The name Velar comes from the Latin version of “veil.”
Originally used on a prototype for the first version of the Range Rover, it was constructed as a word jumble from “Land Rover,” and used to disguise Rover’s intent to move upscale.
However, there is nothing shy or hidden about this latest mid-sized Range Rover product. If I may make a prediction, this machine is about to become the unofficial official car of West Vancouver, supplanting both the well-loved Range Rover Sport (especially well-loved by mechanics, I should say), and outcompeting the likes of the usual suspects from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes.
It is lower than any other previous Range Rover, while more closely resembling the full-size cars. It is priced to undercut other premium offerings, but carries a brand cachet that’s a step above. It looks sleek and urbane, both inside and out.
However, there’s no magic in the land of automotive manufacturing, so let’s draw back the veil a little here. The Velar might appear to be a sales knockout, but how well does it do as a Range Rover?
Design
Originally, Land Rover didn’t really have a design department, so much as it just had a big drawer full of straight-edge rulers. Land Rovers were boxy, charming, boxy, tough, boxy, unreliable, boxy, and you could fix them with bits of baling wire and medium-sized rocks.
Your modern Range Rover is no longer boxy, and can no longer be repaired without the kind of computing power needed to fly a Harrier Jump Jet. In the Velar’s case, Range Rover has taken a dash of their award-winning Evoque design language and scaled it up to a more usefully sized package.
Copper-coloured accents mark the use of a new material, doubtless to proliferate through the rest of the higher-end market. The de rigueur LED daytime running lights help frame a handsome, polished face, and the grille isn’t overlarge. Retractable door handles add to the Velar’s slippery shape, and this R-Dynamic model’s 21-inch alloys add thoroughly convincing curb presence.
Range Rover has spent the money here to make the Velar look vastly different from the German competition, and it’s worked. Style we’ve got, let’s have a look at substance.
Environment
Traditionally, British motorcars have often been a bit of a letdown on the inside. Happily, the Velar is pretty good on first blush, with a couple of touchscreen interfaces that are well-placed ergonomically, and cutting edge in terms of graphics.
For digital natives used to doing everything on their smartphones, the Velar’s touchscreen controls for everything will feel natural. There are a few occasional instances of submenus organized in a less-than-intuitive manner, but the system operates much quicker than other Jaguar/Land Rover products.
If, however, you’re of the tweed-wearing Land Rover old school, you might not love taking your eyes off the road to fiddle with the touchscreen. It should be noted, however, that Range Rover wasn’t silly enough to ditch the traditional volume knob.
Elsewhere, the Velar’s interior quality seems up to the price point, being much more distinct than the interiors in the Jaguar product lineup. Any wow factor relies heavily on how nice the touchscreen looks, but the quality is at a Range Rover standard.
Passenger comfort and cargo is a bit of a mixed bag. The rear seats certainly have enough room, but the 673 litres of cargo area is smaller than the Range Rover Sport. If you’re comparing the Velar against something like a Macan, however, it’s much more practical.
Performance
With vehicles like the Range Rover Sport SVR, Range Rover has been able to match their all-terrain reputation with outstanding tarmac performance. Seeing as most Range Rover owners rarely venture off the beaten path, tweaking things towards street capability makes a lot of sense.
Still, they’re not called Road Rovers – at least not yet. As such, it’s worth pointing out that the Velar comes with selectable terrain adaptability, and can rove through various obstacles with most of the aplomb of its larger brethren.
It’s not the same as its agricultural ancestors, or a wimpy soft-roader, but the Velar boasts just enough capability to be worthy of the Range Rover badge up front. Bragging rights secured, time to take a closer look at how it handles its natural habitat: the city streets.
This R-Dynamic tester model comes with a 380 horsepower supercharged 3.0-litre V-6. Partnered with a capable eight-speed transmission, the V-6 puts out decent acceleration numbers, and is a well-known quantity in other Jaguar and Land Rover applications.
Yet the Velar doesn’t feel all that swift. It drives more like a full-size Range Rover than a Range Rover Sport, despite being smaller than either. Body roll is present, emphasized by a high seating position. The engine sometimes feels like you’re not quite getting the full 332 foot-pounds of torque.
As such, it might be worth taking a good look at the lazier diesel, which has a noticeable horsepower deficit, but which might be better paired to the Velar’s character. The R-Dynamic certainly sharpens up once you fiddle with the driving modes, but it is fairly soft.
To my mind, that’s not a detriment. Rather than tramping up some Scottish hillside, the Velar is much more likely to be found battling traffic. The fact that it’s tuned more for comfort than for speed is an attribute, especially as it’s more than quick enough when you press it.
Those looking to replace supercharged Range Rover Sports might miss the growling response of that car, but everyone else will appreciate the scaled-down experience of driving a cushy full-sized Range Rover. Not to mention the much better fuel economy.
Features
At $62,000 for the diesel model, the Velar’s pricing begins well-targeted against competitors like the Macan S. The supercharged V-6 lines right up against the twin-turbo six-cylinder models from BMW and Mercedes, with this R-Dynamic trim cracking the $90,000 barrier after options. That’s far from cheap, but comparable to M-package or the entry-level AMG crossovers.
Fuel economy figures for the V-6 are 15.2 (litres/100 kilometres) in the city and 9.0 on the highway; the diesel is much better at 7.5 and 5.9 respectively. As it’s pretty heavy, the Velar tends towards city figures in real world mixed driving.
Green light
Stylish looks; upscale interior; usefully practical; comfortable ride.
Stop sign
V-6 is thirsty; expensive in higher trims; long-term reliability is suspect.
The checkered flag
Sure to be a runaway sales success for the JLR group, and has some genuine substance behind a veil of luxury.
Competition
Porsche Macan: While the $54,100 base model Macan looks like an enticing alternative to the Velar, you’re probably going to want to add a few options, which brings the price of entry much closer for both. So-equipped, the Macan offers a nimble drive that the Range Rover can’t match.
Where the Porsche stumbles is in practicality. It’s a much smaller vehicle overall, not much bigger than a Golf in terms of rear passenger space and cargo area. Arguably, the Range Rover has a little more premium to its brand as well, resembling the full-size model so closely.
