Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The Range Rover line-up always needed a credible mid-sized contender. With this Velar model, it now has one. Jonathan Crouch looks at what's on offer.

Ten Second Review

If you're about to sign up for a Porsche Macan or a top Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC mid-sized luxury SUV, Land Rover's Range Rover brand hasn't traditionally had much to offer you as an alternative. But that's now changed. The Range Rover Velar is a mid-luxury sporting luxury SUV that you're going to have to take very seriously indeed.

Background

The very first luxury SUV was a Range Rover, a pioneering 4x4 first launched back in 1970. Prior to that car's original introduction, a fleet of 26 pre-production models were used by development engineers and these ran under the 'Velar' name, Land Rover keen to hide the revolutionary vehicle's real identity, the word derived from the Latin 'velaris', meaning to veil or cover.

Today, almost half a century later, the Velar name has returned to the Range Rover line-up, used to badged the brand's fourth model, a mid-sized contender that plugs the previous gap between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. The Solihull brand knows that premium German rivals have set a high standard in this market segment, so has spared no effort in building in advanced technology, compelling design and absolute attention to detail.

Driving Experience

And on the road? Well we haven't yet driven a Velar but the prospects look good. It is, after all, built on the same IQ platform that underpins the extraordinarily successful Jaguar F-PACE. Under the bonnet, buyers get a choice of the brand's usual four cylinder Ingenium 2.0-litre diesel units, with a choice of 180 and 240PS outputs. There's also a four cylinder 2.5-litre Ingenium petrol unit offering either 250 or 300PS. You'll need one of the V6 models though, if you want to try Range Rover's sophisticated four-corner air suspension set-up. There's a 300PS diesel with 700Nm of torque. Or a flagship 380PS supercharged V6 petrol engine. 4WD is standard across the range, part of what the brand claims is unrivalled 'off piste' capability.

Design and Build

The Velar is instantly recognisable as a Range Rover, the floating roof and clamshell bonnet providing clear references to its lineage and visually reinforcing the class-leading all-terrain capability for which all the brand's models are renowned. The large wheels - up to 22-inches in diameter - help to define the smart silhouette while a the short front overhang and super-slim full-LED headlights play their part in minimising visual weight. Hi-tech Matrix-Laser LED headlights are optional.

Inside, you sit in what the brand calls a 'Sports-Command' position on front seats that balance performance-oriented design and support with opulent comfort, and view two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens of a 'Touch Pro Duo' infotainment system that's overseen by two multi-function rotary controllers.

Market and Model

The Velar is aimed at the upper end of the mid-sized luxury SUV market. In other words, it targets the £50,000 price bracket where upper-spec versions of cars like Audi's Q5 and Mercedes' GLC attempt to do battle with desirable sporting contenders like Porsche's Macan and BMW's X6. Trim-wise, the Velar and Velar R-Dynamic model range includes Standard, S, SE or H variants. A key showroom selling point will be the new 'Touch Pro Duo' centre-dash infotainment system, the full version of which is standard providing you avoid entry-level trim and is designed to keep you fully connected, its 'Micro SIM 4G' connectivity enabling a host of features, functions and location-based services that should make every journey easier, more enjoyable and more relaxing.

For example, there's an online search system that helps you find difficult destinations, and the system can also tell you if you have enough fuel to complete the journey you're on. As you'd expect, the options list is littered with high-end options. The gesture-controlled power tailgate, for example, makes loading bulky or heavy objects into the luggage compartment easier and more convenient. Another innovative feature designed to make life easier is Land Rover's 'Activity Key' - a waterproof, shockproof wristband with integrated transponder - which allows customers to enjoy sports and outdoor pursuits such as running, cycling or kayaking without having to carry the standard key fob.

Cost of Ownership

Since the introduction of its 'Ingenium' engine technology, Land Rover's smaller products have been amongst the class-leaders in the SUV sector when it comes to efficiency. Predictably, the Velar continues that formline. The base 180PS 2.0-litre diesel engine manages a very creditable 52.5mpg on the combined cycle and 142g/km of CO2, not bad considering the weight of the car and its standard 4WD system. The twin-turbo 240PS version of this unit manages 48.7mpg and 154g/km of CO2. Even the 300PS 3.0-litre V6 diesel manages 44.1mpg and 167g/km.

Helping these figures is this Velar's 'Lightweight Aluminium Architecture'-inspired body. And the efficient eight-speed ZF automatic transmission which features what the brand calls 'an integral pendulum damper'. This device dramatically reduces the booming and vibration typically experienced when running in high gears at low engine speeds, and therefore contributes to Velar's low fuel consumption.

Summary

The Velar clearly owes much more to its smaller Evoque stablemate than it does to larger Range Rover models. Which is fine, because that makes it the kind of efficient, wieldy tool that will really make the numbers for this Solihull brand. It's sufficiently capable off road to uphold the company's heritage but in reality, the emphasis here has been on tarmac-orientated dynamics. Can this really be a Land Rover product able to give a Porsche Macan a run for its money? Don't bet against it.

The Velar though, is arguably a more complete product than an SUV like that - and it can certainly claim to offer a more sophisticated interior and a cleverer range of options. In short, it's a very tempting contender indeed. Expect it to contribute massively to the brand's bottom line.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Range Rover Velar

PRICES: £40,000-£55,000 [est]

INSURANCE GROUPS: tba

CO2 EMISSIONS: from 142g/km [2.0 diesel 180PS]

PERFORMANCE: [2.0 diesel 180PS] 0-62mph 8.4s

FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 diesel 180PS] (combined) 52.5mpg

STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ESP, ABS, twin front, side and curtain airbags

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm TBC