2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar Review

　　

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　On the surface, the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is one of the luxury SUV maker's more unusual offerings. The Velar's size and price effectively slot it between Land Rover's compact and midsize offerings. You'd think the Velar would feel crowded between these segments, but its sleek styling gives it an edge in the lineup.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar P250 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$199/mo  for Range Rover Velar P250 S

　　Range Rover Velar P250 S

　　P250 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $56,300 MSRPP250 R-Dynamic S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $58,500 MSRPP340 S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A) - $62,200 MSRPP340 R-Dynamic S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A) - $64,400 MSRPP380 R-Dynamic HSE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A) - $75,300 MSRPSVAutobiography Dynamic Edition 4dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $90,790 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The Velar's fastback profile is shared with the similarly eye-catching Range Rover Evoque, and the design translates well to the slightly longer Velar. In addition to providing more cabin and cargo room than its smaller sibling, the Velar offers a wider range of engine choices and luxury features. It doesn't have a third-row seat like the larger Discovery or the off-road prowess of the Range Rover Sport, but the Velar delivers strong on-road performance.

　　Overall, we like the Velar and its expressive styling. It certainly stands out in a field full of amorphous crossovers. But pay attention to the Velar's ride quality, which can be rather stiff, and give the frustrating-to-use infotainment interface a thorough test drive before you commit.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.5

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Range Rover Velar drive? We tested the Velar SVAutobiography. Its 550-hp supercharged V8 provides endless amounts of fun, at least until the tank runs dry. Even with all that power, the Velar settles down in traffic and its smooth-shifting transmission makes it deceptively easy to drive.

　　It's only when you start to push the Velar on a winding road that it fails to live up to the engine's potential. The steering is quick, but the Velar leans and rolls more than we'd want in a performance SUV, and the brakes don't hold up to repeated high-speed stops. Still, it's hard to fault it too much when it's this much fun to scoot around town.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Range Rover Velar? This is where the Velar really shines. The front seats offer plenty of adjustment and make it easy to dial in just the right driving position to help you stay comfortable, even after a full day behind the wheel. The heated seats work well, but the massage function feels like more of a gimmick than a feature and doesn't really massage you well at all.

　　Our test Velar had the optional air suspension. With it, the ride quality is firm but comfortable. We've tested previous Velars without air suspensions that rode harshly on any pavement that was less than perfect. Getting a Velar with one of its optional 21- or 22-inch wheel options, which have the shorter tire sidewalls, can exacerbate the issue. There's more wind and road noise than we expect in a luxury SUV too.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? While everything you look at and touch inside the Velar is of high quality, it's not at all easy to use. Many controls are needlessly hidden in on-screen menus, and it's not always obvious where features are located.

　　Tech aside, the Velar is an easy SUV to live with. The optional air suspension lowers the Velar's ride height when parked, making it easy to get in and out of. The driving position is excellent, and there's surprisingly good visibility given the Velar's sharp styling. There's plenty of room for both front and rear passengers too.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The two-screen setup looks far better than it functions. In our testing we've noticed slow response times and numerous hiccups syncing phones over Bluetooth and through USB. Although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard, we failed to get the latter to work consistently. We also had issues with the screen washing out in bright sunlight.

　　The Velar comes with all the latest driver aids, from adaptive cruise control to surround-view cameras. It works well enough, but some of the systems seem overly sensitive and can give you false warnings.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? While the Velar is larger than most other two-row luxury SUVs, most of that space comes behind the rear seat. It packs nearly as much cargo space as some midsize SUVs and almost twice as much as some competitors.

　　The center console is shallow, but there's a small shelf behind the bottom screen and deep door pockets to hold larger items. If you need more than what the Velar can hold inside, its maximum tow rating (more than 5,000 pounds, depending on the model) trumps nearly everything else in the class.

　　There's a good amount of room for car seats too. Easy-to-reach car seat anchors are located under plastic panels, and the wide doors should make getting a seat in and out relatively easy.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Velar's EPA-estimated fuel economy ranges from around 23 mpg in combined city/highway driving with the four-cylinder engine down to 17 mpg with the supercharged V8. We tested the latter and got an impressive 20 mpg on our 115-mile mixed-driving test route. After that, we got around 16 mpg after two weeks of testing. That number might not seem particularly outstanding, but it's certainly a good showing for a 550-hp SUV.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Range Rover Velar a good value? The Velar's fit and finish and overall build quality are excellent. There are a few less-than-stellar plastic bits, but most of what you see and touch feels like it belongs in a vehicle of this price. Oddly, some features you'd expect to be standard on a vehicle like this, such as traffic-adaptive cruise control, are optional. Comparably equipped, the Velar can cost significantly more than its rivals.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　The Velar is a stylish and luxurious SUV that doesn't skimp on performance or practicality. It looks and feels special, especially when you let the supercharged V8 do its thing. The exhaust note in particular is almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Few SUVs are this charming.

　　

Which Range Rover Velar does zzdcar recommend?

We think the base Velar S is the right choice for many customers. It has tons of standard equipment and enough available options to match most of the features found on upper trims. We're huge fans of the supercharged V6, but the standard turbocharged four-cylinder should provide acceptable acceleration for the majority of buyers. Of the available option packages, the Driver Assist system — with its many advanced driver aids — is the most enticing.

　　

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar models

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is a luxury SUV that slots in between the traditional compact and midsize classes. The base S model is very well-equipped, with features that include a panoramic sunroof, perforated leather upholstery and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

　　The R-Dynamic S primarily adds sporty styling upgrades inside and out. The R-Dynamic HSE includes a more powerful version of the other two trims' optional V6, along with an adaptive air suspension and additional luxury features. The range-topping SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition is powered by a muscular supercharged V8 and includes even more performance and luxury upgrades.

　　The S and R-Dynamic S models are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (247 horsepower, 269 lb-ft of torque). A supercharged 3.0-liter V6 (340 hp, 332 lb-ft) is optional on both trims. The R-Dynamic HSE utilizes a more potent version of this motor, developing 380 hp and 332 lb-ft. The SVAutobiography turns up the performance wick with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 (550 hp, 502 lb-ft). Regardless of engine, every Velar has all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

　　Standard feature highlights for the base Velar S include 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, auto-dimming and heated mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, a blind-spot monitor, perforated leather upholstery, navigation, and an 11-speaker audio system with satellite radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration.

　　The R-Dynamic S further adds black-painted exterior trim, faux-suede seating inserts and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

　　Selecting the R-Dynamic HSE adds the uprated V6, along with 21-inch wheels, an adaptive air suspension, heated and ventilated front seats with additional adjustments and massage, passenger-seat memory settings, additional leather trim and adaptive cruise control.

　　The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition blends extreme high performance with high-end luxury features. The centerpiece with this trim is the supercharged V8, which produces nearly 200 hp more than the R-Dynamic HSE's V6. This trim also includes a black-painted roof (a body-colored roof is available), upgraded brakes, sport-tuned air suspension calibration, a heated steering wheel, upgraded leather, four-zone climate control and a faux-suede headliner.

　　Most of the extra standard features of the higher trim levels are offered as options on the lower trims. The Range Rover Velar is also available with a wide range of optional features packages. Notable packages include Driver Assist (a 360-degree parking camera, adaptive cruise control, lane centering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and automated parallel and perpendicular parking), Tow (a 360-degree camera, tow hitch receiver with connectors and towing assist software), and Convenience (a hands-free tailgate, two rear USB ports, remote seat-lowering levers, a cargo net, and a wristband fitness tracker that doubles as a key).

　　Stand-alone options include 22-inch wheels, a 1,600-watt surround-sound system and dual rear-seat entertainment displays.

　　

2020 Range Rover Velar Highlights

Trim: P250 SP250 R-Dynamic SP340 SP340 R-Dynamic SP380 R-Dynamic HSESVAutobiography Dynamic EditionP250 S

　　

Base MSRP	$56,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$199/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	34.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles