The middle row seatbelts optional on the Explorer inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Range Rover Evoque doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.
The Ford Explorer has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Range Rover Evoque doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.
Both the Explorer and the Range Rover Evoque have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.
Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Explorer 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Land Rover covers the Range Rover Evoque. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Range Rover Evoque ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.
There are over 18 times as many Ford dealers as there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.
The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Range Rover Evoque doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is ranked 28th, below the industry average.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 16th in reliability. With 52 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is ranked 30th.
The Explorer has more powerful engines than the Range Rover Evoque:
|
Horsepower |
Torque |
Explorer 2.3 turbo 4 cyl. |
280 HP |
310 lbs.-ft. |
Explorer 3.5 DOHC V6 |
290 HP |
255 lbs.-ft. |
Explorer Sport/Platinum 3.5 turbo V6 |
365 HP |
350 lbs.-ft. |
Range Rover Evoque 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. |
237 HP |
251 lbs.-ft. |
Range Rover Evoque 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. |
286 HP |
295 lbs.-ft. |
As tested in Car and Driver the Explorer Sport/Platinum is faster than the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque (Base engine):
|
Explorer |
Range Rover Evoque |
Zero to 60 MPH |
6 sec |
8.1 sec |
Zero to 100 MPH |
15.8 sec |
23.2 sec |
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start |
6.3 sec |
9.3 sec |
Passing 30 to 50 MPH |
3 sec |
4.6 sec |
Passing 50 to 70 MPH |
4.4 sec |
6.3 sec |
Quarter Mile |
14.6 sec |
16.5 sec |
Speed in 1/4 Mile |
96 MPH |
86 MPH |
To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Explorer uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Explorer Sport/Platinum for maximum performance). The Range Rover Evoque requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.
The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Range Rover Evoque doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.
For better stopping power the Explorer’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Range Rover Evoque:
|
Explorer |
Range Rover Evoque |
Range Rover Evoque 286 HP |
Front Rotors |
13.85 inches |
12.8 inches |
13.8 inches |
Rear Rotors |
13.5 inches |
12.5 inches |
12.5 inches |
The Explorer’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Range Rover Evoque are solid, not vented.
The Explorer stops much shorter than the Range Rover Evoque:
|
Explorer |
Range Rover Evoque |
|
70 to 0 MPH |
166 feet |
176 feet |
Car and Driver |
For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the Range Rover Evoque (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R19). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Range Rover Evoque (255/50R20 vs. 245/45R20).
For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 8.1 inches longer than on the Range Rover Evoque (112.8 inches vs. 104.7 inches).
For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Explorer is 3.2 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Range Rover Evoque.
The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.1% to 44.9%) than the Range Rover Evoque’s (58% to 42%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.
The front grille of the Explorer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Range Rover Evoque doesn’t offer active grille shutters.
The Explorer offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Range Rover Evoque can only carry up to 5.
For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Explorer’s middle row seats recline. The Range Rover Evoque’s rear seats don’t recline.
The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the Range Rover Evoque 5-Door.
|
Explorer |
Range Rover Evoque |
Third Seat Folded |
43.9 cubic feet |
n/a |
Third Seat Removed |
n/a |
20.3 cubic feet |
Second Seat Folded |
81.7 cubic feet |
51 cubic feet |
The Explorer’s cargo area is larger than the Range Rover Evoque’s in every dimension:
|
Explorer |
Range Rover Evoque |
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st) |
19.7”/49”/79.8” |
n.a./31.3”/62.2” |
Max Width |
48” |
43.5” |
Min Width |
40” |
39.2” |
Height |
45.5” |
33” |
Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Explorer Sport/Platinum’s optional second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Range Rover Evoque doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.
In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer XLT/Limited/Sport/Platinum’s exterior keypad. The Range Rover Evoque doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system, and its InControl can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.
To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Explorer has a standard rear wiper. The Range Rover Evoque Convertible doesn’t offer a rear wiper.
To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Explorer has standard extendable sun visors. The Range Rover Evoque doesn’t offer extendable visors.
The Explorer (except Base/XLT) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Range Rover Evoque doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.
Insurance will cost less for the Explorer owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Explorer will cost $1505 to $6175 less than the Range Rover Evoque over a five-year period.
The Explorer will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Explorer will retain 48.52% to 53.39% of its original price after five years, while the Range Rover Evoque only retains 41.78% to 46.18%.
According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Explorer is less expensive to operate than the Range Rover Evoque because typical repairs cost much less on the Explorer than the Range Rover Evoque, including $122 less for front brake pads, $177 less for a starter, $206 less for fuel injection, $2 less for a fuel pump and $414 less for front struts.
IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Explorer will be $14692 to $17232 less than for the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.
The Ford Explorer outsold the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque by almost 23 to one during 2017.
© 1991-2016 Advanta-STAR Automotive Research. All rights reserved.
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