When it comes to SUVs, too many is still not enough. Case in point: Land Rover, which has added a fourth nameplate to its Range Rover family.
The 2018 Range Rover Velar is a stylish and capable SUV that slots in between the midsize Range Rover Sport and the small, crossover-like Evoque, providing additional versatility to the British luxury automaker’s already varied lineup.
Based on the same platform as the Jaguar F-Pace, which debuted to great fanfare in 2016, the Velar is far from a carbon copy of its cousin, as it boasts a design that is, in most ways, distinctly Range Rover and yet, at the same time, something all its own.
On the outside, it features flat-folding deployable door handles, a first in its segment, ultra-thin LED headlights and burnished copper detailing, all features that promise to influence Range Rovers of the future. Meanwhile, on the inside, a pair of sleek 10-inch touchscreens controls the Velar’s infotainment and climate controls and a heads-up display projects a digital odometer on the windshield in front of the driver.
Despite its relatively low roofline, the Velar provides a decent 34.4 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row of seats, which compares quite favorably to its less roomy competitors: the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC-Class and Porsche Macan.
Named for Land Rover’s original 1969 Range Rover prototype, the Velar will offer three powertrains when it debuts later this year: a 180-horsepower 2.0-liter Ingenium diesel-powered four-cylinder, which makes 317 lb.-ft. of torque; a 247-horsepower 2.0-liter Ingenium gas-powered four-cylinder and a 380-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 gas engine. All three engines come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.
On the tech side of things, Range Rover will offer Land Rover’s signature Terrain Response 2 system, which can scan its surroundings and adjust traction control, engine output and other factors to acclimate to specific off-roading conditions; adaptive cruise control that can operate in stop-and-go traffic; an Intelligent Driveline Dynamics system with adaptive dampening and an optional active locking rear differential, and advanced towing assistance, which can help maneuver trailers around tricky situations semi-autonomously. Speaking of towing, the V-6 version of the Velar can pull up to 5,500 pounds.
When the Velar arrives in the U.S. later this year alongside the fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery, it will be available in standard, S, SE and HSE trims, as well as a special, limited-edition First Edition package, which will be available to just 500 customers. Prices range from $49,900 for the base model before destination charge to more than $89,000 for the First Edition.
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