The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is a new crossover SUV set to slot between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport in the brand's lineup. Land Rover is part of the same company as Jaguar, and the Velar is based on Jaguar's recently introduced F-Pace. That means this sporty five-passenger SUV should inherit its sibling's excellent on-road driving dynamics while adding a bit of extra off-road capability.
On the outside, the Velar looks sporty and sleek, with character styling lines that seem to converge at the rear of the vehicle, enhancing the sensation of movement and speed. Door handles that retract when not in use further enhance the aerodynamic look. Land Rover says it made extensive use of aluminum in the Velar's construction to save weight and improve efficiency and performance.
Inside, almost all of the vehicle's controls have been migrated to two 10-inch touchscreens on the center console. On top of sufficient room for five adults, the Velar offers 34.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the second-row seats. Properly equipped, Land Rover claims a maximum towing capacity for the Velar of 5,500 pounds.
The Velar's off-road capability sits squarely between that of the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, with up to 9.9 inches of ground clearance and a 25.6-inch wading depth when equipped with the optional air suspension. However, based on our experience with the related F-Pace, we suspect on-road is where the Velar will truly excel.
trim levels & features
The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar will be offered with three different engines, with multiple trim levels available for each.
The base engine for the Velar will be a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, making 247 horsepower. A turbocharged, 2.0-liter diesel-fueled four-cylinder, which will make 180 hp and 317 pound-feet of torque, is optional. Topping the range is a supercharged 3.0-liter V6, pumping out 380 hp and a promised zero-to-60-mph time of 5.3 seconds. All engine choices will be paired with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic.
Depending on engine selection, the Velar is available in Standard, S, SE, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE trim levels.
The Standard trim, available only with the 2.0-liter gasoline engine, includes 18-inch wheels, simulated leather and suede upholstery, and an eight-speaker sound system. Stepping up to S trim, which is available with all three engine choices, adds LED daytime running lights, power leather seats, an 11-speaker Meridian sound system, navigation, a power rear liftgate, and auto-dimming, power-folding door mirrors with approach lights. The SE trim is only available with the supercharged V6. It adds 20-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof and blind-spot monitoring and upgrades the sound system to 17 speakers.
R-Dynamic SE includes a number of appearance tweaks such as burnished copper-colored accents, additional driver assistance features, and heated and cooled front seats with massage. Moving up to R-Dynamic HSE will get you 21-inch wheels and extended leather trim. Both R-Dynamic trims are available with all three engines.
Additional interior options include sustainable wool-based textile upholstery, a 23-speaker sound system, a head-up display, four-zone climate control, and a rear-seat entertainment package with two 8-inch screens mounted in the back of the front-seat headrests. There are also a number of other stand-alone options including an advanced tow-assist system, an air suspension, 22-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, upgraded front brakes and a top-down parking camera system.
Land Rover's Terrain Response 2 system, which includes a number of off-road driving modes, is an optional extra. In the Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery, this system comes with dedicated low-range gearing for serious off-road driving. However, the Velar, like the Evoque, doesn't have the low-range gearing.
At launch, a limited run of 500 extra-luxurious First Edition models, with a number of unique interior and
