Our 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE test car.Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
- The Range Rover Velar is brand new for 2018.
- It’s the latest addition to Land Rover‘s Range Rover family of luxury SUVs.
- The Range Rover Velar is available with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a supercharged V6, and a turbo diesel.
- Our Velar R-Dynamic HSE test car came with a 3.0 liter, 380 horsepower supercharged V6.
- In the marketplace, the midsize Velar competes against established rivals likes the BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE.
- The 2018 Range Rover Velar starts at $49,900 while our option laden test car carried an as-tested price of $90,170.
For much of its life, a Range Rover was about its tall rugged stance and squared off edges.
But what may have started life as a no-nonsense Land Rover with an extra dose of civility, has now spawned into a family of sleek luxury SUVs.
Range Rover is one of three families of vehicles that live under the Land Rover corporate umbrella. The other two are Discovery and the temporarily dormant Defender.
These days, Range Rover is sleek, sexy, and stylish. While it may be perfectly comfortable slogging through the jungles of Borneo, its look is decided more Beverly Hills boutique.
The latest addition to the Range Rover clan is the midsize Velar.
The Range Rover Velar may be brand new for 2018 but its name dates back to the very beginning of Range Rover’s existence.
In the late 1960s, Land Rover used to the Velar moniker on its secret Range Rover prototypes to keep prying eyes at bay. Nearly five decades later, the Velar name reappears as a standalone model.
Recently, Jaguar Land Rover lent us a top-of-the-line 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE in Byron Blue. The base Velar starts at $49,900 while our V6-powered R-Dynamic HSE started at $77,100. Options and fees pushed our test car’s as-tested price to a lofty $90,170.
Let’s take a closer look:
Under the hood, our Range Rover Velar is powered by the optional 380 horsepower 3.0 liter, supercharged V6 sending power to a permanent all-wheel-drive system through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
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The supercharged six was simply amazing. The engine’s broad torque band gives the driver access to gobs of power across the rev range. It’s a gem of an engine that we have enjoyed in a host of other Jaguar Land Rover products ranging from the F-Type sports car to the Land Rover Discovery SUV.
The Velar comes standard with a 247 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder. A 2.0 liter, 180 hp turbo-diesel is also an available option.
What’s it like to drive?
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The Range Rover Velar drives exceptionally well on road. It’s particularly fleet of foot through the corners thanks to its nifty torque vectoring system that brakes Velar’s inside rear wheel.
The Velar’s steering is a bit vague but well weighted while the adjustable air suspension delivers Jaguar XJ-quality ride comfort. The 4,400-pound SUV definitely feels more like a sedan than an off-roader of great pedigree.
As for off-tarmac driving, we did not get the opportunity to put the Velar through its paces in the wilds of New Jersey. But with the ride height raised, the Velar boasts 9.8 inches of ground clearance with ability to wade through 25.6 inches of water.
The verdict.
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Any car company with a solid lineup of luxury SUVs can effectively print money under current market conditions. With with so much cash up for grabs, the market is also incredibly competitive. Everyone brings their A-game and anyone who doesn’t get pushed aside by the consumer very quickly.
Lower cost models sell at high volumes but tend to boast lower profit margins while pricier high-end vehicles offer great profit margin, but tend to sell at much lower volumes. With the Velar, Jaguar Land Rover has a product that lives comfortably at the heart of the midsize luxury SUV market where car companies can strike the perfect balance between high margin and high volume.
So for JLR, the Range Rover Velar isn’t a luxury, but a necessity amid stiff competition from the German, American, and Japanese premium brands.
Fortunately, JLR really hit it out of the park with the Velar. In all honesty, we really can’t think of anything really wrong with it.
Our Range Rover Velar test car was great to drive, comfortable to ride in, is loaded with tech that works, and is beautifully styled.
