The Velar P400e doesn't just share its name with the recently launched Jaguar F-Pace P400e, but also its mechanicals. But just like those two models, the Velar now gets plug-in hybrid power as part of a round of updates for 2021. Little in the way of vibration enters the cabin (whether the petrol engine is in use or not), and there’s just enough suspension control to stop occupants getting tossed from side to side, yet enough compliance to filter out the worst surfaces and harshest bumps.We say quietly because the Evoque and Sport were – and are – a bit more flamboyant compared to the arguably more restrained Velar. The low-speed ride is impressively smooth. There are claims of class-leading levels of road-noise reduction, and the car certainly feels like a very relaxing companion on long journeys. It’s also very refined, mainly thanks to Active Road Noise Cancellation, which counters sound by producing frequencies from the speakers at an opposing amplitude to the tyre and road noise, to make things quieter. Despite the all-weather tyres fitted to this car, there’s plenty of grip, too. The steering is well matched to a chassis that has just enough roll through corners to stay relatively composed, but also offers the level of comfort you expect from a Range Rover-badged vehicle, regardless of what model it is. However, the Velar remains fairly good fun to drive for a car of this size. It’s not quite as quick, but the smooth and torquey six-cylinder is a perfect match for the Velar’s character. If company-car costs aren’t an issue, go for the D300 diesel instead. If you override the car’s ‘brain’ so the petrol engine is always running, it becomes smoother, but that somewhat defeats the purpose of the hybrid powertrain in the first place. On those occasions when you need extra muscle you squeeze the pedal harder, at which point the four-cylinder unit bursts into life and fires you towards the horizon at a rapid rate. It’s hard to drive smoothly – not only because, even in EV mode, the car shunts through the automatic box’s ratios, but more because the power delivery is inconsistent.ĭriven in electric mode, the Velar feels as though it’s struggling to move itself along. While CO2 emissions of 40g/km mean this is certainly the best option for company car users, it’s otherwise not the easiest system to like. This combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 141bhp electric motor, which draws its energy from a 19.2kWh battery (although only 15.4kWh of that is usable). The car tested here is powered by the P400e plug-in hybrid powertrain. It doesn’t look very high quality, and, to many, this is the entire point of a Range Rover. Used Range Rover Velar (Mk1, 2017-date) reviewįrom an aesthetic point of view, moving the controls creates a space occupied by a large, blank panel – which in our test car is simply a piece of satin-finish plastic.Range Rover Velar 2.0 diesel 2017 review.New Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic 2020 review.New Range Rover Velar P400e PHEV 2021 review.Range Rover Velar vs Volvo XC60: 2023 twin test review.At the front, the grille features revised inserts, while at the rear the lower area of the bumper has been mildly reprofiled – and that’s pretty much it. It’s therefore understandable that the cosmetic exterior changes for this mid-life facelift are very subtle. When it first hit the road back in 2017, the Velar flaunted a design that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a concept car. The Range Rover Velar has been with us for six years, and now is the time for the first significant update for the model that sits between the entry-level Evoque and the more luxurious Range Rover Sport. The silky six-cylinder diesel powerplant would get an extra half-star from us, but there are better PHEV alternatives on the market. And while the Velar is still as good to drive as ever, this P400e powertrain exhibits some flaws. Once inside the new cabin, however, the bleak dashboard design isn’t quite as convincing. Many people will be sold on the Velar’s striking looks before they have even climbed behind the wheel.
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