Range Rover Velar 2026 review | Refined and capable, but not a class leader
Land Rover Range Rover Velar cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
Pros
Effortless and refined performance
Stylish and imposing looks
Plug-in hybrid is affordable to run if recharged regularly
Cons
Iffy reliability record
Top-spec models are expensive
A Porsche Macan S is sharper to drive and more affordable
The CarGurus verdict
The Range Rover Velar is something of a mixed proposition. On the one hand, it’s an appealing and stylish SUV that is well equipped, comfortable and good to drive. However, it is expensive in certain guises, and can quickly end up costing as much as more upmarket or higher-performance alternatives.
Some may be put off by the potential for poor reliability, which could torpedo an otherwise enjoyable ownership experience. Others might find the occasionally unresponsive media system in pre-facelift cars to be annoying.
In any case, the Velar is a very smart looking SUV, thanks to its coupe-like roofline and flush-fitting, electrically retracting doorhandles. It also delivers on the driving experience and luxury fronts. If you’re sold on the styling, and perhaps want a car with real off-road credentials, we think it’s worth a look.
What is the Range Rover Velar?
Brilliant though they are, the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models are expensive. To broaden the company’s horizons and get more customers onto the brand treadmill, JLR (as it is now) introduced the Range Rover Evoque in 2011. This took the core appeal of its bigger siblings and squeezed it into a smaller, more affordable package.
The Evoque was incredibly successful, but it didn’t hit the mark for everybody. So, in 2017, the Range Rover Velar was launched. Bigger than the Evoque but smaller than a Range Rover Sport, it was priced between the two and started to sell very well indeed.
Now an established name in the Range Rover catalogue, the Velar offers buyers something akin to a full-size Range Rover or Range Rover Sport in a more accessible and compact package.
Refreshed in 2023, there is plenty of goodness to be found in a pre-facelift used example, or indeed a brand new Velar with the latest tech. In this review, we will cover both pre- and post-facelift models in detail.
How practical is it?
The Velar isn’t short on space, that’s for sure. There is plenty of room for front-seat passengers, first of all, but you’ll also find decent space in the rear. Rivals such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X5 are stronger in this area, yet the Velar is far from a shoe box. What’s more, its seating arrangement is nice and flexible, with a 40:20:40 split rear bench. The boot offers 568 litres of storage capacity, or fold down a rear seat and you’ve got 890 litres to play with. Folding the centre rear seat opens up 1,052 litres, then with all three seats flat you have a whopping 1,374 litres of space.
Plug-in hybrid models have a little less boot space as standard, owing to a slightly higher boot floor, but if you opt for a tyre repair kit rather than a space-saver spare wheel you can fit up to 632 litres. Be aware these capacities will vary slightly by powertrain, as mentioned – but also by year if you’re going down the route of a used Velar.
Those in the front get a 7.5-litre glovebox (new Velar buyers can opt for a cooled version) and can individually adjust each side of the centre armrest, which itself contains an additional four litres of storage. The driving position is fantastic, too, not least thanks to the 14-way electrically adjustable seats fitted in every Velar. Perceived quality is also good, with an array of plush-feeling materials and a modern design.
As you’d expect, Range Rover offers some very practical extras, such as a tow bar-mounted bicycle carrier and a roof-mounted rack for canoes, skis, snowboards and the like. There are also rubber floor and boot mats, along with either a detachable or electronically operated tow bar, both of which provide a 2,500kg towing capacity (the maximum you can actually haul depends on the engine chosen).
Along with more rugged features, there are the more luxurious options as well. Examples include a pet transportation pack (with a Range Rover water bowl) and a quilted loadspace liner. There is even a ramp to help get a dog in and out of the boot, plus a portable rinse system to wash down a muddy passenger (pet or person, you decide).
What's it like to drive?
At launch, the Velar was offered with no less than six engines, including 2.0-litre diesels and a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol. New engines and technology were introduced later, including the D275 3.0-litre diesel and adaptive cruise control from May 2018. A plug-in hybrid called the P400e was launched in 2020, along with mild hybrid petrol and diesel models.
The facelift in 2023 brought a bigger 19.2kWh battery for the P400e, elevating its official electric-only range to 40 miles. The line-up of six- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines also received some mild tweaks, and they remain a source of smooth and enjoyable power.
The Velar is relaxing to drive, even in entry-level, four-cylinder diesel form. Its steering is precise and the eight-speed automatic transmission – standard on all variants – shifts quickly and effortlessly.
It’s worth getting the air suspension if you can. It comes as standard on HSE trim and up, or is optional on lower spec versions, but brings that pillowy, gentrified ride comfort that you want from a Range Rover. Raise the suspension all the way and you have 252mm of ground clearance, while at the other end of the spectrum an ‘elegant arrival’ system drops the car by 40mm as you get in or out. Similarly, the ride height will drop slightly at speed to reduce fuel consumption, or if you tell it to as you approach a height-restricted car park entrance, for example.
Refined and easygoing progress is the name of its game, which marries up nicely with the Velar’s elegant, comfortable and upmarket interior. It is a heavy car, though, and rivals are sharper and more engaging to drive. The Velar does benefit from Land Rover’s trademark off-road prowess, though, packing an all-wheel-drive powertrain and the clever Terrain Response 2 traction system. There’s a low speed cruise control system, for example, which will keep you at a steady pace whether you’re going across a flat field or down a rocky or muddy decline, working in conjunction with hill descent control. There’s also a low traction launch system, which will help you pull away if the surface underneath is incredibly slippy.
The Velar might not have the absolute capability of a full-size Range Rover or a Defender, but it’s still been put through a test and development programme that most SUVs couldn’t endure. All this means the Velar has a level of all-wheel-drive ability that far exceeds most owners’ needs.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
The Velar’s infotainment system had all the features you could want even before the 2023 update, but this earlier setup was a bit slow to respond and not as easy to use as the newer one. So, if you want a Velar with the best infotainment system, make sure you go for a facelifted model.
These post-2023 cars did away with the confusing dual-screen layout, introducing an 11.4-inch single touchscreen using Land Rover’s new ‘Pivi Pro’ infotainment – first seen in the latest Range Rover. It’s a good system, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone connectivity, navigation, Amazon Alexa, configurable shortcuts on the home screen and more. The graphics are sharp, the menu layouts fairly intuitive and we found it easy to use even on the move. The screen could do with responding a fraction quicker, but it’s a usefully better interface – and worth paying extra for if you’re shopping for used Velars and are undecided whether a newer example is really worth more.
There’s also a 12.3-inch driver display, plus a head-up display on some models, along with software over-the-air updates. The latter mean fixes and new features can be beamed directly to your car without the need to visit a dealership.
As you’d expect, you get the full suite of safety features in the Velar. Even entry-level S specification, which Range Rover refers to as the Velar in its ‘purest form’, comes with adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, emergency braking, automatic LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, and a 3D surround-view camera. It also has a fixed panoramic glass roof, the better touchscreen system, heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, a 14-way powered driver’s seat, a wireless phone charger, a heated windscreen and mirrors, and keyless entry.
Dynamic SE adds 20-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded exterior style pack, blind-spot monitoring and more. Autobiography is the range-topper, and here you’ll find, 20-way massaging seats, 21-inch alloy wheels, a sliding panoramic roof, upgraded leather upholstery, a semi-autonomous drive mode and more. Although it could easily be lumped into the ‘and more’ category, the Meridian 3D surround-sound audio system is worth a special mention as it offers active noise cancellation. So, just as noise-cancelling headphones filter out the ambient sound in a room, so the Meridian system will actively reduce the effects of tyre and wind noise, traffic sounds, power tools and more.
Range Rover Velar running costs
The Velar is far from the cheapest premium SUV, but it is comparably priced next to alternatives like the Porsche Macan. Finance isn’t cheap from Range Rover, though, and often comes with a hefty APR.
A luxury SUV is never going to be cheap to run, but diesel versions of the Velar are better than you might think. In the early D180 diesel variant, for example, many owners report real-world fuel economy in the region of 40mpg. Even the most powerful diesel, the D300, could return upwards of 35mpg in day-to-day use. Early petrol models are predictably less efficient, and the supercharged P380 and 5.0-litre SVAutobiography are particularly thirsty.
The lineup later benefitted from mild-hybrid (MHEV) variants, in both diesel and petrol forms, and a new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) called the P400e. The plug-in Velar had a claimed electric-only range of 33 miles, but the 2023 facelift brought a bigger battery and an improved range of 40 miles.
First-year VED rates can be high for the more powerful models, while the five-year VED premium on cars over £40,000 will also hike up running costs. Insurance for the Velar will be pricey as well (a historical reputation for being stolen regularly did the Velar and other Range Rover models no favours), so make sure you get quotes before committing to the car.
Fortunately, Range Rover does offer fixed-price servicing schemes that can help keep costs in check. The scheme can be spread over monthly payments, with both low- and high-deposit options.
Range Rover Velar reliability
Every Range Rover Velar comes with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and roadside assistance, which is comparable to many rival offerings in the premium sector. New Velars also get a three-year paint warranty and six years of corrosion cover. Extended warranties are available at extra cost and stretch to 10 years or 100,000 miles of use.
One major downside with Land Rovers and Range Rovers is they often perform poorly in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys. It’s worth finding out if your local dealer has a good reputation for customer service, too.
On the subject of reliability, Land Rover as a brand (encompassing cars that include the Range Rover Velar) secured 26th spot out of 30 in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey. That’s one spot ahead of Jaguar, but four places behind Audi and Mercedes, seven behind Porsche and 20 away from BMW. The Velar itself was joint 51st alongside the Evoque out of 76 cars in the family SUV category.
If you’re intrigued by a used Velar, be sure to keep an eye out for one with a chunk of warranty left. Also, check that all the car’s complicated on-board electronics work properly, because the pre-2023 infotainment system can be especially prone to glitches. You’ll want to look for any obvious cosmetic or mechanical issues, along with signs of off-roading damage to the body and underside.
There haven’t been many Velar recalls, but the most notable was one regarding a potential fuel leak that affected 2017 and 2018 vehicles. The government recall website can help you identify issues with a car you might be interested in.
Range Rover also has an approved used scheme for cars sold via its franchised dealers, which includes a 12-month warranty and 12 months of roadside assistance. Cars must be up to seven years old and have less than 100,000 miles on the clock to qualify.
- A limited-edition model, catchily named ‘the Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition’ was introduced in early 2019 and available until late 2020. It wasn’t just a few cosmetic tweaks and some more kit, though, because it was equipped with a 543bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, which could propel the Velar from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds. It also had a body kit, 21-inch wheels and bigger brakes, as well as unique interior details, and cost a hefty £86,000 when it was new.
- Towing will be a big factor for many Velar owners, with many models able to tow up to 2,500kg. Note that the Velar PHEV can only tow 2,000kg, which is a bit underwhelming for a Range Rover. But to make life easier in the Velar there’s Advanced Tow Assist, which helps you reverse and hitch up to a trailer. If you have a car fitted with air suspension, there’s also a self levelling system that’ll help keep things smooth and controlled, and in theory reduce your stress levels.
- The Range Rover Velar plug-in hybrid got improved charging speeds with its 2023 update, offering DC rapid charging at up to 50kW and the ability to charge to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes. Most owners will charge at home or the office, though, where a standard 7.4kW charger will deliver a full battery in around 3.5 hours.
- The best all-rounder: Velars get very expensive very quickly as you step up the engine range, so we’d stick with the entry-level D200 diesel. We’d also be happy with base S trim, as it’s got most of the features you’d want, then add some choice extras including the adaptive dynamics with air suspension. You can always tick the boxes for heated rear seats and four-zone climate control if you want to keep the kids happy, too.
- The most efficient: Officially, the most economical Velar is the plug-in hybrid P400e AWD Automatic PHEV (up to 128mpg on the WLTP test cycle). However, you’ll need to charge it regularly and spend most of your time on battery power to get the best from it – when the engine’s running, the weight of the PHEV system makes it less economical than the standard non-plug-in variants. For efficiency over long distances we’d opt for the D200, which will manage 40-44mpg quite happily, and more over a longer stint.
- The best balance of performance and price: The quickest new Velar is the P400e hybrid, but if you don’t want to spend that much, then you could opt for the P400. It has a punchy 395bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine and is good for 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds.
- The fastest: Speed fanatics with deep pockets should look for a used SVAutobiography. Its supercharged V8 engine and performance upgrades makes it an interesting alternative to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo or the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
