Land Rover Range Rover Velar cars

The style of the car

The Range Rover Velar is sleeker and smoother than other Range Rover models. The door handles sit flush with the bodywork and pop out when the car is unlocked. It looks expensive and even a bit futuristic. The interior is sleek and smooth, too. Most functions are controlled through a touchscreen, just like a smartphone, so there aren’t many buttons.

How it drives

The Velar sits low to the ground and doesn’t weigh much for an SUV its size, so it almost feels like a hatchback or saloon car to drive. That may be appealing if you haven’t owned an SUV before. It’s comfortable, quiet and feels very secure on the road. R-Dynamic models have a sportier feel. There’s a large choice of petrol and diesel engines, all with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. It’s very capable over rough terrain and the most powerful engines give extremely good acceleration. The Velar is easy to drive but it’s long, wide and the back windows are small. That might make manoeuvring tricky. There are many sensors and cameras around the car that warn if you’re getting too close to anything, though, which is a big help when trying to park. Depending on the model, the Velar can tow up to 2,500kg.

The interior

The Range Rover Velar is a large SUV with five doors and five seats. The interior is very comfortable and feels luxurious. There’s a lot of space in the front. The back seats have enough space for adults, but some similar cars have more legroom. Still, a family of four should be very comfortable. The boot has enough space for four large suitcases. The back seats fold down (electrically on some models) creating a long, wide space ideal for those trips to a flat-pack furniture shop. All models come well equipped with leather seats, climate control, cruise control, sat nav and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher spec models have an electrically opening boot lid, ‘surround-view’ parking camera and better stereos. R-Dynamic models have sports seats and steering wheels.

Running costs and reliability

The Range Rover Velar costs more than some similar cars, but less than Range Rover’s top-end models. With a diesel engine, the Velar returns very good fuel economy for a car this size, especially the D180 model. Petrol-powered models are less efficient, but fuel costs should still be reasonable for all but the most powerful models. In 2020, the Velar was updated with more efficient mild-hybrid power. A plug-in hybrid was added to the range, too. Most Velar models cost £475 per year in tax and are in the higher insurance groups. Servicing costs are competitive for a luxury SUV. Range Rover’s reliability record isn’t great, but we’re not aware of problems with the Velar beyond minor electrical niggles. It was awarded a full five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP.

How it compares with similar cars

The Velar’s main rivals are the BMW X4, Mercedes GLC Coupe and Porsche Macan. People buy these cars for their looks as much as anything else; whether or not the Velar is best in that regard is a personal choice. The BMW and Porsche are even better to drive, but the Velar is more luxurious and practical than all three rivals.