• Published On: 27 February 2019
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The Range Rover Velas slots in between the Range Rover Sport and the Range Rover Evoque.

The Range Rover is known as the Ultimate SUV in the world and the lineup has grown to four models now with the latest being the Velar that sits between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. Known as the avant-garde Range Rover, the Velar is the most road-going Range Rover but still retains Land Rover genes of offering great off-road ability. Launched in as many as 15 variants, the Velar is priced Rs. 1.04 crores to Rs. 1.59 crores (on-road, Mumbai), we tell you why this SUV is our favourite among Range Rovers.

Exteriors - In terms of design, Land Rover has yet again nailed it, the Range Rover Velar looks absolutely scintillating with sharp lines and a coupe-like roofline. The lights look beautiful, they indicators swipe outwards both at the front as well as the rear and the door handles remain hidden, they pop out when you unlock the car. The 5-spoke alloy wheels though could have been a bit special as they don't come across as eye-catchy when you compare the striking design of the car.

Interiors - On the inside, there is a lot of Range Rover here because the design elements have been shared with other models from the company's ever-increasing lineup. A chunky steering wheel, plenty of leather and of course the twin screens in the centre, known as the Touch Pro Duo in Land Rover speak, the upper one is for the infotainment while the lower one is for the vehicle controls like driving modes as well as climate. There is a good amount of storage space on offer as well, including a cup holder right next to the rotary gear selector.

Cabin space isn't the best though, more so at the rear while the boot is decent sized and gets a full-size spare wheel too. Certain attention to detail is really awesome like the rear wiper is hidden and the rear parking camera also gets a washer fluid to ensure the camera remains clean even when you go off-road.

Performance - The Range Rover Velar is offered with 3 engine options, our test car is equipped with the lower 2.0-litre petrol mill that outputs 247 BHP and 365 Nm. While performance isn't exhilarating, it does offer a good amount of punch as you build the revs. Low-end lag is well contained and the 4-cylinder motor does pull strongly in the top-end, redlining close to 7000 RPM and also sounding amazing in the process. The 8-speed automatic gearbox offers smooth shifts and there is a sport mode too while steering mounted paddles let you take manual control of things.

Driving Dynamics - The Range Rover Velar gets independent suspension with the rear using a multi-link setup (the non V6 models get steel springs). Ride quality is good albeit on the stiffer side while the handling is excellent, more so in Dynamic mode as it feels more surefooted with the steering offering more feel as well. There is some roll on offer as the Velar does tip the scales on the heavier side. The brakes offer very good stopping power.

Verdict - Among a sea of SUVs, the Range Rover Velar does what the Evoque did when it was launched last decade, bring acres of style and driving feel to SUVs. While the price is on the higher side, the Range Rover Velar does offer a second glance from almost everyone around because of the design, which is not only stunning on the outside but equally so on the inside. The R Dynamic variant offers more than enough performance you would need from an SUV while the small yet significant attention to detail will ensure you will always feel special when driving the latest Range Rover.