I Wasn’t Expecting This in the 2025 Range Rover Velar. And That Was Good
It’s most posh on the outside, invoking its up-up-upscale sibling, but the interior is simpler.
I was surprised when I first sat in the 2025 Range Rover Velar. The exterior was finished in a gorgeous blue-gray paint color and had sleek piano black details. The design of the Velar echoes that of its larger sibling, the Range Rover. The LED headlights and taillights extend a bit long around the front and rear of the Velar, almost feeling aeronautical. This was a really cool balance with the angular body. The Velar has an air suspension that makes getting in and out easy, and also makes for more ground clearance in snow and when off-pavement. Combined with the stylish 21” wheels, the Velar looked hot in the cold Colorado winter.
It has a minimal interior that might be quiet luxury, or it might be a let-down. Upon initial inspection there are few details to take in, and much of the front seat is a series of panels. From the dashboard with its multimedia system touchscreen to the expanse in front of the passenger seat and the center console. The gearshift handle looks particularly lonely, all by itself in this sea of leather and black gloss in between the front seats. So forgive me for feeling like the interior was, erm, underwhelming. There were no nifty air vent knobs. No contrast stitching or piping. No fun toggles or buttons. I wondered, maybe that’s an old, outdated type of fancy, the type for our parents?
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Luxury Is In the Discovery Of Velar’s Details, and In the Price
I kept reminding myself that Range Rover is capable of lots of surprises and delights, so I figured there would be lots to discover as I spent more time in the Velar. And I was correct. I remembered that the Velar I tested starts at $63,600 and that this was not the top of the line model for the Range Rover brand. And then I wondered if I was greedy. Then I also remembered that the Velar I was testing finally rang up at $76,115 after a Dynamic Handling package ($2,275), Technology package ($1,300), Cold Climate package ($1,175), 21-inch wheels ($2,600), premium paint job ($950), and more accessories. And felt like maybe I was justified in wanting more visual luxury cues.
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In the Velar, Luxury Isn’t Purely a Visual Experience.
Over time, I realized that the Velar is not about fancy, it’s about executing well on quality materials in every interaction. It has a screen that is a little more integrated into the dash than most. It’s got a split-lid center console that looks and feels cushioned and soft. Also, the Velar has a heated windshield. Yes, the windshield has teeny filaments running from top to bottom that heat up and melt the ice off the window, just like a rear defroster. It’s got an adjustable air suspension to get you out of snow or sand or whatever jam you find yourself in. It’s got a kick-activated tailgate and rubber floor mats with a cool design.
So the week-long test started out nicely because I learned that despite the simple-looking interior, the materials used are very supple and more luxurious than they looked. Everything was put together so nicely, from the sound the door makes when it closes to the glove box lid and the gear shifter. It had a very comfortable interior and I didn’t have to work too hard to reach the touchscreen display or the rear-view mirror. The Velar is accommodating and I appreciated that it wasn’t too cavernous inside.
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The Velar is Great For Gadget Freaks and Data Geeks
Sure, the Velar possesses a lot of utility, and it’s the off-roading options in these menus that will get some people excited. There is the dynamic air suspension, there is the menu that shows its off-roading data. You can actually watch your shock absorbers in action because the Velar displays an animation of them on the screen. There is a lot to discover in terms of performance and utility data feedback. One of my favorite aspects of the multimedia system was the power usage feature. Any time you used anything, the display would light up showing how much power that feature was using. It was really cool.
The multimedia system is clear and very simple and easy to use. Though the Velar has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, I didn’t use it much, I favored the native system. I loved the look of it as it matched the aesthetic of the rest of the Velar. I also found it fairly easy to use, as touchscreen-dominant operations go.
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Power, But Not Overwhelmingly So
The model I drove is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder 247-horsepower engine paired with an eight-speed transmission. The engine makes a bit of noise and is at its most uppity when accelerating from a stop. The acceleration after that is good throughout, but not mind-blowing. The handling is solid, the Velar absorbs a lot of the bumps in the road and doesn’t have a bunch of body roll. It’s comfortable and enjoyable to be in. If you want more oomph, there is a 6-cylinder engine available.
The Velar has multiple different drive modes. Dynamic gives you a more aggressive drive and a throaty engine sound when accelerating. But also, I loved snow-mode especially because it snowed when I tested the Velar. The Velar was a champion, but did you really ever doubt it would be? I didn’t. The Velar has a low-traction launch mode that helps the Velar get grip in slippery settings. You can use all-terrain progress control too, set the speed, and the Velar will get you through the slippery terrain.
The driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist are easy enough to use, and don’t argue too much with the driver when keeping the Velar centered in the road. You can use the multimedia touchscreen to manage which drive-assist features are active. This is great when you don’t want to have a lot of interference from the system. If you want more involvement, like when you’re in heavy traffic, just select the features you want to activate in the multimedia system.
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Less Is Definitely More in the Velar
The Velar seats five people in two rows. The front and rear outboard seats were nicely bolstered and the leather upholstery was very soft and supple. The seats are perforated and look almost architectural, and my test Velar seats were heated and ventilated. The leg and headroom in the front seat was good, and the panoramic sliding moonroof extended far enough into the back seat so that rear passengers don’t feel like they’re in a cave. In the rear seats, there are two sets of lower tether anchors and three top-tether anchors. There is slightly less leg- and headroom than the front row, but at five feet five inches tall I had plenty of room.
The two rear outboard seats are heated and there are two USB-C chargers. Two cupholders live in the fold-down armrest, and both seat backs have pockets. The rear seats fold 40/20/40, and the cargo area is big. I like that it’s a pretty squared-off cargo space, not cramped by the wheel wells. Suitcases, gear, and coolers will fit nicely. I liked that the cold-weather mat in the back had the same pattern as the other mats in the Velar.
Simplicity is Luxury, Afterall
In the front seat, there were two easy-to-use cupholders and a center console. In addition to the minimalist panel where the gearshift lives, there is another panel that is actually a door that hides a wireless phone charger, a USB-C charge port, and a small spot for a key fob, change, lip balm, or other small item or two. The center console was spacious enough for a small purse or can of soda. The surface of the console is soft and cushioned.
What I did realize after the week’s test is that the Velar looked simple, and my first impression was a bit off. That simplicity absolutely did not mean the Velar felt cheap or that I felt shortchanged. In fact, it made me focus on how comfortable the Velar is and the high-quality materials in the interior. The Velar possesses clean lines and styling that evoke its siblings and does so at a lower price without the buyer feeling shortchanged.
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