Range Rover Velar 2023 review: When you can't push to a Range Rover Sport

A few years ago, Land Rover realised that there were a number of potential Range Rover buyers who wanted a shade more size and luxury than an Evoque could provide, but who couldn't, or wouldn't, stretch to a Range Rover Sport. For those people, the Velar was introduced, which precisely splits the difference between its two stablemates in terms of both size and price. However, is the car any good in its own right?
In this CarGurus UK video review, Rebecca Jackson takes a looks at the P400e plug-in hybrid version, which combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor to develop just shy of 400 horsepower, and deliver a theoretical electric-only range of 32 miles. Rebecca assesses the car in a variety of areas, such as practicality, quality, technology, affordability, and of course, what it's like to drive.
Read our full written review of the Land Rover Range Rover Velar here: www.cargurus.co.uk/research/L...
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’s well equipped, comfortable, and good to drive. However, it is expensive in certain guises, and can quickly end up costing as much as a more upmarket or higher-performance alternatives.
Search for a Range Rover Velar for sale:
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▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 -Introducing the Range Rover Velar
01:05 - Practicality
02:09 - Rear seats
02:46 - Front Seats and infotainment
04:10 - Driving the Range Rover Velar
07:58 - Verdict
08:35 - Wrap up
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#cargurusuk #rangerrover #velar

[@jayceb5120]

Crikey, where did you go to find snow! This car certainly suits the UK roads and looks fab in White. Brilliant overview, well done.

[@uktech]

The lag on the infotainment screen is ridiculously bad. Whoever was responsible for the IMC specifications and passing that through needs to be dismissed. It's 2023 not 2003.

[@philedwards7174]

Great review. I've owned a 2019 p300 hse since new. I've recorded 24,000 miles. Only problem is break wear. New pads and discs every 10,000 miles at a cost of £2000 a time. Almost as much as my fuel cost. Very disappointing. From my research I have established that the car uses Jaguar XE brakes. An XE has a weight of about 1500kg and a Velar is just over 2,000kg. Add to that the greater bulk and it may explain the problem.

[@brianiswrong]

Front pads I could stomach, front discs would surprise me, Rear pads and discs in 10'000 miles would have me having a conversation with land rover.😮

[@philedwards7174]

@@brianiswrong tell me about it. Has to be a design vault.

[@MrAnderson321]

Love my D300 Velar but I’ve had to change all my discs and pads front and rear as the rust and wear on the discs was atrocious for a low mileage car. I’ve had non OEM discs/pads and sensors and you can tell that they’re better quality already. This was advised in forums. It’s a big talking point in the forums and Land Rover just don’t want to know, trust me , I’ve tried.

[@johnbrown3951]

I am on my fourth ownership of JLR products and have driven nearly every model iteration of every car I think I am well versed in giving my opinion on this car. I was sitting behind one today in my i-Pace thinking that I had made the right choice riding on 22" rims and air suspension with performance seats but my 400 mile day trip in a murdered out black Velar recently will stay in my memory bank for a few years yet. Really classy and it has presence in droves. You should have taken the car above the snowline to show its capabilities. In January I took a new Defender 110 from the Land Rover Experience in Scotland 1200 Meters high up into the Athol Estate in lying snow with my Father in Law in the Range Rover and neither even slipped a wheel anywhere. What a day and what a car.

[@jamiep61]

I enjoyed watching the Video Review. The New Updated Model looks even better 😊

[@josephgittos3787]

I own an evoque but this will hopefully be my next car , love the looks inside and out far better then a boring BMW/Audi , I wanted like you said something bigger then the evoque but slightly smaller then the sports.

[@MCorrigan]

😂 A BMW is going to be more reliable than this.

[@josephgittos3787]

@@MCorrigan had a bmw and the oxygen sensor went and then the clutch went and that was at 29000 on the clock also had a oil dilution problem that they claimed was a software issue

[@MCorrigan]

@@josephgittos3787 on the other hand, I've owned BMWs with no issues. Modern BMWs tend to do really well until they reach the 100k mile mark.

[@slashjack100]

Very well presentation ❤

[@user-cy3ye6jv3b]

Had a D300 R- Dynamic Velar for 18 months now and it hasn’t put a foot wrong. All car manufacturers have a degree of failure so Land Rover shouldn’t be singled out in this respect.

[@davearmstrong2296]

I bought a Velar D300 R-Dynamic HSE in January and it is by far the best car I have ever owned. I have previously had BMW M5's Audi A6's, Isuzu Troopers, Land Rover Discovery, Vauxhall Omega, Volvo V70 and others. When I drove my Velar in gale force winds and very, very heavy rain on the M6 recently, I could drive as normal with no problems at all. No hydroplaning. The car is extremely assured, holds the road in an exemplary manner and is really comfortable. Lovely to drive, super smooth and quiet. You can feel the build quality. Good grunt when you need to put your foot down. Better boot size than a Volvo XC60 and BMW X5 and looks way better than both of them. People have all positively commented on my car - no comments are made to owners of Volvos and BMWs. Range Rovers are now the only car for me.

[@SunnySingh-sl6dk]

Sorry? I have a Volvo XC60 and people comment positively about it all the time

[@uncois]

Yes it is a nice car. I saw a lot during a trip to Milano, Italy. I chose the jaguar f-pace p400 however.

[@fenflyer]

JLR styling+ Mitsubishi outlander PHEV reliability and technology= My ultimate car 😂

[@PONKEYWAG]

suitable colour for the weather (will spring ever arrive this year??) Hope the radiator in that car kept you warm for that review sweetie x :-)

[@hackney4eva]

D300 is the engine for this car

[@andy18091]

here's food for thought. for hybrid cars... if there is no where to store charging cables why not install hooks on in the boot designed to hold your charging cables in their bags instead of on the boot floor. or install a locker in the boot ceiling to store the cables.. something larger hybrids and electric cars can do or should be able to.

[@evora9081]

If you live in London, beware, you may not be able to get insurance for a Range Rover. Some companies quote over £20k for an insurance

[@noelwalkerwn]

Beautiful. I have the Velar D300 R Dynamic HSE. Fantast car.

[@CheeseyWotsit]

At least it didn't breakdown while you had it. That's a bonus.

[@richardhowlett9424]

Perfect day for such a car ! A lad at work wants one , I don’t !

[@Sevan59]

wow an updated Rebecca , a velar version

[@robertwalker1742]

With the reputation of JLR, reckon my XC60 is a better bet.

[@ketsiajosma1706]

I would like to drive the Velar as my primary car....Thanks in advance Nature!

[@nelsyoung833]

Gear selector is quiet unsafe from D" to N". No fail safe mode if you miss to press the engage button.

[@gnambiesarah]

Hi please is this car electric or not... I'm thinking of what car to purchase that is luxury but not fully electric, I have being googling but there's no answer

[@fabienperez9937]

How reliable is it? I'm considering one 2nd hand. A powerfull diesel unit

[@MCorrigan]

Don't, just don't, and that goes for any Land Rover. If you're going to buy, buy new and sell it when the warranty runs out.

[@paulmcgee1867]

Does the engine recharge the batteries? Looks nice.

[@johnguidetti5839]

Yes.

[@RobG001]

@@johnguidetti5839 If the engine recharges the battery pack, why is it called a "plug-in hybred" :)

[@johnguidetti5839]

@@RobG001 “When the battery is depleted and full EV driving isn’t an option, the car defaults to running as a full hybrid, boosting battery charge while braking and serving it back up whenever possible.” Source auto express. Common knowledge basically every plug in will do this with regenerative braking etc although slower than if plugged in.

[@RobG001]

Shame she did not mention the battery size, and if the battery pack does not intrude much on the boot space when are they kept? i.e have they made the fuel tank smaller to make room for the battery pack? How long does the battery take to charge? guess we will never know as this reviewer decided not to bother telling us. Never mind she did tell us many times it looked good!! Pretty dire 'review' all told.

[@philedwards7174]

Two problems with the Velar Hybrid: you can't spec Air Suspension and you can't fit a tow hitch.

[@nicholasrigg8999]

Why review this model now just before a facelift? Regardless, moving all functions to a touchscreen is a backwards step

[@Belove154]

I love velar

[@Shekh__azam_vlog]

Super luxury SUV ❤️😄

[@anthonystevens8683]

A great overview Rebecca. Clearly outlining the likely differences between the review vehicle and the facelift model on the way. Although it's not on my purchase radar I do like it. If I had one complaint it would be that it suffers terrible dandruff that makes the surroundings and your coat looks like you are in a snow shower. Head and Shoulders car shampoo should fix that but it should be included in the purchase price.

[@bertie1989]

It’s a shame the climate control doesn’t seem to be working in the car, dangerous levels of fogging going on

[@kamranhashmi1575]

Insurance 1.5k a month😮

[@sixpotshot]

Any Land Rover car review needs to start from the very beginning by addressing its reliability then the rest can follow... as it stands no matter the looks JLR will never get my dosh with consistent low rates of reliability throughout the years which the company continues to ignore. Give us rock solid guarantees and assured compensation for break down time and inconvenience and a Hyundai beating warranty and we may just think about it...

[@norwegianzound]

A few years ago all the comments were about Rebecca.

[@PONKEYWAG]

Well she is a cutie and even if you don't have the money or don't like the car it's still worth watching the review :-)

[@midlandgeordie]

Old version now!

[@robertlloyd7493]

Looked cold enough to freeze your banana 🍌

[@markdean3217]

Style over substance, I would love to be Jaguar / Range Rover, but will not and cannot accept unreliability, long term

[@AbdulSalam-xe4md]

Lol, let’s be honest, you haven’t owned a recent JLR product have you? 😅 They’re no worse than other manufacturers.

[@tofty21]

I nearly bought one. I thought before I do I’ll join the owners forum. After reading through the comments for 20 minutes I changed my mind!

[@Jayo0151]

@@tofty21 same here, was looking to buy but after reading the forums I changed my mind

[@jayh5641]

I have two of them. Both always had issues. Stick to German or Japanese. JLR are out together with blue tac. Never buying again

[@Ash-333]

I’ve had my Velar for over a year and it hasn’t had a single issue. It looks amazing, drives amazing and makes you feel amazing.

[@AHarker100]

Common, too many about.

[@philipc239]

Might as well a full EV

[@BenzinioB]

Don't like the back of it! A car should be like Rebecca - to like everything about it 🙃

[@za3terbouncho648]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💥💥💥💥💥💥

[@rasherbasher8203]

I believe it broke down after this review😂😂

[@stephenlaw9827]

Any JLR review must start with reliability. It's the elephant in the room.

[@ovilondon3589]

🍌

[@MCorrigan]

What a stupid title. Some people would rather have this than a Range Rover Sport, not because they can't or won't stretch to it.

[@norwegianzound]

Cartoon looking car.

[@abrahamgeorge4994]

Sorry but just don’t like the looks - Porsche Macan is a far better bet - the depth of engineering integrity and durability that Porsche bring can’t be matched by Range Rover. So what if it’s better off the road- how many people ever do that?

[@Fastwunz]

Anyone driving one of these looks like a pratt.

[@fester.]

probably the ugliest car bar the new defender,not many on the roads

[@moonshine3333]

I guess that the only other 2 are those within 5 minutes walking from where I live.

[@unexpectedfollowthrough5028]

Who owns the second?

[@tteeydoc1]

2 false statements.