Performance & drive
Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox
The fastest Range Rover Velar is the P400e plug-in hybrid (PHEV). When its petrol engine and electric motor are working together to maximise performance, it’s capable of 0-60mph in a punchy 5.1 seconds.
Performance is rather more sedate in electric mode, although it can still get you up to motorway speeds if you’re patient, and can officially run for up to 40 miles on a single charge (high 20s is more realistic in normal driving). When you’re running on battery power, the engine can take a moment to wake up when you put your foot down.
If you want effortless performance without having to worry about charging up, consider the 296bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel (D300), which can officially manage 0-60mph in 6.1 seconds. It pulls more than hard enough from low revs and you’ll never struggle when you need some oomph.
FAQs
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Is the Range Rover Velar bigger than the Evoque?
Yes, the Velar is 4797mm long, 1930mm wide and up to 1723mm tall (depending on the wheels and suspension fitted), whereas the Range Rover Evoque is 4371mm long, 1904mm wide and 1649mm tall.
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What are the most common problems with the Range Rover Velar?
In our 2023 Reliability Survey, bodywork and electrical issues were the main bugbears reported by owners, with these accounting for 15% and 9% of faults respectively. Although most cars could still be driven, 44% took more than a week to be fixed.
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Is the Range Rover Velar a luxury SUV?
The Velar straddles the family SUV and luxury SUV classes, although its sleek roofline means it’s also a rival for coupé SUVs such as the Audi Q8 and the BMW X6.
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Which Range Rover Velar model is best?
It depends. We reckon the Range Rover Velar D200 is the pick for those buying outright or signing up to a PCP finance agreement. On the other hand, if you’re a company car driver, it’s hard to look past the P400e PHEV model because of its low benefit-in-kind tax rate. Either way, we reckon S trim (plus a few choice options) makes the most sense.
Interior
Driving position and dashboard
Even in entry-level S spec, the Range Rover Velar has 14-way electrically adjustable front seats (including fine-tuning for the lumbar region) that are heated and remain comfortable for hours.
Upgrading to a Dynamic HSE car brings 20-way electrically adjustable seats and electric adjustment for the steering wheel. Meanwhile, in range-topping Autobiography models, the seats that can cool and massage you as well.
Less impressively, Land Rover has removed the Velar’s simple rotary climate controls as part of the car’s mid-life refresh. Now you have to use the touchscreen, which is far more distracting to do on the move.
In all Velars, there’s a 12.3in digital instrument cluster instead of traditional analogue dials. It’s clear and puts lots of information just in front of the driver, although it’s not as easy to configure as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit system.
