What We Like
Striking and sleek looks
Cabin is a work of art
High definition Touch Pro Duo is a touch of genius
Generous 673 litres of boot space
Capable on and off-roader
What We Dislike
First Edition variant is pricey at $428,999
The need to fill up gaps in between models to cater to the needs of different buyers is inevitable. BMW and Mercedes-Benz, for example, have a broad range of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) as well as sedans that come in different sizes to ensure that current owners and potential buyers can find what they need when they visit showrooms.
It seems Land Rover has started this similar expansion. The Range Rover Velar, as the car you see here is called, is an F-PACE-based mid-size SUV that sits very nicely between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, both in terms of size and price.
In the brand's current lineup, the next option of SUV after the Evoque is the Range Rover Sport, which will cripplingly set buyers back $401,999 (as of 26th July 2017).
So the Velar is going to be affordable then?
In reality, the Velar will bridge the gap between the Evoque and the Sport. In theory, this should make the financial transition between the two models far less horrifying for buyers who are looking for a mid-size SUV.
We naturally throw a phrase in like 'in theory' because the top-of-the-line variant, dubbed the First Edition, will cost some $428,999 when it arrives at the end of this year.
But before you start scratching your heads and blankly point your fingers at how this is more expensive than the Range Rover Sport, both you and I will have to understand that the First Edition Velar, with all the bells and whistles such as electronic air suspension, sliding panoramic roof and Matrix-laser LED headlamps, has a completely different proposition compared to the Sport.
Thus, whether or not the Velar is affordable highly depends on how deep your pockets are. But in our opinion, yes. At its price point, the Velar is a seriously compelling vehicle. The 2.0-litre four-pot base model, which is capable of 250bhp and 365Nm of torque, will set you back around $288,999. Currently, this is about $60,000 more than the Evoque.
It seems Land Rover has started this similar expansion. The Range Rover Velar, as the car you see here is called, is an F-PACE-based mid-size SUV that sits very nicely between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, both in terms of size and price.
In the brand's current lineup, the next option of SUV after the Evoque is the Range Rover Sport, which will cripplingly set buyers back $401,999 (as of 26th July 2017).
So the Velar is going to be affordable then?
In reality, the Velar will bridge the gap between the Evoque and the Sport. In theory, this should make the financial transition between the two models far less horrifying for buyers who are looking for a mid-size SUV.
We naturally throw a phrase in like 'in theory' because the top-of-the-line variant, dubbed the First Edition, will cost some $428,999 when it arrives at the end of this year.
But before you start scratching your heads and blankly point your fingers at how this is more expensive than the Range Rover Sport, both you and I will have to understand that the First Edition Velar, with all the bells and whistles such as electronic air suspension, sliding panoramic roof and Matrix-laser LED headlamps, has a completely different proposition compared to the Sport.
Thus, whether or not the Velar is affordable highly depends on how deep your pockets are. But in our opinion, yes. At its price point, the Velar is a seriously compelling vehicle. The 2.0-litre four-pot base model, which is capable of 250bhp and 365Nm of torque, will set you back around $288,999. Currently, this is about $60,000 more than the Evoque.
But if the base model isn't the one for you, fret not because there will be a total of seven different trims from both the 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre variants, all of which will be arriving in the fourth quarter of this year.
A thing of beauty, this one
There's not one doubt that Land Rover has created a very good-looking car. Strikingly handsome and stylishly sleek, the Velar's outline is reminiscent of the Rangie Sport while managing to keep to a styling that's more comparable to the sportier and trendsetting Evoque.
With its unbroken waistline that boldly stretches across its clean sheet metal from tail to tail, slim Matrix Laser-LED headlamps and progressive flush, deployable door handles, the Velar is the sort of SUV that will attract countless stares of envy wherever it goes without coming across as trying too hard.
A work of art and a touch of genius
The beauty continues the moment you step inside the Velar. Words like 'minimalistic', 'modern' and 'advance' are perfect portrayals of the cabin, making it one of the most stunning five-seater interiors we've ever seen aside from Lexus.
Physical buttons on the centre console as well as the steering wheel have been replaced in favour of two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens - one at eye and the other at knee level - and touch-sensitive switches.
Both a work of art and a touch of genius, the screens spring to life when you start the car, with the upper screen automatically shifting forward by 30 degrees to receive you. As a result, what you get is a cabin that's uncluttered, decisive and innovative.
Logically called the Touch Pro Duo, the minimalist feature can be expected across its future range as the next generation of models is introduced.
A thing of beauty, this one
There's not one doubt that Land Rover has created a very good-looking car. Strikingly handsome and stylishly sleek, the Velar's outline is reminiscent of the Rangie Sport while managing to keep to a styling that's more comparable to the sportier and trendsetting Evoque.
With its unbroken waistline that boldly stretches across its clean sheet metal from tail to tail, slim Matrix Laser-LED headlamps and progressive flush, deployable door handles, the Velar is the sort of SUV that will attract countless stares of envy wherever it goes without coming across as trying too hard.
A work of art and a touch of genius
The beauty continues the moment you step inside the Velar. Words like 'minimalistic', 'modern' and 'advance' are perfect portrayals of the cabin, making it one of the most stunning five-seater interiors we've ever seen aside from Lexus.
Physical buttons on the centre console as well as the steering wheel have been replaced in favour of two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens - one at eye and the other at knee level - and touch-sensitive switches.
Both a work of art and a touch of genius, the screens spring to life when you start the car, with the upper screen automatically shifting forward by 30 degrees to receive you. As a result, what you get is a cabin that's uncluttered, decisive and innovative.
Logically called the Touch Pro Duo, the minimalist feature can be expected across its future range as the next generation of models is introduced.
Drive me crazy and love me silly
Leaning towards the luxury character rather than a sporty one, the Velar is no lightweight sports car despite its massive use of aluminium in its construction. That doesn't mean it's sluggish in any sense of the word.
Equipped with a strong and refined 3.0-litre supercharged V6 powerplant, the Range Rover Velar dishes 380bhp and 450Nm of twisting force to all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed autobox, allowing it to complete the century sprint in 5.7 seconds. For a vehicle weighing two tonnes, that is nothing short of respectable.
What's also respectable is how quiet the Velar is on the go despite wearing a huge set of 22-inch shoes and travelling at three-digit speed limits. You can hardly hear the intrusion of external noises from the cabin.
But where the car really shines is the way it handles different terrains, be it on-road or off-road. During our test drive in magnificent Molde, which spanned over 300km over two days, the Velar had to cross certain harsh off-road terrains to get back on the roads.
Both my colleague from The Straits Times and I were constantly asking ourselves if the route was a mistake because we were unsure if the Velar was capable of tackling such steep, muddy and rocky grounds. But never once did the Rangie fail us.
Leaning towards the luxury character rather than a sporty one, the Velar is no lightweight sports car despite its massive use of aluminium in its construction. That doesn't mean it's sluggish in any sense of the word.
Equipped with a strong and refined 3.0-litre supercharged V6 powerplant, the Range Rover Velar dishes 380bhp and 450Nm of twisting force to all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed autobox, allowing it to complete the century sprint in 5.7 seconds. For a vehicle weighing two tonnes, that is nothing short of respectable.
What's also respectable is how quiet the Velar is on the go despite wearing a huge set of 22-inch shoes and travelling at three-digit speed limits. You can hardly hear the intrusion of external noises from the cabin.
But where the car really shines is the way it handles different terrains, be it on-road or off-road. During our test drive in magnificent Molde, which spanned over 300km over two days, the Velar had to cross certain harsh off-road terrains to get back on the roads.
Both my colleague from The Straits Times and I were constantly asking ourselves if the route was a mistake because we were unsure if the Velar was capable of tackling such steep, muddy and rocky grounds. But never once did the Rangie fail us.
Apart from the fact that the car is equipped with traction technologies, which include Terrain Response 2, All Terrain Progress Control, Low Traction Launch, Hill Descent Control and Gradient Release Control, it's the accurate steering that allowed us to easily place the 2,032mm wide SUV on rough and narrow roads.
Progression at its best
Going against strong and segment leaders such as the BMW X4, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and the Porsche Macan S, the Range Rover Velar is going to have a hard time converting mid-size SUV owners to the brand. And that's not because the Velar is a bad car, but more likely due to the fact that the brand in Singapore hasn't yet reached a point where people are as aware of it as the mainstream ones.
But make no mistakes about it. Competitors should fear the Velar because it certainly has what it takes to convince potential buyers of its capabilities and perhaps more so if the price of the Velar remains competitive.
After all, this car is more than just filling up gaps in between models to fit the needs and wants of buyers. It's clearly progression at its best.
Progression at its best
Going against strong and segment leaders such as the BMW X4, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and the Porsche Macan S, the Range Rover Velar is going to have a hard time converting mid-size SUV owners to the brand. And that's not because the Velar is a bad car, but more likely due to the fact that the brand in Singapore hasn't yet reached a point where people are as aware of it as the mainstream ones.
But make no mistakes about it. Competitors should fear the Velar because it certainly has what it takes to convince potential buyers of its capabilities and perhaps more so if the price of the Velar remains competitive.
After all, this car is more than just filling up gaps in between models to fit the needs and wants of buyers. It's clearly progression at its best.
