500 pounds | 503 | 516 lb.-ft. |
| BMW X3 | 4,400 pounds | 382 | 365 lb.-ft. |
| BMW X4 | 4,400 pounds | 355 | 365 lb.-ft |
| Acura RDX | 1,500 pounds | 272 | 280 lb.-ft. |
| Volvo XC60 | 3,500 pounds | 316 | 295 lb.-ft. |
| Lincoln Corsair | 3,000 pounds | 250 | 310 lb.-ft. |
| Lexus NX300 | 2,000 pounds | 235 | 258 lb.-ft. |
| Infiniti QX50 | 3,000 pounds | 268 | 280 lb.-ft. |
| Buick Envision | 1,500 pounds | 252 | 295 lb.-ft. |
| Alfa Romeo Stelvio | 3,000 pounds | 505 | 443 lb.-ft. |
| Jaguar E-Pace | 1,653 pounds | 296 | 295 lb.-ft. |
| Porsche Macan | 4,409 pounds | 434 | 406 lb.-ft. |
| Cadillac XT5 | 3,500 pounds | 310 | 271 lb.-ft. |
| Cadillac XT4 | 2,500 pounds | 237 | 258 lb.-ft. |
What can you actually tow with an Evoque then?
The Evoque isn’t what anyone would consider a really serious vehicle for towing, but it is the sort of vehicle that will be expected to carry out some reasonable day-to-day towing assignments.
Class 1
Class 1 towing is up to a maximum of 2,000 pounds and no more, which is well within the capability of the baby Range Rover. Class 1 items include the likes of:
Small trailers – something like a U-Haul 4’x8′ cargo trailer has a maximum load of 1,600 lbs, but with the weight of the trailer, it then comes to a maximum GVW of 2,500 pounds. That’s outside of Class 1, but it’s still well within the capability of the Evoque.
A 4’x7′ U-Haul utility trailer can carry a load of up to 1,770 lbs, but the gross vehicle weight would then be 2,400 pounds. Once again; outside Class 1 but within the Evoque’s towing capacity.
Class 1 items can also include pop-up tent trailers, personal watercraft like Jet Skis and some lightweight aluminum boats.
Class 2
Class 2 towing is up to a maximum of 3,500 and no more, so the Evoque can also tow Class 2 trailers. Class 2 includes the likes of:
Small trailers – A U-Haul 5’x9′ utility trailer falls well within this category with a maximum weight of 2,890 lbs, while 5’x10′ cargo trailer is also in range with a maximum weight of 2,800 lbs.
Other Class 2 items you might be able to tow include small outboard boats, some larger tent trailers, a few ATVs (always check individual specifications), and some of the smallest Airstream campers such as the Basecamp.
Class 3
Class 3 towing is for weights of no more than 6,000 pounds, so this is well outside what you can do with a Range Rover Evoque. If you want a Land Rover to tow Class 3 or even higher you probably want to look at a new Discovery (NOT Discovery Sport), which is rated to tow weights of up to 8,201 pounds.
Campers you could tow with an Evoque
If you want the slick looks of a Range Rover Evoque but you also want to tow a camper trailer at weekends or on vacations, you need to know that what you’re looking at is light enough to be towed by the little Range Rover.
You will sometimes see companies advertising trailers by their “dry weight,” but you shouldn’t confuse this with the 3,968-pound maximum you can tow with your Evoque. The dry weight is the weight of the trailer with its tanks empty and with none of your gear inside it. As a rough guide, you should expect a trailer to weigh around 1,500 pounds more than this when fully loaded.
This means you need to be looking for a camper that weighs around 2,500 pounds. This could include the likes of the Palomino PaloMini (1,930 pounds), Jayco Hummingbird 16FD (2,550 pounds) or the Riverside Retro Travel Trailer (2,500 pounds).
Boats you could tow with an Evoque
Boats are a little more complicated than campers when it comes to towing them. Remember, the 3,968 pounds your Evoque can tow need to be divided between the boat and the trailer. Boat trailers range in weight from around 300 pounds to around 1,500 pounds, depending on the size of the boat. A kayak or a canoe can weigh as little as 50 pounds, but the average motorboat will probably weigh-in at around 2,500 pounds.
Unfortunately with boats, the dry weight won’t include the engine. You could be tempted by something like a 19-foot 195 Sportfish that has a dry weight of 2,150 pounds, for example. An appropriate outboard engine would probably weigh around 400 pounds and then there’s probably another 1,000 pounds or more for a trailer, but you would still be ok.
However, if a 22-foot Stingray 212SC has caught your eye, the weight will be around 3,100 pounds without a trailer. The trailer need for that bad boy almost certainly weighs more than 1,000 pounds, so your Evoque would be out of luck with that one.
Conclusion
If you only have relatively modest towing ambitions the Range Rover Evoque is definitely worth a look. There are some rivals that can tow a little more, but not too many in the Evoque’s class and price bracket.
It’s an incredibly stylish and desirable compact luxury SUV, so don’t ignore it unless you are looking to tow close to or above its near 4,000-pound capacity on a regular basis.