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REVIEW: Land Rover unveils its latest luxury SUV

Range Rover Velar already winning praise

Land Rover vehicles have been around since 1947, providing more than 50 years of quality.

The newest debut for the Land Rover family is the 2018 Range Rover Velar. The Velar (pronounced “veh-laar”) sits between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport models and it has already won an award for the best small premium utility vehicle in Canada – the first of three awards for Jaguar Land Rover this year. The Velar promises to be a very important vehicle and could take sales away from its competitors such as the Porsche Macan, BMW X4, and Mercedes GLC.

The name “Velar” refers to the original 1960’s Range Rover prototypes. The name means to veil or cover as it was what they used to camouflage their prototypes. The Velar unsurprisingly looks like a Range Rover, but more trendy and “tech” looking, inside and out. 

Design

The words that come to mind when looking at the new Velar are refined, sophisticated, and intelligent. Land Rovers are well known for their handsome exterior proportions, and the Velar does not disappoint. Deployable flush door handles are a shining example of the level of detail that Land Rover has implemented into the 2018 Velar, taking cues from the F-Type.

At the rear, quad tail lights flank the iconic Range Rover script. The Velar is filled with LED lighting both inside and out (head, tail and fog), lighting the road up to half a kilometre away. The resulting look is proud and streamlined, without appearing too brutish or flashy. The clamshell-shaped hood and black “floating” roof are meant to pay homage to the Range Rover lineage.

Inside the cabin, it is clear that designers wanted to provide a sense of calm elegance. This is accomplished through minimalist controls, simple lines, a customizable ambient lighting feature, and a panoramic roof that floods the cabin with natural light. Drivers have the option of Windsor leather with a signature diamond pattern for added flair, or a “Kvadrat” textile made up of Alcantara and a polyester/wool blend.

This is gaining a lot of interest as the car industry loves leather. Established car makers depend on leather to give a “premium” feel. However, not everyone is sold because leather is expensive, hard, cold, and unforgiving. Cloth seats, by contrast, will often give a budget or “cheap” appearance. With the Kvadrat option, however, Land Rover is trying to change this. In a premium luxury vehicle, this textile is the first of its kind to be offered, and it is unlikely to be the last. The Danish company that designed this alternative material is kind to the environment as well – recycled plastic bottles comprise a portion of the makeup and the textile feels smooth, warm, and contouring.

The infotainment interface is impressively simple and elegant. Touch Pro Duo – featuring two 10-inch touchscreen TFT displays – makes its new home in the Velar’s centre stack. One is located in the mid-dash area, and the other is found just near the drive selector. The lack of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay capabilities is disappointing, to say the least. However, the quick processor time and crisp graphics are impressive and create a great system.

Performance

Under the hood, Canadians have a choice of two engines: a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 180 horsepower and 317 foot-pounds of torque, or a 3.0-litre supercharged V-6 engine with 380 h.p. and 332 foot-pounds of torque. Both of these engines come with eight-speed automatic transmission.

With a drag coefficient of only 0.32, the Velar is the most aerodynamic Range Rover ever. According to Land Rover, the Velar can go from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in only 5.7 seconds with the V-6 engine. The engine is smooth and solid, though perhaps not as refined as engines found in BMWs. The handling is good and predictable, but not as sporty or fun to drive as the Porsche Macan. The bottom line is that the Velar provides a silky driving experience expected from a Range Rover and should satisfy anyone who drives this cruiser.

For those who wish to test out the Velar’s off-roading capabilities, there is a bevy of technological assists at your disposal. These include All-Terrain Progress Control and a 360-degree camera system that shows all regions around the vehicle. But more importantly, the Velar has all the off-road capabilities expected in a Range Rover; so even though you may never take this luxury vehicle off-road, it will go to places you can’t imagine.

And if you wish to use the Velar to tow goods, you will be happy to hear that the Velar will pull up to 5,500 pounds.

Summary

The base model Velar S starts at $62,000 (with the 2.0-litre engine) and at $64,200 (with the V-6 engine). If you want a completely decked out version, the Velar R-Dynamic HSE with V-6 will set you back $82,600. And for the collector, a premium first edition Velar costs a whopping $95,000. With such an impressive array of features, sleek design, luxury components and rugged, strong capabilities, one can only assume that it would also come with an impressive price tag.  About the only thing to keep in mind is that traditionally, Land Rover have not been as reliable as its Japanese competitors, so you may want to buy that extended warranty after all. While this may deter some from the 2018 Range Rover Velar, it is very clear that you get a lot of value for your money. The Velar is definitely a vehicle to keep an eye out for this year.

editor@automotivepress.com