The Velar nicely plugs a gap in the Range Rover… erm, range, whilst not skimping on luxury we’ve come to know and love.
The Range Rover Velar by most standards is a large luxury SUV. But, it’s pretty hard to stand out in a family of large luxury SUVs – cue the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and even the Defender and Discovery offerings from Land Rover.
The Evoque has form factor as an advantage, and that has helped it to sell more than the Velar. That’s why you take a second glance each time a Velar passes by; it has that rarity factor.
Launched way back in 2017, this is the new facelift variant, and it has mostly kept its original appeal intact. A tech upgrade here, and a sprinkling of safety features there, and it’s off to the races.
And it’s a good thing the tech updates came about too – the Velar now plays against the standard crop of premium manufacturers. Think Mercedes GLE, Audi Q8, BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne and Maserati Grecale. All expensive and heavy cars, but can the Velar edge out the competition?
Stirred Not Shaken
The Range Rover Velar’s exterior is a sleek blend of minimalism and elegance. Its silhouette is characterised by a cacophony of smooth lines and sleek proportions, creating a fast and dynamic look.
A rising beltline, falling roof, and pinched tail contribute to a modern and agile appearance, while the screen rake adds a sporty touch.
The facelift brings a refreshed front grille, headlights, taillights, and rear bumper.
These updates are understated yet effective in keeping the Velar’s facade relevant against new-age futuristic automotive design.
While the faux vents on the bonnet and below the door mirrors might not appeal to purists, they do play a subtle role in reducing the Velar’s visual heft and are crafted to complement the front and rear light clusters.
All of this means the Velar exudes a purity of design that seems almost untouched by time. Its surfaces are as pristine as smooth concrete, free from unnecessary lines or details.
Decluttering In Progress
Inside the Velar, you’re greeted with the familiar Range Rover ambience. The dashboard is a minimalist’s dream, characterised by clean lines and sparingly used ornaments. The central console’s T-piece design is both elegant and practical.
The facelift brings about Range Rover’s latest infotainment system, featuring a large, 11.4-inch Pivi Pro tablet-like screen that emerges from the centre dash. The system’s interface, with its typography and graphics, is on par with the best in the industry.
However, the new system has its quirks. The removal of the secondary touch screen and multifunctional control knobs means more reliance on the upper screen for various functions, occasionally making adjustments less intuitive.
Perhaps a physical volume knob would have been a nice addition too, to keep the lone gear shifter company amongst the large wood trim. A special nod goes to the Meridian sound system, which delivers a solid audio experience, especially tunes with punchy bass.
The cubby box replacing the lower screen is handy and stows away a convenient wireless phone charger, but its flimsy plastic lid somewhat detracts from the overall cabin quality.
The interior colour options have shifted away from light-coloured cloth to predominantly black non-leather choices; good for longevity, and being able to withstand the turmoils of everyday family use.
In terms of space, the Velar is competent but not overly generous. The front seats’ size slightly compromises legroom in the back, and the stylish roofline impacts headroom.
Yet, it still offers more room than an executive sedan. The rear seats are well-equipped with ports, vents, and lights for added comfort.
Storage space inside the cabin could be better, but the boot is spacious, albeit a bit shallow. Considering the Velar’s length, it outpaces many rivals in overall capacity.
Style Meets Substance
Before we get into the driving bits, let’s cover the engine choices. While overseas markets have an engine buffet table to feast on, Singapore has to make do with only the P250 non-mild-hybrid petrol engine. This isn’t all that bad, but you are left wondering if this was indeed the correct engine that the Velar was built to cradle.
No plug-in hybrid options are available either locally, and if you wanted a bigger engine included with your purchase, you would either have to specially indent one, or scale up to the Range Rover Sport or the big-boy Range Rover.
Still, the engine does a decent job of keeping things under control. Some non-hybrid engines have an awful delayed thump as they kick into life, but here it’s a smooth process.
There is some noticeable turbo lag, but it is mitigated once you rev past 3,000rpm, which is where the engine sits comfortably at. Not the best if you are looking to maximise fuel economy, but the 4-pot has enough grunt to get you propelled with urgency given enough throttle input.
Speaking of, fuel economy is reasonable in the Velar considering its heft. Across over 280 kilometres of spirited driving, my average was around 8.3km/litre. Although, I do wonder if a larger engine could actually help fuel economy since it wouldn’t be strained as much to get things in motion.
With 247bhp and 365Nm of torque on tap, you hit the century marker in a brisk 7.5 seconds. Keep your foot down, and the Velar can eventually touch 217km/h.
Like a proper Range Rover, the Velar is dignified and in command of most situations, with well-oiled accurate steering. Don’t expect to tackle corners with the grace of a sedan, but if you’re in a hurry, the sport mode does stiffen up the damping, lower the body and dedicate more power to the rear for extra bite.
If you wanted a Rangie to scurry round corners with, you should look at the Range Rover Sport, with its adaptive anti-roll bars and stiffer frame. The RR Sport also comes with grippy on-road performance tyres, unlike the Velar which comes with all-weather Pirelli Scorpions as standard.
But, if you’re not into that kind of hot-shot cornering action, the Velar’s ride is civilised and quiet, ironing out undulations well. It’s a big relief from the thumpy and unsettling ride quality of other ‘sports’ SUVs.
Of course, donning the Land Rover badge, the Velar’s CV also includes a host of off-road modes. Air springs give it more ground clearance and a larger attack angle, and traction and diff thresholds enable it to traverse incremental terrain.
Land Rover claims it has got wade sensing too, allowing it to brave a small flood, with doors that wrap down around the sills so you don’t turn your car into a fish tank. Sadly, there really isn’t anywhere in Singapore where you can properly give these features a go.
That ‘Wow’ Factor
The Velar fits snugly in a nice spot amongst the Range Rover catalogue. It isn’t too imposing in cities like its bigger siblings, and it still offers that quintessential refined driving security we’ve come to love from Land Rovers.
The facelift didn’t change much to the car, but it did refine most of the things that bugged existing owners. All of that is wrapped nicely in a sleek package that turns heads as you trundle by.
The style and glam don’t hinder practicality too; it’s still roomy enough for a family, and decently sized for dense spaces. Plus, if you really wanted to, you could take the road less travelled.
Where rival SUVs just look the part, a Range Rover shows them how it’s really done.
Technical Specifications
Range Rover Velar 2.0 Dynamic HSE
Engine: 1,997cc 4-cylinder 16-valve, Turbocharged
Power: 247bhp
Torque: 365Nm
Gearbox: 8-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 7.5 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 217km/h
Fuel Economy: 10.1km/litre (claimed)
Price: S$361,888 without COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Wearnes Automotive
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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