It’s been easy to forget about the Range Rover Velar, what with the plethora of RR launches around it of late. Seemingly catering for a slender niche between Evoque and Sport, it at least did the job very well: stylish, decent to drive and desirable.
That the Velar looks broadly similar for its Model Year 2024 refresh shouldn’t come as any great surprise, then, because it’s always been one of the better-looking SUVs. There’s a new grille design, slightly more distinctive LED lights and some fresh colours - Metallic Varesine Blue and Premium Metallic Zadar Grey - on the palette. But when a press release talks about a ‘powerful overhang’, you know there’s not much to say. And that’s just fine.
More significant news comes inside, where the updated Velar debuts the latest evolution of the Pivi Pro infotainment; it now runs on an 11.4-inch curved glass display, is easier to reach and with around 80 per cent of tasks doable within two taps of the home screen. Over-the-air updates are possible, of course, and the inclusion of Amazon Alexa and what3words into Pivi Pro means there’ll never be an excuse to forget, well, anything.
Also inside are some fresh materials, including four new leather colourways, a Diamond Herringbone pattern option for the leather-free upholstery, and updated dash veneers. So those who always wanted Raven Blue hide and Shadow Grey Ash wood in the Velar can now spec happy. This new one also gets the Active Road Noise Cancellation we've seen in the latest Range Rover as an option, promising a reduction in interior noise by 4dB. Doesn’t sound like much, but the new L494 era really is supremely refined, so here’s hoping for more of the same from the Velar. Land Rover says it’s the quietest vehicle in class - so that’s Macan, X4 and GLC - for road noise…
The powertrain line-up is as it was for the Velar previously, with one plug-in option, two petrols and a brace of diesels. Predictably, the P400e PHEV is the model that’s received the most attention; as in the Jaguar F-Pace, the 2.0-litre, 300hp four-cylinder and 140hp electric motor combo has been improved for more EV range. So while 404hp and 472lb ft remain unchanged - with a 5.3-second sprint to 62mph - a larger 19.2kWh battery means 40 miles of WLTP EV range. And it can be charged at 50kW. Official numbers are 38g/km and 178mpg.
The rest of the lineup is comprised of the P400 3.0-litre Ingenium straight-six petrol and the P300 3.0-litre Ingenium straight-six diesel, plus a pair of four-cylinders: the D200 diesel and P250 petrol, both 2.0-litres. The latter is now said to benefit from a smoother-shifting eight-speed auto. S, Dynamic SE and Dynamic HSE specs will be offered; a new Autobiography, which brings Satin Burnished Copper detailing and extra equipment, is available for the six-cylinder models.
Prof Gerry McGovern OBE, JLR’s Chief Creative Officer, said: “New Range Rover Velar is a flawless example of our modernist design philosophy – clean, reductive and compellingly desirable. Defined by perfectly optimised proportions, Range Rover Velar embodies effortless sophistication with a bold elegance and dramatic presence that is truly unique.”
Told you it still looks good. The MY24 model is available to order now, priced from £54,045 for the D200 S. The petrols start at £55,210, the D300 range begins at £64,325 (which gets a D300 Dynamic SE), the P400 is from £72,710 and the plug-in hybrid models cost from £64,745 to £72,535. Or, if none of those appeals, you could buy the short-lived (and very lovely) V8-powered Velar - this one’s in a snazzy colour scheme, with the big wheels, for less than £70k…
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