In the 1960’s Frank Sinatra was arguably the biggest singing star on the planet, and he brought out a song that included the lyrics;
‘You’ve either got or you haven't got style.
If you’ve got it, you stand out a mile.’

Well, that’s how I feel about the Range Rover Velar. One thing you can’t deny is that the Range Rover Velar is super-stylish. It’s different, distinctive but you know straight away that it’s a Land Rover.

It’s also why it’s slightly odd that you don’t see more of them. The Velar is outsold by the Range Rover Sport, Evoque and Discovery Sport models. It’s also down the pecking order at Land Rover when it comes to profitability. The biggest earners for the firm are the full-fat Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and the Defender which is currently the company’s top seller however, the Velar hardly gets a mention.

Well, things could be about to change as Land Rover has just launched an updated version of the Velar. It’s the car’s first refresh since it was launched in 2017 and should now easily shake off the tag of being a gap-filler between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport.

It’s also arguably the most stylish of the Land Rover models with a sloping profile and a definite nod towards appearance rather than function. Consequently, even though this is a mid-life refresh for the Velar, the external changes are minimal and you can’t blame Land Rover for that because, let’s face it, it’s a handsome looking thing and doesn’t really need a new nip and tuck. The headlights are slightly different; the rear bumper is slightly altered and the front grille is minimally redesigned. In other words, it’s only a Velar aficionado who’d spot the differences from 50 metres away.

The interior has been brought bang up to date. There wasn’t a lot wrong with the previous Velar, but the tech was starting to lag behind the competition and other models in the LR range. It now features the latest Pivi Pro console which is something you’ll spot in other Land Rover and Jaguar vehicles. It’s a good bit of kit and both looks good and works well. There used to be a lower screen, but that is now replaced by a handy cubby hole and phone charger. The downside of this new set-up is that everything like sat nav, audio, climate, audio etc., is all done via the screen. You need to do a lot of prodding and swiping which is tricky if you’re a lone front occupant and the road is uneven. The screen soon becomes a mass of fingerprints which is a pity although perhaps familiarity makes it all a bit easier.

Other than that, the seats are really comfy and, as you’d expect, there’s a premium feel to the interior. The sloping roofline does rob rear seat passengers of some headroom, but there’s still sufficient space in reality for three average size adults to sit side by side and kids will feel right at home.

Under the bonnet, there’s a decent selection of petrol and diesel engines and there’s also the one you see here, the Velar P400e, which is a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). The revised Velar P400e gets a slightly bigger battery which, according to Land Rover, can manage 38 miles in electric mode only. If you need extra oomph or if the battery is exhausted, a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine joins the party. You can barely tell when that happens, though. Floor the throttle to unleash all of the 398 bhp and you’ll hit 60mpg in 5.1 seconds and top speed is 130mph, which is pretty good going for something that tips the scales at 2.2 tonnes. Everything goes via an 8-speed auto ‘box. You can adjust the suspension if you hit ‘sport’ mode, but most folk will just let the car sort itself out in ‘comfort’ mode. It does a good job of it too. The ride is smooth and makes this decent sized car quite relaxing to drive. As a driving experience, it’s also very quiet, even when you use the petrol engine to its full extent.

In terms of economy, if you are a company driver and do a lot of trundling along in town traffic, the P400e makes serious sense. If you use the plug-in charger every day, you can do a daily commute without the engine bursting into life. However, I actually managed low 40s mpg overall on longer journeys which also included some quicker motorway driving.

The Velar isn’t a mountain goat like other Land Rovers because under the body you’ll find a Jaguar F-Pace. There’s no low-ratio gearbox for example, but it’s still hugely capable off-road and will suit anyone who needs to tow a horse box over a field or reverse a boat into a lake. You can select from grass, gravel, snow, mud and ruts, sand and auto terrain settings, so are fully equipped for whatever situation may be thrown at you.

On the open road, the Velar is a typically polished JLR performer. It responds well to being hustled along but is also a supremely relaxed cruiser. In my opinion, it’s hard to think of a better companion for long holiday jaunts.

There are four trims available - S, Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE and top of the range Autobiography. Prices start at £54,105 (Sept ’23) for the S model which comes with sat nav, heated windscreen, rear camera, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking assist, LED headlights, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, powered driver’s seat, leather upholstery, powered tailgate, DAB radio, smartphone mirroring and a stack of safety kit.

Yes, I’m aware many people will point to Land Rover’s decidedly patchy reputation when it comes to reliability and pricey repairs. Things are improving, I feel, and the Velar actually performs very well, but I’d still take out the extended warranty which can take you up to 10 years / 100,000 miles.  

So, if you like the thought of driving a Range Rover but fancy something slightly different, then consider the Range Rover Velar, it might just be the ticket.

Words: Graham Courtney
Pictures: Land Rover