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Expert Review

Introduction
Name a more iconic SUV that’s come out in the past 5 years that’s more popular than the Range Rover Evoque.
This is Range Rover’s bread and butter at this point, it’s one of the most popular models they sell and it’s the most affordable way to enter the Range Rover family.
It’s so popular that my Land Rover family jumped brands and hopped into a Range Rover Evoque for a 5 year ownership period. With its allure so strong, we downsized from the large 7-seater Discovery to this compact Range Rover.
We loved our time with the Evoque, however there were just a few things I wanted to see improved for the next generation.
So, has the 2021 Evoque gone ahead and changed for the better? Let’s find out.
Build Quality
4.7 out of 5.Never for a second did I doubt the build quality on our old Evoque in any sense. Doors felt solid, panels fitted together nicely, and the interior materials were made out of premium materials (for the most part).
My main gripe was with the cheap and nasty plastic paddles fitted to our Evoque. These were out of place and distracting from what was a beautifully crafted interior.
The 2021 Evoque repeats all of the above, but replaces the paddle shifters with the same aluminium ones I’ve encountered in the Land RoverDiscovery Sport and the Jaguar F-PACE.
There are no rattles and squeaks inside this car, it’s as premium a product as the badge on the front of the car suggests.
Value for Money
4 out of 5.This was actually my first encounter with an entry level specced Range Rover. This was the R-Dynamic S P200, with a few options thrown in. This exact model was $72,652 before on roads.
Besides missing out on a fully digital driver's display and panoramic roof (two options I would highly recommend getting), this Evoque definitely didn’t feel like a base model.
Personally, with the simple option of going for upgraded wheels and a full black out of the exterior trim, I thought this looked around $10-$20,000 more than what it’s actually worth.
Additionally, I had reactions from people surprised that the Discovery Sport I had the week before was actually more expensive than this Range Rover.
Instead, I think an Evoque is a far more attractive car to buy than any other European SUV based solely on the brand, design and surprisingly effective off-road capabilities this car possesses.
Maintenance
3.8 out of 5.I’m not going to kid you that owning the Evoque was a cheap affair, as our family encountered some pricey visits to the service centre. After our warranty expired, we sought to jump out of the Evoque in fear of having another expensive maintenance experience as we did with the Discovery over a longer period of time.
Thankfully, Range Rover has acted fast on this. They’ve extended their warranty period to 5 years/unlimited kilometres, and have a servicing package for 5 years/102,000 kilometers costing only $1,950. This is a fair price to pay for servicing across this period.
If you’re a first time Range Rover owner, or have been scarred by high maintenance costs from the past, this commitment from a maintenance stand point should make you feel a lot more confident when putting pen to paper to buy an Evoque.
Additionally, have a look around and check out just how many Evoques are out on the road. I can say that with less complicated parts like air suspension, the Evoque should stand the test of time and whatever you reasonably throw at it.
Noise Level
4.5 out of 5.With the Evoque possessing the same audio system as the Land Rover Discovery Sport I tested, again I was met with what felt like a premium listening experience.
I’d put it down to the smaller size of this cabin and additional sound deadening which helped provide a positive listening experience. More fun can be had by upgrading this sound system, however I don’t see that as being entirely necessary, as the base audio system is seriously impressive.
As for this petrol motor’s sound, it’s not my favourite. I actually prefer the sound of a diesel engine in Range Rovers, unless it's the fire-breathing 5.0L supercharged V8.
This was my first time with a four-cylinder petrol motor in a Range Rover. Although it sounded a little more refined than the diesel we had back in 2015, it did make itself known a little more than I’d like under heavy acceleration.
Braking
4.4 out of 5.Similar to the Land Rover Discovery Sport I tested, the Evoque’s brakes were the quiet achievers in this review. They perform with grace and are absolutely at home here on the Evoque.
Paired with autonomous emergency braking, the Evoque provides confidence-inspiring brake performance. With the Evoque weighing under two tonnes, with a low centre of gravity these brakes perform well even during moments of spirited driving.
Acceleration/Power
3.8 out of 5.Although we’re rocking a 2.0L turbo petrol four-cylinder, it’s not exactly pumping out impressive performance figures.
We’ve got 147kW@ 5,500rpm and 320 Nm @ 1,200-4,000rpm available from this motor. It pairs better for off-roading, with that torque being accessible from very low rpms.
It’s claimed that the 0-100km/h time is around 8.6 seconds, which is far better than the 9.9 seconds from my old Evoque.
It certainly doesn’t feel slow by any means, but since it has less torque than the diesel engine alternative it certainly feels a little more strained translating power into speed.
Since the Evoque isn’t about performance, and more focused on luxury, comfort and off-road capability, I personally would prefer a diesel engine over the petrol.
Gear Shifting
4.4 out of 5.The 9-speed transmission in the Evoque has seen great amounts of improvement from the previous gen, providing a smoother shifting experience.
The higher number of gears allow for lower rpm’s out on the highway, and around town, the improvements to this gearbox prevent it from feeling too busy at low speeds.
On occasion I did feel the gearbox take a moment to engage the next gear, but it was far from obvious.
The paddle shifters provide ample opportunity to manually shift, however even in the petrol model, it’s not as fun to shift gears yourself. There’s no real dual-clutch kick or urgency in these shifts, I’d rather leave the gearbox in ‘S’ and let it shift quickly without me interfering.
Additionally, the rotary gear selector has been replaced with the gun-handle-like shifter now fitted to all Range Rovers. I actually preferred the rotary dial, despite it giving me long-term reliability anxiety. It provided a little bit of theatre as it rose out of the dash into your hands, and it felt a little easier to navigate gears using it than this new shifter.
Suspension & Handling
4.6 out of 5.What I love about the Evoque is its low centre of gravity. It’s possibly the best handling Range Rover, simply due to its small physical size, short but wide stance and being closer to the road.
Your seating position is optimal to carve through corners, making the most of the all-wheel drive system. You can maintain a surprising amount of speed through said corners, and enjoy squeezing the throttle to get up to speed in this car. Just because you bought a Range Rover, doesn’t mean you don’t miss out on any on-road driving fun.
Although, those 20-inch wheels do feel a little jumpy around some difficult and uneven sections of tarmac compared to the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Outside hard potholes and sharp speed bumps, this Range Rover does a fine job of providing a comfortable ride. Due to the Evoque possessing a wider wheelbase, it feels planted on the road and certainly provides a ride quality that’s fitting for a Range Rover.
Fuel Efficiency
4 out of 5.Missing the mild hybrid technology of the D200 motor, and being a petrol engine, the fuel consumption figure of the Evoque is a little higher than its diesel alternative.
Combined consumption figures come in at 8.1L/100km, and you’ll certainly cross 10L/100km in the city with this motor.
It makes a case again for my personal preference of a diesel motor. The petrol can sometimes be cheaper to fill, however it’s thirstier and won’t go as far on a single tank as the diesel will.
Interior Design
4.6 out of 5.The Range Rover Evoque is not only known for its striking exterior, but also for its unique interior.
There’s a massive centre console which sweeps up to meet the dash, a la Porsche style. I love the cockpit style design for the front passengers, it feels very much like you’re sitting down in the Evoque.
Compared to the previous generation, the design feels a lot cleaner here. There’s a sleek display, capacitive buttons and sleek air conditioning vents, which all complement the smaller exterior headlamps.
As with the previous generation, there isn't anything impressive happening in the back seats, besides from ergonomic improvements allowing more space for passengers.
Boot Size & Comfort
4 out of 5.There’s 471L of cargo space in the back of the Evoque. Despite looking pretty tight, it’s far more usable than it appears.
I’ve been on trips to the snow and have even moved between cities using this car. Despite its sloping roofline, it offers a boxy boot that allows you to make the most of the space provided to you.
One of my biggest complaints about the previous generation Evoque was the fact the second row only offered a 60:40 split. It made long road trips with lots of luggage an absolute pain.
Perhaps my favourite change inside the 2021 Evoque is the change from these 60:40 folding seats to 40:20:40 configuration. Now, you can have up to two adults in the second row, and fold the middle seat to allow for luggage to pass through. This is a much needed update for this luxury SUV.
Second row comfort is fairly good, however for tall adults the sloping roofline will become apparent. At 5’11” in height, I’ve never had an issue getting comfortable in the second row for trips in excess of 6 hours. It’s a comfortable car.
Features
4 out of 5.Finally the standout improvement comes in the form of a pop-out door handle. This is not entirely necessary, however it replaces the splash of theatre that was missing when the rising rotary shifter was removed for this update.
Cool fact, these handles are strong enough to bust through a layer of ice covering the exterior of the car, if you’re ever worried about the performance of these door handles in cold winter climates.
The infotainment is also a standout feature in this cabin, it really is pleasant to interact with thanks to its revised UI and easy to navigate app layout; fitting for a car in 2021.
Here’s a full list of features, including options you get with the 2021 Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic S P200:
Engine
- 2.0L turbocharged petrol inline four cylinder
- 147kW @ 5,500rpm, 320Nm @ 1,200 - 4,000rpm
- 9-speed automatic
- All-wheel-drive
Infotainment
- 10-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Bluetooth
- Central TFT drivers display
- 6-speaker 180W sound system
Safety
- 3D surround camera
- Wade sensing
- Driver condition monitor
- Emergency braking assist
- Blind spot assist
- Clear exit monitor
- Lane keep assist
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Rear collision monitor
- Traffic sign recognition
Performance
- Terrain Response 2 (off-road driving modes)
- Hill decent control
- Low traction launch
- Hill launch assist
- Sport mode
Convenience
- Power tailgate
- Keyless entry/exit and start/stop
- Heated rear window
- Two-zone climate control
- Auto-dimming rear mirror
- Puddle lamp lights
- 12-way electric front seats
- 40:20:40 split rear seats
Should you buy one?
Look, if you’re buying a Range Rover, I think you should expect to bring a little money to the table.
This specification is incredible, but what would make it a lot nicer would be the inclusion of a digital drivers display, a panoramic sunroof to bring extra light into the cabin and that new diesel mild hybrid motor. However, this would increase the price by a couple of thousand dollars.
That’s what I would pick if I was you.
We loved our for 5 years, and I think anyone owning one of these will love it too.
I think the confidence these Land Rovers and Range Rovers provide when the road gets a little rough is something you can really look forward to and enjoy when owning an SUV like this.
So even in this base trim, I still think the Range Rover Evoque tops the small SUV market for it’s styling, luxury and off-road capability. And with the improvements this update brings, it’s cemented this position.
About the author Cameron is our resident car expert. Aside being a source of knowledge about the automotive industry, he has also driven a wide variety of cars. From Porsche 911 GT2 RS's, through to a 1998 Toyota RAV4, Cameron has not only seen it all, but has most likely driven it.
Reviewer Photos & Videos
- 2 reviews
This is my first Range Rover and I guess i should have done my homework on what we get in Australia.
Lets go by my likes since i have had this car for the past 2 weeks.
Likes:
1 Smooth driving and next to no road noise
2 Adaptive High Beam is fantastic
3 It feels luxurious and is the most comfortable drive ever
4 Looks fantastic
5 Powered Gesture Tailgate
Dislikes:...
Read more1 Clearsight Ground View Assist is not available in Australia 2 The model we can choose is only the 2nd model from the bottom in other countries 3 Accounts are only linked to one person which makes it hard to switch from a IPHONE to a Samsung Phone 4 Hillside holder is dangerous and annoying 5 Gear Level switching from D to R is dangerous Considering we are really only buying the almost entry level and yet we are paying double to price (I configured a UK version of the top of the line Evoque Autobiography and it was still $11,500 "AUD" Less than my version which i paid a Staggering 107,000 to get it on road in Australia) I was surprised just how many features was EXTRA. One of the big selling points for me was the Clearsight Ground View which is standard overseas, there is no clear-sight in place in Australia. In a video in UK Version also showed how simple it was to use the ambient lighting inside the vehicle (option in Australia btw), it was basically in the main menu and with "CLEAR" written "Ambient Lighting" The pictures below show no wording and it took the car salesman and us ten minutes to work it out. The hill holder is something to behold, when you are at the lights and it turns green, you are waiting and waiting then it takes off with a jolt, you spend half your time working the throttle out to get it smooth, I ended up just turning it off, the other reason is that parking in a Garage feels or tight street parking is iffy at best. Changing Gears, you basically need to stop and count 2 seconds before changing between say Reverse to Drive or Drive to Reverse. Both my partner and I found this dangerous and both of us have been caught out a few times. I guess we need to get used to it but you need to FULLY stop and WAIT before changing. Sorry Land Rover but you need to do better than this for Australia. This is most expensive car I have ever owned and i was expecting the best, please do not use Australia as a dumping ground for all your spare parts you cannot sell in England.Purchased in at Land Rover Dealers for $107,000.
We have owned our 2016 HSE Evoque for 5 yrs. We had to wait 6 months for delivery initially. First 20,000km no issues then gearbox started slamming into gear. We took back under warranty and repaired.
ADBLU system had several faults over next year 6 times back dealer with different faults.
At 70,000 the gearbox was replaced.
So to sum up 8 times back to dealer first 2.5yrs of ownership.
Then it went good until 5yrs, 2months out of warranty the engine timing gear and high pressure fuel pump went. Landdrover wouldn’t fix. $5500 repair bill.
One ...
Purchased in for $88,620.
- 12 reviews
- 11 likes
This vehicle has been terrific, get serviced 1 a year at dealership, probably more expensive than some other cars but all quality work and never over $700 so no bad 1 off a year. Economical and drives great. My wife actually stated she couldn’t imagine getting something else is it was written off. Have to admit people said don’t buy as RAnge Rovers unreliable but 5 years now and very happy with our purchase.
Purchased in .
have a 2017 evoque and ever since I got it, it randomly makes a weird rubbing noise when going into reverse. this doesn't happen all the time, but I am starting to realize it happens much more often now. I have contacted the dealership on numerous occasions about the noise, its been in again and I've just had a long discussion with the service team who tells me it is a known 'condition' and not a fault and that I basically have to put up with.
Purchased in .
Find out how Land Rover Range Rover Evoque compares to other Large / 7 Seater SUVs
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Background. We purchased a brand new Evoque in 2016. To date, it has only travelled 40K, never been off road, city commuting daily and always serviced at Land Rover Brisbane as part of the 3 year/100K warranty. I was surprised that cleaning up the garage during COVID 19 I noticed all this oil on my driveway. As we park the vehicle on a flat surface during work and in our garage daily, we did not notice any oil leaks until it was parked on a gradient. After researching the internet (cars.com), we discovered it was a known fact that the detent-se...
Read morealing cap in the power transfer unit was faulty in some 2014-016 models and that a service bulletin was issued to all Land Rover dealerships. After speaking to Land Rover Brisbane and presenting the vehicles history, evidence of the service bulletin, safety concerns and seeking some goodwill as the warranty ran out in Jul 19, their response was that the service bulletin only applied to vehicles made in the UK, not Australia (all Land Rover Evoques are made in the UK) and then presented an invoice of $2393.75 to fix a ready known fault and then had the audacity to state that the right front wheel bearing needed replacing for $900. The customer car service did nothing to assist in the goodwill either. Conclusion. Goodwill + Land rover = Joke. The 1st and last time we buy a Land Rover. I have passed this information to friends and work colleagues so they don't get caught out like we did.Purchased in .
- 11 reviews
- 4 likes
love my range rover, drives like a dream, I was told not to but one because they are expensive to service but this hasn't been the case, will defs be upgrading to the sport next time
Purchased in at PrivateFleet for $30,000.
- 2 reviews
- 1 like
My wifes Evoque has done only 24,000klm in 3.5 years, so just out of warranty. Needed to go into Berwick Landrover for a replacement filter as the exhaust filter was blocked, ($260). Told them that the brakes were noisy. When reversing out of the garage. They told me that they had been stressed, The fastest my wive drives is 60klm for about 3 mins, reason for only 24K in 3.5 years. They wanted $1,100 for replacement, they didn't see it as their problem. I have found a place that will do the replacement for $650. They must of been faulty from the beginning, they just didn't want to know!
Purchased in at Landrover Brewick for $80,000.
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- 4 reviews
Always drive smooth and no extra cost to run this sort of valuable car. I always been enjoying while this luxury car.normal regular service, driving on everyday bases. Be confident while you buy this car.
Purchased in at Land Rover Dealers for $55,000.
The reviewer stated that an incentive was offered for this review
- 7 reviews
- 6 likes
Perceived Prestige is an illusion. If you must buy an Evoque I recommend a Petrol. 100% Under delivered
We initially bought this car because to my wife and my eyes it was a very stylish vehicle, its size suited, the torque and fuel economy of the higher spec diesel engine appealed, and the front seats were so comfortable, & if I'm honest, owning our 1st ever Range Rover also had a certain emotional ownership appeal.
The 9 -Speed gearbox was extremely smooth, the fuel economy was great, the torque was great, the front seats were fantastic, the sound system was very good. The Head Up display was great and the 360-degree camera system very useful. ...
Read moreIt had a lot of bells 'n’ whistles, and was particularly suited to long trips. However, the turbo lag, particularly from a standing start was a bit of a bugbear, the worst I've ever experienced, it was a bit better to live with if you put it in Sport mode, so I quickly learnt to select that as soon as I started the car. The air-conditioning wasn't the best for Aussie conditions either, the vents are way too small. On the hottest days you just had to go for maximum fan and minimum temp (16 degC) straight away. The worse thing with this car by far though, was the fact that after about 28,000 kms the engine light would come on, regularly. After selling the car I now realise how expensive it was to insure too, I am 58, and have since purchased a BMW X5, which was dearer to purchase but significantly cheaper to insure.Purchased in for $85,437.
Find out how Land Rover Range Rover Evoque compares to other Large / 7 Seater SUVs
Know better, choose better.
- 3 reviews
- 1 like
Awful car and really, really AWFUL service from dealerships and Land Rover Australia
Bought a brand new RR EVOQUE TD4 180 HSE and it’s been nothing but a problem since the day I bought it. Multiple electronic problems, transmissions issues, needed a new gearbox after 1 year! Still to this day I am battling Land Rover Australia for my money back! I can’t believe just how horrible and nasty a company could be after spending nearly $90,000 with them. I can not wait to get out of this brand that I thought was excellent! My personal opinion is not to buy this model of land ROVER! lots of other people have had problems with the brand too. Just check out the reviews online!
- 6 reviews
- 5 likes
Everything about car is great except my tyres go flat after 5-6 weeks. What’s with that? I’ve driven 15000km (2017 model). Tyres are filled at 33psi go down to 21-23 all four at the same time (within 6 weeks). I rang dealership they said ‘ to keep an eye on it’. This is the third time it’s happened in 1 year of car ownership. First time I filled tyres car was 5 months old they were all down at 21psi. Since then I’ve been monitoring. Will call dealership tomorrow . .
I have a 2014 Evoque Diesel which has only done around 18,000klms, recently the engine warning light came on so I took it to nearest dealer to me thinking I shouldn’t drive it to where I bought it from as it would be too far and possibly unsafe to drive? After 2 days, it required a $1200 service but also the warning light proved to be a new exhaust gasket (EGR) costing a whopping $2600! Took car home and drove on, next day it would hop down the road,losing power whenever pressure applied to accelerator. Took it back to repairer, 2 days further ...
Read moreand they still don’t know what’s wrong with it?! Why is it so hard to repair these things? What is wrong with this company that they cannot repair their own vehicles to actually drive? The car drove perfectly well before,if it wasn’t for the warning light I’d never have known anything needed doing. Apparently I don’t do enough Kilometres as I live in city where the limit is mostly 40kph...shoot me! Never had any issues with the previous car I owned which was a BMW X3 Diesel.Find out how Land Rover Range Rover Evoque compares to other Large / 7 Seater SUVs
Know better, choose better.
My Land Rover Evoque has also had an issue with its turbo. Only has only done 44,000km, I've been quoted $7,500 to fix. New car warranty expired in February, lucky I took out the extended warranty when I purchased it. Well maybe now I've got to go through the process of claiming against it. Not really what you would expect from a "quality manufacturer".
- 23 reviews
- 15 likes
I was looking at brands like Mazda C5, Kia Sportage GT, Nissan Tucson but once I viewed the Range Rover Evoque i was in love instantly. Its gorgeous interior, Comfort of the seats, Leather seats, Appeal inside & Out eg dash material ooohh lal la. Touch Screen, Music 'sound' quality, 2 year servicing gaps, Exterior sleekness and the other cars were in comparison very sluggish at take-off this cars turbo was so very responsive it was 10/10 on that bit alone. I was lucky enough to find a model that was 10 months old so i was not up for the Bra...
Read morend New price tag which was a huge saving on a new car price tag. It will be hard to go back to an 'average' car brand after driving this one... its a special car that's for sure !!!! I did have to take it to the dealer re the alarms & lights signally on dash for a period...& mobile phn connectivity decided to stop working but all sorted & away i went. Have had its first service.... and no charge as its covered under the 5 year warranty !!!! Got to be happy with that.- 13 reviews
- 17 likes
I have just sold this vehicle and what a relief. I bought this car a couple of years ago and its a beautiful car to look at inside and out, but it was plagued by issues from day one. I will admit it never left me stranded, but many issues over the time. They were: Numerous rattles (screws missing, tools left in cavities when being built and then bouncing around), service indicator on all times, alarm going off randomly, and other warnings flashing often, DPF issues, and the list goes on. I would take to the dealer regularly who would then...
Read more question if it was really faulting and then when I was believed saying it was fixed for it to come back a week later. As it was coming up to the end of the warranty, I didn't want to have these faults and more. Land Rover really needs to improve quality and service.Questions & Answers
Hi,
I have LR Discovery Sport which is actually built on evoque platform and I experience loss of power, mostly on a highway when hit the break while in cruise control mode and than want to accelerate. The "D" on a board starts to blink and no matter how you push the gas paddle it deccelaters for a 2-3 sec. and then gear shifter kick in again and everything seems fine. This happens unpredictably and not all the time. I even tried to trigger the problem intentionally, while driving, but it didn't happen. It's a kind of unsafe situation at 130 km/h...
Any experience or a resolution of this kind of issue? LR service checked the vechicle and everything seemed to be fine.
I had the same situation today at 130 km overtaking with a car coming straight for me with total loss of power
John
Very Dangerous it could have been a disaster
Absolutely! And LR is not giving any fix to this problem, at least I couldn't find the resolution so far. Obviously, it's a design/system flaw.
Regards,
Bojan.
hello , we have a 2014 Evoque, when its cold within 10 minutes of driving the 1st time you stop there is a clunk and the dash says Gearbox problem , you cannot move the central dial stays up but will not move , you have to turn everything off lock the doors then try again after several attempts it will start again and you do not have the issue again that day , some days its ok and does not do it , we have noticed its mainly when its cold , any suggestions , we took it to a garage and it came up with code P0978, thanks
My car is just stopping and then stays in drive I would love to no why 2014 I have to turn of car and the turn the knob and then go's back in to drive thank you steph
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Details
Land Rover Range Rover P250 R-Dynamic HSE (2019-2022)No reviews yet | Land Rover Range Rover P300e R-Dynamic HSE (2019-2022)No reviews yet | Land Rover Range Rover P250 R-Dynamic SE (2019-2022)No reviews yet | Land Rover Range Rover L538.III SE SD4 240 (2017-2022)No reviews yet | |
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Category | Large / 7 Seater SUVs | Large / 7 Seater SUVs | Large / 7 Seater SUVs | Large / 7 Seater SUVs |
Starting Price | $91,100.00 | $114,899.00 | $86,300.00 | $72,351.00 |
Transmission | Automatic | |||
Drive Type | Four Wheel Drive (4WD) | |||
Fuel Type | Diesel | |||
Wheels | 18" Alloy | |||
ANCAP Safety Rating | 4 Stars | |||
Fuel Consumption | 5.8 L/100km | |||
Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | |||
Engine | 4 Cylinder 2.0L | |||
Max Power | 177kW @ 4000rpm | |||
Max Torque | 500Nm @ 1500rpm | |||
Country of Manufacture | United Kingdom | |||
Maximum Towing Capacity (braked) | 2,000 kg | |||
Maximum Towing Capacity (unbraked) | 750 kg | |||
Manufacturer Warranty | 3 year(s) | |||
Dimensions | ||||
Ground Clearance | 500 mm | |||
Release date |
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