Range Rover Velar Review (2017-present)
Land Rover Range Rover Velar cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
Pros
Effortless and refined performance
Stylish and imposing looks
Plug-in hybrid is affordable to run if recharged regularly
Cons
Iffy reliability record
Top-spec models are expensive
A Porsche Macan S is sharper to drive and more affordable
The CarGurus verdict
The Range Rover Velar is something of a mixed proposition. On the one hand, it’s an appealing and stylish SUV that’s well equipped, comfortable, and good to drive. However, it is expensive in certain guises, and can quickly end up costing as much as a more upmarket or higher-performance alternatives.
Many may be put off by the potential for poor reliability, which could torpedo an otherwise enjoyable ownership experience. Some may also find the occasionally unresponsive media system in pre-facelift cars annoying.
In any case, the Velar is a very smart SUV thanks to its coupe-like roofline and flush-fitting, electrically retracting doorhandles, and it delivers on the driving experience and luxury front. If you’re sold on the styling, and perhaps want something with real off-road credentials, then it’s worth a look.
What is the Range Rover Velar?
Brilliant though they are, the Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport are too expensive for a lot of buyers even at the posh end of the SUV market. To tackle to issue and widen the appeal of the line-up, Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Evoque, which took the core appeal of its bigger counterparts and crammed it into a smaller, more affordable package.
The Evoque was incredibly successful, but even so, it still didn’t quite hit the mark for some buyers, so in 2017, Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Velar. It’s bigger than the Evoque but smaller than a Range Rover Sport and priced roughly midway between the two.
It offers buyers something akin to a Range Rover or Range Rover Sport in a more accessible and compact package. That said, the Velar’s is almost as big as a Porsche Cayenne, so it’s by no means a small SUV. Launched in 2017, the Velar was given a useful midlife update in 2023. In this review we'll cover both pre- and post-facelift models.
How practical is it?
That size means the Velar isn’t short on room, albeit confined to certain areas. There’s plenty of space for front-seat passengers and the boot can swallow 632 litres of luggage with the rear seats in place, but that drops to 558 litres for cars with a space saver spare wheel rather than a repair kit, and 503 litres for the plug-in hybrid Range Rover Velar P400e.
Those in the front get a 7.5-litre glovebox (new buyers can opt for a cooled version) and they can individually adjust each side of the centre armrest which itself has an additional four litres of storage. The driving position is fantastic, too, not least thanks to the 14-way electrically adjustable seats that every Velar gets, while perceived quality is very good thanks to an array of dense, plush-feeling materials and modern design.
The Velar isn’t the best in the class for rear-seat passengers, though. It’s not bad, but rivals such as the Audi Q5 and the BMW X5 are more spacious in this respect.
What's it like to drive?
At launch, the Velar was offered with six engines, including 2.0-litre diesels and a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol. New engines and technology were introduced later, including the D275 3.0-litre diesel and Adaptive Cruise Control in May 2018. A plug-in hybrid called the P400e was also launched in 2020, along with mild hybrid petrol and diesel models.
The facelift in 2023 bought a bigger 19.2kWh battery for the P400e, bringing the official electric-only range up to 40 miles. The lineup of six- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines also had some mild tweaks, and remain a strong range of smooth, enjoyable motors.
The Velar is relaxing to drive, even in entry-level, four-cylinder diesel form. The steering is precise and the eight-speed automatic transmission – which is standard on all variants – shifts quickly and effortlessly. It’s worth getting the air suspension, if you can; it’s standard on HSE and up, or optional on lower spec versions, but brings that pillowy, gentrified ride comfort that you want from a Range Rover.
Refined and effortless progress is the name of its game, which marries up nicely with its elegant, comfortable, and upmarket interior. It is a heavy car, though, and rivals are sharper and keener to drive. The Velar does, however, benefit from Land Rover’s off-road prowess, packing an all-wheel drive powertrain and the manufacturer’s clever Terrain Response off-road system. All this means that the Velar has a level of four-wheel drive ability that far exceeds most owners’ needs.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
The Velar’s infotainment system had all the features that you wanted even before the 2023 update, but this earlier system was a bit slow to respond and wasn’t as easy to use as the newer system. So, if you want a Velar with the best infotainment system, make sure you go for one of the facelifted 2023 cars.
These facelifted cars did away with the confusing dual-screen layout, and went with a bigger, single touchscreen using Land Rover’s new ‘Pivi Pro’ infotainment that we saw first in the new Range Rover. It’s a good system, that has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satnav, Amazon Alexa, configurable shortcuts on the home screen and more. The graphics are sharp, the menu layouts fairly intuitive and we find it easy to use even on the move. The screen could do with responding a fraction quicker, but this infotainment system and new dash design makes for a usefully better interface, and is worth paying extra for if you’re looking at used Velars and are undecided whether to pay the extra for the post-2023 update.
As you’d expect, you get the full suite of safety features in the Velar. Even entry-level S gets adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, emergency braking, automatic LED headlights, front- and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. It also gets a fixed panoramic glass roof, the big touchscreen system, heated seats, 14-way powered driver’s seat, leather seats, wireless phone charger, heated windscreen and side mirrors, and keyless entry.
SE adds 20-inch alloy wheels, upgraded exterior style pack, blind spot monitor, heated steering wheel and upgraded driver display, and ‘Pixel LED’ fully adaptive headlights that can maintain high beam without dazzling oncoming traffic.
Autobiography is the range-topper, with its 20-way massaging seats, 21-inch alloy wheels, upgraded leather upholstery, semi-autonomous drive mode and more.
Range Rover Velar running costs
The Velar is far from the cheapest premium SUV, but it is comparably priced next to alternatives like the Porsche Macan. Finance isn’t cheap from Land Rover, though, and often comes with a hefty APR if the example finance deals we looked at are anything to go by.
A large luxury SUV is never going to be cheap to run, but diesel versions of the velar are better than you might think. In the early D180 diesel variant, for example, many owners report a real-world fuel economy in the region of 40mpg. Even the most powerful diesel, the D300, could return upwards of 35mpg in day-to-day use. Early petrol models are predictably less efficient, and the supercharged P380 and 5.0-litre SVAutobiography models are particularly thirsty.
The line-up later benefitted from mild-hybrid (MHEV) variants, in both diesel and petrol forms, and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) called the P400e. The plug-in Velar had a claimed electric-only range of 33 miles, but the 2023 facelift brought a bigger battery and an improved range of 40 miles.
First-year VED rates can also be high for the more powerful models, while the five-year VED premium on cars over £40,000 will also hike running costs, and insurance costs on the Velar will be very high, so do make sure you get quotes before committing to the car.
Fortunately, Land Rover does offer fixed-price servicing schemes that can help you keep costs in check, and the cost of the scheme can also be spread by using monthly payments, with both low- and high-deposit options.
Range Rover Velar reliability
Every Range Rover Velar comes with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and roadside assistance, which is comparable to many rival offerings in the premium sector.
New Velars also get a three-year paint warranty and a six-year corrosion warranty. Extended warranties are also available at extra cost and can cover up to ten years or 100,000 miles of use.
One major downside with Land Rovers and Range Rovers is that they often perform poorly in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys. It’s worth finding out if your local dealer has a good reputation for customer service and, if you’re buying a used Velar, keep an eye out for one with a chunk of warranty left.
Also check that all the car’s complicated on-board electronics work properly, because the pre-2023 infotainment system can be especially prone to glitches. You’ll want to check for any obvious cosmetic or mechanical issues, too, as well as any signs of off-roading damage to the body and underside.
There haven’t been many Velar recalls, but the most notable was one regarding a potential fuel leak that affected 2017 and 2018 cars. The government recall website can help you identify issues with a car you might be interested in.
Land Rover also has an approved used car scheme for vehicles sold via its franchised dealers, which includes 12-month warranty and 12 months’ roadside assistance. Cars can be up to seven years old and have less than 100,000 miles on the clock to qualify.
- A limited-edition model catchily named ‘the Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition’ was introduced in early 2019 and available until late 2020. It wasn’t just a few cosmetic tweaks and some more kit, though, because it was equipped with a 543bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, which could propel the Velar from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds. It also had a body kit, 21-inch wheels and bigger brakes, as well as unique interior details, and cost a hefty £86,000 when it was new.
- Towing will be a big factor for many Velar owners, with many models able to tow up to 2,500kg, although the Velar PHEV can only tow 2,000kg, which is a bit underwhelming for a Range Rover.
- The Range Rover Velar plug-in hybrid also got improved charging speeds for the 2023 update, receiving DC rapid charging of up to 50kW and the ability to charge to 80% in around 30 minutes. Most will charge up at home or the office, though, where a standard 7.4kW charger will deliver a full battery in around 3.5 hours.
- The best all-rounder: Velars get very expensive very quickly as you step up the engine line-up, so we’d stick with the entry-level D200 diesel. We’d stick with the base S trim, as it’s got most of the features you want, but add some choice extras including the adaptive dynamics with air suspension, and you can always add heated rear seats and four-zone climate control if you want to keep the kids happy. It adds a range of features, including a powered tailgate, an adaptive speed limiter with traffic sign recognition, a Meridian sound system, and the Pivi Pro infotainment system with navigation.
- The most efficient: Officially, the most economical Velar is the plug-in hybrid P400e AWD Automatic PHEV, but you’ll need to charge it regularly and spend most of your time on battery power to get good fuel costs – when the engine’s running, the weight of the PHEV system makes this less economical than the standard non-plug-in variants.
- The best balance of performance and price: The quickest new Velar is the P400e hybrid, but if you don’t want to spend that much, then you could opt for the P250. It has a punchy 254bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine and is good for 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds.
- The fastest: Speed fanatics with deep pockets should look for a used SVAutobiography. Its supercharged V8 engine and performance upgrades makes it a great alternative to options such as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo or the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
