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Mark Higgins16 Mar 2020
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Range Rover Velar – what you need to know

Stylish prestige SUV comes with an options list as long as your arm

The mid-size Range Rover Velar lineup may have been rationalised for 2020, but that doesn’t mean you are stymied for choices.

Jaguar Land Rover Australia has trimmed the Velar range down from 65 to 13 variants – six standard, six R-Dynamic models plus a supercharged V8 SVAutobiography Dynamic – but 13 variants are plenty for most buyers.

All Velars come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. There is a choice of petrol and diesel engines with either four, six or eight cylinders, and prices range from $83,340 to $176,412 (plus on road costs).

Let’s take a closer look to see which Range Rover Velar suits your needs and budget.

At $82,012 the entry level Velar D180 S petrol has the following standard equipment:

  • 19-inch alloy wheels
  • 10-inch infotainment screen
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality
  • Cruise control
  • Dual-zone air conditioning
  • Reversing camera
  • Powered tailgate
  • Velar options

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Black and white are the only standard paint colours. Seven metallic colours add $1780 while the three premium metallic hues cost $3550. Head up display adds a further $2420 to all models.

There are ten option packs starting with the $1390 (all models of Range Rover Velar) Convenience Pack, comprising gesture-operate tailgate, rear seat remote release levers, a load space partition net, power socket pack 3 and activity key.

Next is the $1330 Cold Climate Pack (all models) with a heating function for the windscreen and steering wheel.

Then there is the Drive Pack that features blind spot assist, adaptive cruise control and high-speed emergency braking. That is an additional $1742 on the Velar S, SE R-Dynamic S and R-Dynamic SE.

The Drive Assist Pack includes blind spot assist, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, high-speed emergency braking, park assist, 360-degree parking aid and a rear traffic monitor. It’s a $5278 option on the Velar S and R-Dynamic S, $3965 on the Velar SE and R-Dynamic SE and $2223 on the Velar HSE, R-Dynamic HSE and SV Autobiography Dynamic.

A Dynamic Handling Pack contains all terrain progress control, configurable dynamics, terrain response with dynamic program and electronic air suspension. This bundle will cost you $3755 if you buy the Velar S or R-Dynamic S, $5545 on the Velar SE and R-Dynamic SE and $1710 if you go for the Velar HSE or R-Dynamic HSE.

The Hot Climate Pack adds a lockable cooled glovebox, four-zone climate control and cabin air ionisation – and for that lot you will pay $2397 when fitted to a Velar S or R-Dynamic S, an SE or R-Dynamic SE, or the HSE. It costs $2820 on the Velar R-Dynamic HSE.

The Park Pack with park assist, 360-degree parking aid and rear traffic monitor adds $1313 to the Velar S and R-Dynamic S.

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A Premium Textile Pack features satin-chrome gearshift paddles, premium textile and suedecloth seats and steering wheel. Expect to pay $2500 for this lot on the Velar S and R-Dynamic S, and Velar SE and R-Dynamic SE models.

Satin-chrome gearshift paddles, premium carpet mats, chrome IP end caps, a leather steering wheel with atlas bezel, illuminated front and rear treadplates and load-space scuff plate are yours with the Premium Upgrade Interior Pack. You also get a leather upgrade, suedecloth headlining, metal pedals and configurable ambient lighting. Available on the Velar S and SE for $4705, on the Velar HSE this package costs $3690. When fitted to the Velar R-Dynamic S and R-Dynamic SE it's $3970, while the cost on the Velar R-Dynamic HSE is $3235.

Last we have the Technology Pack. You get a solar-attenuating windscreen, matrix laser LED headlights with signature DRL, head-up display and interactive driver display. It costs $8960 on a Velar S or R-Dynamic S, $5840 on the Velar SE, HSE, R-Dynamic SE, R-Dynamic HSE and Velar SV autobiography Dynamic.

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Velar safety and Driver Assistance

All models in the Range Rover Velar lineup have, as standard, six airbags as well as the obligatory anti-lock brakes, traction and stability controls.

Additionally, all come with a tyre pressure monitoring system, emergency braking, a rear-facing camera to make reversing easier and safer, ISOFIX points for kids seats, driver condition monitoring, hill launch assist, hill descent control, low traction launch, roll stability control, speed proportional electric power steering, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition and adaptive speed limiter.

Moving to the Velar SE or the R-Dynamic SE provides park assist for both parallel and perpendicular parking. You also get 360-degree parking aid and rear traffic monitoring.

If you shoot for the Velar HSE or more powerful R-Dynamic HSE adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist and high-speed emergency braking come standard.

Infotainment comfort and convenience

All Range Rover Velar variants come with a 10-inch infotainment screen and system featuring digital radio, WIFI hotspot, satellite navigation, Bluetooth phone pairing, audio streaming and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto functionality.

The Velar S and R-Dynamic S have an 11-speaker Meridian 380-Watt sound system.

However if you really enjoy your music the most affordable way of snaring the 825-Watt, 17 speaker, surround sound system is to buy the Velar SE variant, or the performance R-Dynamic SE.

If you like the look and aroma of leather the Velar is for you. Every variant has leather as standard. Perforated grain leather seats are in the Velar S and SE with 14-way adjustable driver seat with memory. If you want suede accents on the trim, tick the Velar R-Dynamic S or SE variants, but you still get the 14-way adjustable driver seat.

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Should you decide that cooling through the front seats is a good idea you’ll have to step up to the Velar HSE or R-Dynamic HSE, but you do get 20-way power adjustment along with a massage function. The Velar SV Autobiography Dynamic features Windsor leather with its own pattern plus 20-way power adjustable front seats with cooling and massage functions and a heated rear seat.

Do you want an electrically adjustable steering column? Then the HSE variant is the most affordable way of doing so. The HSE also brings with it upgraded leather interior trim.

What about a heated steering wheel? The only one to offer it standard is the Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic. The sport design wheel is wrapped in soft grade leather so you can gently feel the exclusive standard sport suspension working. Complimenting the full extended leather-upgrade interior is the roof-lining in suede-cloth. And to keep everyone comfy this variant is the only one to have four-zone climate control, as standard.

Can you get a sunroof? Of course, but again you’ll have to sign up for the SVAutobiography Dynamic. It sets itself apart with a contrasting black roof, SV exterior pack, exclusive badging and 21-inch alloys, red brake calipers plus sports active exhaust, while the Velar S and R-Dynamic S make do with 19-inch alloys, and the Velar SE and R-Dynamic SE feature 20-inch alloy wheels. Every variant come with all-season tyres. All variants have a 19-inch steel spare wheel except the Velar SV Autobiographic which has a space saver spare.

If you can’t stretch the dollars to a Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic, but you want your Velar to look different from the standard S, SE or HSE variants, tick the box marked with R-Dynamic in front of S, SE or HSE models as they have their own distinct exterior appearance.

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Engine and transmission choices of Range Rover Velar

While all Range Rover Velar variants are standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, you do have a choice of engines.

The Range Rover Velar S and R-Dynamic S can be ordered with a 184kW four-cylinder petrol engine or 132kw diesel four.

Step up to the Velar SE or R-Dynamic SE and you can pick from a 221kw four-cylinder petrol engine or a 177kw 4-cylinder diesel.

Next rung up the ladder is the Velar HSE or R-Dynamic HSE, and here your choice is a 3.0-litre V6 280kw petrol engine or 3-litre V6 221kw diesel.

And the powerhouse of the pack is the Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic with its booming 405kw 5-litre V8.

Pricing (plus on road costs):
Range Rover Velar S P250 petrol – $82,012
Range Rover Velar S D180 diesel – $83,340

Range Rover Velar SE P300 petrol – $95,422
Range Rover Velar SE D240 diesel – $98,350

Range Rover Velar HSE P380 petrol – $122,172
Range Rover Velar HSE D300 diesel – $122,000

Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic S P250 petrol – $88,012
Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic S D180 diesel – $89,340

Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic SE P300 petrol – $101,422
Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic SE D240 diesel – $104,350

Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE P380 petrol – $128,172
Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE D300 diesel – $128,000

Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic P550 petrol – $176,412

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Velar verdict

With so much on offer over so many variants, picking just one isn’t an easy task. But unless you are mega rich or you have recently won the lottery, that is what you face. Given the heft of the Range Rover Velar I’d pick the torquey and frugal diesel engine everytime. With an eye on being conservative with the pennies the Velar SE D240 mixes plenty of performance with a decent level of kit for a shade under 100 grand.

While the performance of the Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic would be a hoot it doesn’t stack up at the asking price. Therefore if I was inclined to spend a bomb on a Velar it is the R-Dynamic HSE 300 diesel. It goes like the clappers and is chock full of safety, entertainment and driver assist technology, along with plenty of sumptuousness and I won’t end up becoming the local servo's best customer.

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Written byMark Higgins
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