Built in the UK, the new Range Rover Velar luxury mid-size SUV has been designed to deliver all the practicality, connectivity and capability expected of the Range Rover family, writes Trish Whelan. Make no mistake, this is a true Rangie in every sense with its AWD 'go anywhere' heritage.
This elegant five-seater exudes style and capability. I believe it is the most beautiful SUV on the market. Some 82 motoring journalists from 24 countries thought so too as these jurors recently awarded it the 2018 World Car Design of the Year gong at the New York International Auto Show.
Eddie Kavanagh, Jaguar Land Rover Ireland’s Managing Director, says the new Velar - which fills the space between the Evoque and the RR Sport in the Range Rover range - 'brings increased choice to new and existing customers in a growing SUV market'.
It certainly has universal appeal and would be just as much at home on the posh leafy suburbs of Dublin 4 as it would be tackling difficult terrain with its legendary DNA heritage.
With more of a Crossover feel to it than a typical SUV, Velar seems tidier, more compact and not as tall as a traditional Range Rover all of which make it more manageable in size than its larger RR Sport sibling especially when it comes to manoeuvring and parking in tighter streets or parking lots.
In looks, Velar (with its all-aluminium construction) is perfectly proportioned with powerful, taut surfaces. The front has a wide and aggressive front grill; the slope of the black roof provides a sporty look to the rear; but I preferred the overall view from the side. The deep doors help protect sills in bad weather or dirty conditions and this in turn protects your clothes when getting in and out of the car.
Models are Velar, R-Dymanic, and First Edition; grades are Velar, Velar S, Velar SE and Velar HSE.
My car was the 2.0D i4 240hp AWD version in SE trim which has Burnished Copper bumper accents, bonnet vents and side vents which draw attention as does the R-Dynamic badge. Bright metal pedals enhance the sporty feel and look.
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| Burnished copper accents |
And yes, the brand has all the boxes covered within its range, a model to suit every need and taste. Some potential customers checking out the Velar may also consider the larger Sport while those who have owned the smaller Evoque - and who may be interested in moving up to the next level within the RR family - might also cast their eye at the slightly larger Velar. I’m reliably informed that there are many female owners of the Evoque and I’m sure they will appreciate the newcomer’s size and styling. BTW, the next generation Evoque will take many styling cues from the Velar!
When you press the key fob to open the car, door handles pop out to greet you and return flush to the metal when you lock it again.
The interior is modern and luxurious as you’d expect. You sit in a commanding driving position in the beautiful and comfortable leather seats with their suede bolsters - the driver’s one has numerous power adjustments and three memory settings. The steering wheel is quite unique in itself and the interactive driver display with its 12.3-inch screen is spot on in design. It allows you control your media, phone etc. You can choose from Dual Dial, Single Dial or Extended Dial options for the screen.
For me, the stand out feature is the futuristic looking dual Touchscreen system on the central console that allows you to simultaneously view, and interact, with multiple features at the same time. It is a stunning feature - like something that we’ve seen in concept cars at motor shows. You can use the navigation system in the upper screen while playing media on the lower one. It takes a bit of getting used to but when you get the hang of it, it works a treat.
Velar differs from a typical full-size Range Rover in the lack of wood which has been replaced by Piano black finishes that really suit this car. The modern look is emphasised also by the whitish ‘quilty looking’ material on the dash and the brushed aluminium on the doors. I wonder, though, how well the quilty material will wear long-term.
Before I got the keys, I had to download and activate a special InControl app which is a suite of services and applications that connects you to the car and links you seamlessly and securely with the outside world. These included Optimised Roadside Assistance which in the event of a breakdown will use positioning and the vehicle health information to guide the appropriate recovery service to your location.
In a more serious incident, the SOS Emergency Call notifies the emergency services of where you are and this hastens assistance to the scene. The Remote Smartphone App allows you find your car in a crowded car park or check that you locked the doors and closed the windows - all really useful items. The Secure feature, JLR’s stolen vehicle tracking system, can in most cases recover the car if it is stolen in less than 24 hours.
Six powertrains range from the 180hp 2.0 Ingenium diesel matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The round gear selector is on the flat of the central console and comes up when you start the car. Gear changes are almost unnoticeable. You can also use the gear shift paddles off the steering wheel for when you need to shift to manual transmission. C02 emissions are from 142g/km to the 380hp supercharged 3.0 V6 petrol engine. All-aluminium Ingenium engines are the brand’s own. Driving modes are Dynamic, Eco, Comfort, Grass Gravel Snow/mud/ruts/sand.
My review car was the 2.0D i4 with 240hp and AWD and in R-Dynamic SE trim. It does 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds; torque is 500 Nm; C02 emissions are 154g/km (€390 in annual road tax) and the combined fuel return is from 5.8 L/100kms (48.70mpg). For my time with the car, it returned 6.6 L/100kms (42.80mpg). The 3.0 petrol is far thirstier returning 9.4L/100kms (30.05mpg) for the combined cycle.
The Terrain Response is standard on Velar models, wading depth is 650mm with the Electronic Air Suspension, and 600mm with the Coil Suspension. The optional electronic air suspension can take on tough situations and keeps the car stable - this is an extra €2,130.
Other standard items included cruise control and speed limiter, Bluetooth, blind spot monitors, sun glare protection on the windscreen on either side of the rear view mirror - great for when you are driving into low evening sun; the 360 degree parking aid which proved really useful when parking the car; Auto high beam Assist, an excellent rear view camera; Matrix LED headlights, front fog lamps, the R Dynamic Exterior Pack, and a Meridian Sound System.
The car’s 2,874mm long wheelbase allows great space for all onboard including really good rear legroom, and with all five seats in use, an impressive 673 litre of luggage area.
The Velar’s towing capacity of up to 2,500kg is complemented by the Advanced Tow Assist function where the driver reverses the vehicle with a trailer attached using the Touch Pro Duo rotary controller and with no need to counter-steer.
The range starts from €62,240 which excludes delivery and related charges. While my car had a basic price tag of €86,850, optional extras took it to a pricy €100,745.
These included the car's Silicon Silver exterior colour (€2,425), Pro Services and WiFi Hotspot (€680), electronic air suspension which makes the car glide over uneven roads (€2,130); a sliding Panoramic Roof (€2,290); All Terrain Progress Control (€370); Terrain Response 2 (€270); Ambient lighting, as well as premium floor mats and special 21-inch 10-spoke wheels (€2,695).
Wherever you take this car, be sure eyes will follow you in a nice, inquisitive way, as this car really stands out as being special.
