The Range Rover Velar is a five-seat SUV that combines off-road style with some Land Rover off-road capability and impressive road manners. Compare with Audi Q5, Porsche Macan and Volvo XC60.
Velar is more than just a pretty face. It impresses in almost every situation, and its range includes a powerful mild-hybrid engine. We give the Velar a TCC rating of 7.0 out of 10. (Learn more about how we rate vehicles.)
The new top-end version of the HST gets the 395-horsepower mild-hybrid inline-6 version now fitted to many Velar, with adaptive dampers and air springs, and a range of driving modes. Sports suspension tuning. The Velar range includes a surround view camera system and an automatic parking assistance system.
With its lightweight exterior and stylish Range Rover-style interior, it may be Scandinavian, but the Velar is a classy option that makes almost any competitor look sleazy. For a fee, Land Rover will paint and decorate the vehicle in any color or material you like.
Beneath the beautiful body of the Velar is the same foundation as the Jaguar F-Pace, and we say that’s not bad. Interior space is adequate for four or five people in a pinch, and there’s enough cargo space for a family trip.
The Velar lineup starts with a 2.0-liter turbo four that puts out 247 horsepower to all four wheels. Land Rover’s powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine produces between 340 and 395 horsepower, with some versions of the R-Dynamic S and HST. The engine is equipped with a 48-volt electrical system that saves fuel and increases power. The Velar has established itself with a new inline 6-cylinder engine that handles like its F-Pace cousin.
Interior space is good for four large passengers, but the roofline is low. A panoramic glass roof illuminates the cockpit, and Land Rover further dampens road roar with Active Noise Cancellation. Few cars can match the Velar’s understated glamor. Its interior decoration is magnificent.
The Velar comes with good active safety equipment as standard, but adaptive cruise control is optional. The available surround view camera system should also help reduce the risk of these fancy wheels being limited.
The Velar comes with Land Rover’s latest infotainment system, which uses two screens but is now faster thanks to a flatter menu structure. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility has been re-enabled.
Don’t expect the Velar to cost less than $61,000. The new HST fee is at least $80,475.
By off-road standards, the 2021 Range Rover Velar is as poised as they are. We rate it a perfect 10.
Velar drives large Land Rover SUVs but makes them slipperier. Note the signature clamshell hood, wide grille and narrow headlights, as well as the ventilated roofline. It’s as sleek and supple as a low-slung European station wagon, and its supple posture is nothing like a typical SUV.
Inside, the dual screens are hardly distracting. Like the Volvo SUV, the Velar made this statement lightly. Before you bring home the first Velar you come across, spend some time on the Land Rover configurator. There are many decorative finishes and interiors to choose from.
All versions of the Land Rover Range Rover Velar are all-wheel drive, although even with the optional air suspension that provides nearly 10 inches of ground clearance, it’s a more elegant urban SUV.
The Velar is very fast in its basic form, and with its available turbocharged power and supercharged inline-6, it’s very fast. We rate the Velar’s smooth ride and handling, as well as its impressive acceleration as standard, a 7 out of 10.
Turbo-4 is designed for 247 hp. and accelerates this SUV to 60 mph in a claimed 7.1 seconds. The base engine works well with the 8-speed automatic, although the control sticks are a little annoying. However, the engine noise and vibration left a lasting impression – and not in a good way.
Velar introduces a 3.0-liter turbocharged supercharged inline-6 engine in 2021. It is equipped with a 48-volt mild hybrid system that increases the autonomy and smoothly starts/stops the Velar. It’s so well-integrated that it’s barely noticeable when fuel consumption isn’t compared to previous supercharged V-6 engines. In the R-Dynamic S, it makes 335 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, and hits 60 mph in 6.0 seconds. HST gets a high-performance version with 395 hp
Even in its standard configuration, the Velar delivers a comfortable ride. The optional air suspension runs smoother even with wheels up to 20 inches in diameter. Big wheels are optional, but if you don’t live where the roads are absolutely perfect, skip them and drop us a line so we can move there too.
The Velar offers crisp handling and less lean than its high ground clearance would suggest, further blurring the line between SUV and passenger car. The R-Dynamic version focuses more on looks than actual performance improvements. An optional brake-based torque-vectoring electronic active rear differential locks onto the internal calipers to help the SUV corner confidently, but it’s an expensive option that few buyers are likely to choose. The Velar HST has the most sophisticated yet most valuable setup with air springs, adaptive damping and dedicated braking to reduce understeer through selective application of anti-lock braking.
The bumper spacing is approximately 190 inches, so there’s enough room inside the Land Rover Range Rover Velar for four adults and their gear. The basic versions are great, but the multi-option versions are downright decadent. We rated the Velar an 8 out of 10 on the TCC scale for front seat comfort, materials and cargo space.
The front seats are comfortable all day long and the spacious interior provides good forward visibility. Drivers in the back would do well in the outboard seats, though three side by side is a big requirement. If you have tall friends or teenagers, you’ll have to pay extra for the power reclining rear seats, as headroom in the rear seat is fine.
Cargo space is reasonable at about 34 cubic feet with the second row upright. With the rear seats folded down, space roughly doubles, and Land Rover will gladly sell you roof rails to increase cargo capacity.
Leather is standard, and Land Rover’s attention to detail is on par with Volvo’s. Gorgeous touches like the perforated Union Jack pattern on the seats elevate this SUV even more than its price point would suggest.
Since it hasn’t been tested, we don’t know exactly how the Range Rover Velar will hold up in a crash, but plenty of crash protection comes standard.
Automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitors, adaptive cruise control and a surround view camera system are standard across the range. Active lane control, steering assist with adaptive cruise control and a few other items are optional.
Land Rover offers a host of options and trims for the 2021 Range Rover Velar that make this SUV stand out in just about any form factor. We rate it an 8 out of 10 thanks to good fundamentals, great optional equipment, and a dual-screen infotainment system.
A 4-year/50,000-mile warranty is standard, but Land Rover doesn’t get the free service that comes with Jaguar.
Land Rover offers Velar in three main versions, which differ in engine power. The base car costs $61,575 before options, but we’d spend an extra $8,900 on the inline-6. All things considered, it’s not a huge price jump for more power. Standard features include leather upholstery, heated front seats, 19-inch wheels, a panoramic glass roof, 14-way power front seats, a 12-speaker Meridian audio system, and two 10-inch inch touchscreens that control the infotainment system, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. and automatic climate control
The latest Pivi Pro infotainment system works much better on the Velar than the old Land Rover system. It’s more responsive, it doesn’t have the confusing layering of features on the screen, and it supports wireless smartphone compatibility so it’s easy to override it with CarPlay or Android if needed.
Skip the $63,675 R-Dynamic S with the base engine if you don’t like the looks, but the R-Dynamic trim is a great platform for the inline-6 for a total of $70,475.
Land Rover charges extra for most paint colors – a whopping $9,200 for the specialty white. Instead, buy a customizable digital instrument cluster, head-up display, and adaptive cruise control via steering.
This year, our fuel economy numbers are getting tougher as more electric vehicles hit the market. Our Velar rating (2 out of 10) is based on a base turbo-4 that last year was rated at 20 mpg city, 26 highway, 23 combined. The average R-Dynamic S is 20/26/22 mpg and the HST is 19/25/21 mpg.
Post time: Sep-13-2022