Pitched as the ‘avant-garde’ of four models on offer, the all-new ‘Range Rover Velar’ introduces new and experimental ideas to the Range Rover family.
Think of the ‘Range Rover’ as the daddy figure of the family (pricing from £76,795) with mummy being the ‘Range Rover Sport’ (pricing from £60,015) whilst the ‘Range Rover Evoque’ is the daughter (pricing from £30,760).
Well at long last a son has been born into the family in the guise of the ‘Range Rover Velar’ and with pricing confirmed to start from a rather sensible £44,830 with emissions from as little as 142g/km and a claimed combined economy from an incredible 52.5mpg it seems appealing.
Being sized between the Evoque and Sport models the Range Rover Velar will put up direct and stiff competition against the likes of the Jaguar F-Pace, BMW X4 and Porsche’s Macan in the premium SUV category with the added heritage of off-road ability, something the others simply don’t have.
Stylish, luxurious, full of technology, agile on-road and unstoppable off it is what we are accustomed to with the Range Rover brand and having seen the Velar at a preview event tonight at Land Rover Belfast | Charles Hurst on the Boucher Road I can assure you that the British firm have raised the bar higher than ever.
The overall looks of the Velar are unmistakably Range Rover however the low slung roof and sleek styling really do set it apart from the rest with revolutionary design incorporating flush deploy-able door handles and an integrated rear spoiler all to improve aerodynamics.
Inside the Velar is as luxurious and calm as expected while the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system beautifully integrates two 10” High-definition touch-screens. You can use Touch Pro Duo together with the optional full-colour Head-up Display and optional Interactive Driver Display, to simultaneously view and interact with multiple features at once.
Premium materials feature throughout the cabin with heated and cooled seats being optional for the front row of seating as well as the outer rear seats making life within the Velar in all weathers comfortable especially when combined to the climate control system throughout the cabin.
Upgraded audio options are in abundance from British experts Meridian with three systems available above the standard range Rover one with a plethora of connectivity, optional rear screens and apps available to integrate you seamlessly from your phone to the Velar.
With a permanent four-wheel-drive system the velar has capability at its core with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD) and Torque Vectoring by Braking delivering an engaging, thrilling drive. The proven 8-speed automatic gearbox has been further enhanced and fine tuned for the Velar making it smoother and more precise than ever.
Engine wise a trio of diesels are on offer starting with the reasonably new 2.0L 4cyl turbocharged Ingenium unit producing 180PS whilst a twin turbocharged version is available with 240PS – 0-60mph for these is a far from sluggish 8.4sec and 6.8sec respectively.
I can see the twin turbocharged Ingenium power-train being a hugely popular choice for the best of performance and economy for those doing big miles. For those who want the sheer grunt of more cylinders there is a 3.0L V6 twin turbocharged engine that produces 300PS and will get to 60mph in just 6.1sec.
Just a pair of petrol engines are available in the Velar starting with a sensible 2.0L 4cyl turbocharged unit producing 250ps that will see 60mph in 6.4sec whilst the gem of the range is the 3.0L V6 supercharged unit producing just 380PS but capable of propelling to 60mph in a mere 5.3sec.
Optional air adjustable suspension enables a lowered access height for those who may be vertically challenged whilst increasing the off-road capabilities when the correct mode is selected and with an optional electrically deploy-able tow-bar in use the velar can cope with up to 2500kg on-tow meaning a lifestyle that involves equestrian activities, boating or motorsport won’t be an issue with this premium SUV.
The model range starts from £44,830 with the ‘Velar’ which includes 18” alloy wheels, LED headlamps, key-less entry, rear parking sensors, voice control and a heated windscreen to name a few while the ‘Velar S’ starts from £50,420 and adds 19” alloy wheels, premium LED lighting, electric tailgate, rear camera, navigation pro system, electrically adjustable seating and a 380W Meridian audio system.
Next up is the ‘Velar SE’ starting from £56,060 which further receives 20” alloy wheels, Matrix LED lighting, 360 degree parking aid, driver condition monitor, bind spot monitor, rear traffic monitor and a 825W Meridian audio system.
The range topping ‘Velar HSE’ gets 21” alloy wheels, heated and cooled massage seats, lane assist, active cruise control, queue assist, high speed emergency braking, park assists and an extended leather package inside the cabin – this model starts from £62,560.
On all but the base model Velar there is an ‘R-Dynamic’ spec available (circa £2,400 extra) on the ‘S’, ‘SE’ and ‘HSE’ which adds even more individuality and signature features but I won’t even pretend to know everything it offers over and above – the Belfast sales team are there to help with that.
Finally a Range Rover Velar ‘First Edition’ represents the epitome of the vehicle‘s design story. First Edition is only available in the first year of sales and includes the very finest touches and options as standard coming in Corris Grey, Silicon Silver or satin Flux – you won’t buy better but at a staggering £83,350 this model won’t be for everyone.
Words and Photos: Graham Curry
[images must not be used in any way without prior written consent of the photographer]
