We feel a bit daring when we say this but Land Rover has been on a bit of a design revolution as of recent. The newly redesigned Disco looks amazing and now we have the Velar which is stunning. Audi, BMW and Mercedes won’t be sleeping well at night.
The UK market gets a choice of three diesels and two petrol engines. The entry-level 2-liter turbo-diesel pumps out 180hp (and is the same diesel engine sold in the U.S.) and a more powerful 240hp is available. Top of the range for the diesel engines is a 3-liter turbo-diesel six-cylinder pumping out 300hp. The petrol engines are limited to a 2-liter turbo four-cylinder pumping out 250hp and a 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder with a choice of 300hp or 380hp. Our tester car was the 2-liter turbo-diesel in 240hp (D240) in standard Velar trim.
It’s a bit strange that Land Rover doesn’t offer the more powerful 2-liter turbo-diesel here in the U.S. because this engine feels far more flexible and smoother than the 180hp form that we get; to be fair it’s great we get a diesel engine period. What we love the most about the more powerful 2-liter engine is that it doesn’t feel sluggish to respond and the added torque gives you more pull where it matters the most. However, the running costs do take a slight hit with the more horsepower but why would anyone buying a Land Rover care about that? Well, we certainly did because fuel prices in the UK are pretty high and it made us miss having the lower output even more. Driving on the right side of the road takes an abundance of getting used to; but we adjusted quickly as we were very eager to enjoy as much time behind the wheel of the Velar as possible.
On the road the Velar feels very comfortable to drive and doesn’t feel lofty around the corners and bends like you’d think most 4x4s would. It doesn’t feel as sharp to drive as a Porsche Cayenne but it certainly isn’t far from it. Wind and road noise are well suppressed thanks to a well-insulated cabin and the diesel engines makes all the right noises when you accelerate hard, but remain hushed at city speeds and cruising speeds on the highway. Steering feedback is where it should be and doesn’t feel heavy and clumsy when driving around town; however some tiny roundabouts make the Velar feel cumbersome at times.
The driving position is spot on good with a commanding view of the road ahead. The seats offer plenty of comfort and adjustability. The second row seats are decent in space, but you’d think there would be more legroom. The transmission tunnel makes life for the middleman very compromised. The boot space is generous too, now on to the infotainment system. The double screens add such class to the Velar that other Land Rovers don’t really have. It’s nicely positioned and you can adjust the first screen to angle to your preference. It’s quite lovely the whole design, but functionality is still questionable as the two separate screens can be quite distracting while on the move. We are starting to understand more and more why forward collision waring with full brake is being pushed for standard kit as these new infotainment systems are quite distracting and can potentially lead to a possible fatal crash if the driver isn’t paying attention to what they are doing! We found ourselves often playing it safe and just pulling to the side of the road to adjust certain controls such as the climate control and setting the Navigation system to find a location.
You can choose between three trims; Velar, R-Dynamic and First Edition. The First Edition comes with every option ticked as standard. We had the standard Velar trim which came with plenty of kit standard. LED headlights, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and low traction launch system. Also fitted standard is 18-inch alloy wheels, heated door mirrors with auto-folding mirrors and intrusion sensors to protect your vehicle against theft. What we found a bit odd though is the boot didn’t have a hands-free open/close and the standard alloy wheels look tiny compared to the larger more premium alloys that are available as an option.
The Velar certainly is the best looking Land Rover hands down and even in this segment. The interior is classy and well designed, however you can’t ignore the iffy infotainment system which does get annoying at times and also the fact that some key features are optional instead of standard. Again, this isn’t the U.S. spec version of the Velar it’s the UK spec. We did enjoy our time with the Velar and how fun it is to drive. It is worth noting though that the standard version may appeal to those who are looking for cheapest way into a Land Rover but should keep in mind that it’s worth paying the extra for the R-Dynamic.
Likes: The diesel (D240) had strong pull and decent running costs. It has such a classy look inside out. Dare we say the best looking in this segment?
Dislikes: Typical Land Rover infotainment system nightmare, the electronic door handles are cool but are annoying at times.
[US-Spec versions tested]
P250 *** (We pick the P250 simply because it offers decent flexibility and running costs. However, most buyers choosing a Land Rover in general won't care too much about running costs at all. But if you do want a nice compromise this is the way to go.)
D180 **** (We love that Land Rover has finally offered a diesel engine here in the US. Some may argue that it really isn't needed since most Land Rover Buyers don't really care about running costs. However, we found it to be more than enough thanks to high torque at low revs. It may not be the most refined diesel on the block, but it does give you style and very low running costs for the class.)
P380 ** (Most Land Rover buyers will choose this engine as it's the quickest of the range. However, quicker sometimes doesn't mean better.)
Overall: The dual infotainment screens are prone to finger prints and require a learning curve to navigate through them. Also, they can be quite distracting while on the go. The Velar in general is a stylish vehicle, however it feels like it's all style and no real substance.
