Let’s get this out of the way. I fully acknowledge that I’m among a minority of people who have never found themselves enamored with Land Rover offerings. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always respected the Range Rover and its ilk, as well as their fusion of versatility and luxury. Unfortunately, the overall styling has done little to appeal to my palate; and I’ve joked several times that recent model years feel like someone threw some money at a mid-90’s Subaru Outback.
I’m not sure if this makes me the worst or best person to share their thoughts. But the simple truth is this: I genuinely dig the 2018 Range Rover Velar.
Priced to start around $49,900 MSRP the all-wheel-drive Velar is certainly among the more affordable of Land Rover’s line-up, but that’s really beside the point. The Velar embodies an almost futuristic design. While I’ve always felt that Land Rover has been clever to spin their ‘boxy’ design, with words like refined, clean and elegant, the Velar manages to be all of these things. Looking very much how I’d always envisioned cars of the future would be, it is simply intoxicating to look at.
A number of trim levels are offered, depending not he powertrain selected. All paired to eight-speed automatic transmissions, engine configurations include (i) a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (ii) 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and (iii) 3.0-liter V6. While other offerings might be equipped with a more desirable V8, there is little to room to criticize a capable V6 that can channel 380 horsepower and bring an SUV to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds.
Offering an elegant, spacious interior, the Velar is nicely equipped with upgraded technologies such as its on-screen display and (up to) a 23-speaker sound system. And with its well-insulated cabin, the smoothness of the Velar’s ride is only encouraged by a near absence of road and wind noise, creating a truly luxurious ride.
How well the Velar measures up against the likes of the Jaguar F-Pace, BMW X4, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class or Porsche Macan boils down to what you’re looking for in a vehicle. None leave much room for disappointment, and if pressured to choose, the Velar might be disappointed in my response. Then again, if my historical dislike of Land Rover offerings is worth anything, the Velar might be worth a second look.
If you’re interested in taking a closer look at the 2018 Range Rover Velar, we’ve taken the liberty of including a behind-the-whee look at everything it has to offer, courtesy of YouTube channel Carfection.
