NEW DELHI: Range Rovers are well known for their hardcore off-road performance which is offered along with unmatched luxury in its segment. But the range also has a model which is not primarily focused on the go anywhere part. Priced at Rs 82.9 lakh (ex-showroom), the
Range Rover Velar
is a road-biased sports utility vehicle (SUV) and sits between the Evoque and the Sport models. Let's check out what's special about this road-biased vehicle from
Land Rover
.
How does it look?Like it's other stablemates, the
Range Rover
Velar also gets a conventional rugged SUV design base. However, it blends with a touch of sophistication and technology. Sharing platform with the Jaguar F-Pace, the Velar features tighter lines than the other Range Rovers along with a pinched roofline which gives it a coupe-styled SUV shape.
The front has the signature Range Rover grille with the Land Rover badge and brand name over it. The headlamps and tail lamps both are sleeker than any of the model in its stable which makes it the sharpest looking Range Rover till date. The headlamps further feature matrix LED (Light Emitting Diode) daytime running lights which makes it a looker in the evenings.
The rear also gets combination LEDs and a large Range Rover nameplate between them. The straight character line of the vehicle goes seamlessly from the headlamps to the tail lamps through the hood-line. Also, the flush door handles further elevate its flawless design.
Overall, we can say that it is one of the best looking SUVs which one can buy in India in its respective price range.
How does it feel inside?Entering the 2018 Range Rover Velar takes you to a completely new world with one of the most technically advanced cabins you've ever experienced in a Land Rover's model. Still, everything in it has been designed so neat and clean that can be considered as a benchmark of sophistication with technology. Clearly, the model has been crafted to wow the tech-savvy fans of the brand.
The all-black interior of the SUV features Touch Pro Duo infotainment system at the centre stage which is the major attraction with two big touchscreen displays. The upper screen mostly serves the entertainment purpose (audio, telephony, navigation etc.) while the lower one is for controlling (air-conditioning, driving modes and more). The system's response is impressive and the user interface is one of the best we've experienced so far. The instrument cluster is also fully digital and one can change its layout according to the preference.
There is no need to say that the leather seats of the Velar are super comfortable. Both the front and rear seats offer good tight support as well as bolsters, providing excellent support while cornering. The front seats are electrically adjustable in multiple ways, including the lumbar support.
There is also dual-zone automatic climate control to enhance the comfort. You also get decent storages as well in the cabin for bottles and cups for both front and rear passengers. The cabin has decent shoulder, head and leg room for the front as well as the rear row. However, the rear legroom could have been better by reducing a little from the humongous boot space.
How does it feel to drive?The Range Rover Velar comes with the JLR's latest 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol engine which powers a number of new Jaguar and Land Rover products. The engine is offered in two states of tune -- 250RS and 300PS -- and we drove the lower version with 'P250' moniker. The powertrain is quite refined and has a linear delivery throughout the rev-range. It works well with the automatic, torque-converter type, eight-speed transmission and offers pleasant driveability with perfect, smooth shifts. The vehicle crosses three digit speed from the standstill in less than 10 seconds and one can easily cruise on speeds beyond that as well.
Despite being a full-size SUV, the Velar in its petrol version returns an impressive fuel efficiency of around 12kmpl in city and over 14kmpl on the highways. The transmission has a regular drive (D) and a sports (S) mode along with Terrain Response System that offers ECO, Comfort, Dynamic and other settings. The system changes behaviour of the engine as well as suspension and steering according to the selected driving condition. The vehicle also features a switchable Auto-Stop-Start system for the best possible fuel efficiency.
While it has been designed as an urban SUV, its hard to forget the roots. So, the Velar's Terrain Response System also has modes for grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, sand and rock crawl. The company also offers its Stage 2 as an optional extra with the SUV. Moreover, the vehicle has a ground clearance of 213mm along with approach, ramp and departure angles of 25.9-degree, 21-degree and 27.3-degree respectively which are not more than its siblings but better than many other SUVs. Also, the Velar P250 SE offers a water wading capacity of 600mm which is more than sufficient for mild off-roading. The explained geometry is with the coil spring suspension and it gets even better with the air-suspension offered in the higher variant. The air-suspension raises ground clearance to 251mm and water wading capacity to 650mm, and increases the off-roading angles further.
Keeping the off-roading capabilities aside, the road ride experience of the Velar is impressive too. The suspension has been well optimised for a perfect balance for Indian road conditions and offers decent stiffness along with a plush ride. You'll definitely feel some rolling while going fast in the corners, however, it is not sufficient to reduce driver's confidence. Brakes are impressive too and they provide great feedback and progression along with sharp stopping power. It comes packed with lots of modern braking systems, including ABS and EBD, which further boosts confidence in emergency braking situations.
Who can buy it?First of all, one who has such deep pockets to spend around a crore on a vehicle is only capable to buy this Range Rover. Now, comes the reason why he/she can consider spending this money on the Velar and one of the major reasons could be the way it looks from outside as well as inside. Another major and practical reason is being a posh SUV that offers an extremely comfortable ride on roads and also capable of some off-roading when needed.