Summary
The Range Rover Velar is a luxury SUV by Land Rover that sits between the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport in the model range. It is built at Jaguar Land Rover’s factory in Solihull.
The Velar was launched in the summer of 2017, with a high-performance SVAutobiography model added a year later. It is built on the same platform as the Jaguar F-Pace SUV, XF saloon and XE saloon models.
The Velar has received consistently good scores from the UK motoring media across all models in the range. It has been particularly praised for its design and comfortable driving experience, however it has been criticised for being overly expensive and not hitting the same quality standards as rivals.
Like many Land Rovers, the Velar has seen many complaints about poor quality and reliability. In August 2020, Which? magazine publicly called for the Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery Sport to be recalled due to ongoing software problems.
As of January 2025, the Range Rover Velar holds a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 57%. Its best results are from media reviews and low CO2 emissions (thanks to the plug-in hybrid model), but running costs and reliability problems count heavily against it.

Key specifications
Body style: Medium SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £54,455 on-road
Launched: Summer 2017
Last updated: Spring 2023
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic HSE D240
Score: 7.7 / 10
“The Range Rover Velar isn’t the cheapest option in the market – but that won’t bother its target market. This is a significant upmarket SUV contender.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Offering plenty of kerb appeal, the stylish Range Rover Velar is a desirable alternative to its premium mid-size SUV rivals.”
Author: Ellis Hyde, Alex Ingram
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Model reviewed: P400e PHEV 2021
Score: 9 / 10
“The Land Rover Range Rover Velar is more attractive than ever with plug-in hybrid power – and it was a pretty attractive proposition in the first place.”
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Model reviewed: SVAutobiography Dynamic
Score: 8 / 10
“It may be expensive, but the Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography is a deeply impressive performance SUV.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic SE
Score: 8 / 10
“Regular motorway users could do far worse than pick its blend of comfortable ride, cruising refinement and long-distance range.”
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Model reviewed: SVAutobiography Dynamic
Score: 8 / 10
“Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations wanted to add performance to the Velar without sacrificing comfort, and it looks to have nailed the brief, building on the standard car’s strengths of style and refinement, while adding extra sharpness and a thunderous engine.”
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Auto Trader
Score: 8 / 10
“New engines and a full plug-in hybrid option add further appeal to Range Rover’s stylish and sporty Range Rover Velar.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“What if you want all the prestige of a Range Rover, but without the tall, upright stance? What if, in other words, you want your Range Rover to be slinky and stylish? Well, this Velar, with its lower roofline and laid-back stance, might be just the thing.”
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Car
Model reviewed: Hybrid
Score: 8 / 10
“The Land Rover Range Rover Velar Hybrid is as stylish and dynamically impressive as SUVs go, and the Velar’s new plug-in powertrain gives it another great selling point.”
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Model reviewed: SVAutobiography Dynamic
Score: 8 / 10
“The crucial news is this is the only Velar to get JLR’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8.”
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Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic First Edition P380
Score: 8 / 10
“The Range Rover Velar is a beautifully designed and (mostly) finely wrought car. It will sell well to the growing number of affluent urbanites who want a stand-out SUV. They’ll buy it, probably love it, and get covetous glances from neighbours, other road users and the fashion conscious.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“The Range Rover Velar is one of the coolest SUVs money can buy, with eye-catching looks and cutting-edge in-car technology.”
Author: Richard Ingram, Antony Ingram
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Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Range Rover Velar is one of the coolest SUVs money can buy, with eye-catching looks and cutting-edge in-car technology.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic HSE
“Classy, stylish and progressive in styling and technology, the Velar fills a hole in the Range Rover range.”
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Daily Mail
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic
Score: 10 / 10
“The Range Rover Velar is so good-looking, it has suddenly made even the Evoque and the Jaguar F-Pace look worryingly dated by comparison.” (Chris Evans)
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Eurekar
Model reviewed: Velar PHEV
“All in all, the latest Range Rover Velar not only looks stunning in its styling, but it boasts state-of-the-art on-board technology and all the luxury you could wish for – all powered by cleaner engines.”
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Evo
Model reviewed: 2021
Score: 7 / 10
“Elegant Land Rover Range Rover Velar SUV now has the powertrains it deserves.”
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Model reviewed: SVAutobiography Dynamic
Score: 8 / 10
“Push harder, even in the suspension’s Dynamic mode, and the Velar’s body does move around to a certain level, but it never lacks control, floating over the worst imperfections in the road surface without feeling like that 542bhp is getting away from you.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Range Rover Velar looks and feels special inside and out, and offers a suitably luxurious driving experience too.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Range Rover Velar is stunning on the outside, and feels slick and modern on the inside. It’s a refined and comfortable cruiser rather than a sporty drive, but has the traditional SUV strengths of a big boot and great off-road ability. We just wish it came with more kit.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It rides well enough and is very relaxing to drive. What we’re not too keen on is the 2.0-litre diesel engine. The Ingenium unit is certainly quick enough but lacks the refinement and smoothness you’d expect of a premium car like the Velar. Luckily, there are also decent petrols available.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“Super-stylish Range Rover for townies is well worth considering”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic SV Autobiography
“New Range Rover Velar SV is posh and potent — but it comes at a price”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic
“The Range Rover Velar is the British firm’s best yet and raises the bar with its classy cabin and slick technology”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol automatic HSE P380
Score: 8 / 10
“Outrageously expensive and has a silly name. You’ll still want one, though.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Range Rover Velar majors on style but it’s still a useful car. It’s roomy enough for a family, not so big it’s awkward in cities, and capable of unusual off-road feats.”
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Model reviewed: SVAutobiography Dynamic
Score: 7 / 10
“Mentally it’s an increasingly hard car to justify – expensive to buy and run, and with a power unit rapidly approaching end-of-life obsolescence. So, a confession: I rather liked it. It’s flattering, I like that it swerves the full-ticket fakery of an SUV that thinks it’s a sports car. It’s a more honest, pleasing car than that. This could catch on.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: October 2017
Date expired: January 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 74%
Safety assist: 72%
Notes on safety rating
The Range Rover Velar was assessed by Euro NCAP back in 2017 and awarded a five-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2024 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used Velar to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of January 2025, the Range Rover Velar has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 28 mpg | E | 27 – 31 mpg | E – E |
Diesel models | 40 mpg | D | 36 – 44 mpg | C – D |
Plug-in hybrid models | 155 mpg | A | 113 – 169 mpg | A – A |
CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 227 g/km | D | 210 – 279 g/km | D – D |
Diesel models | 185 g/km | C | 167 – 207 g/km | C – D |
Plug-in hybrid models | 41 g/km | A | 38 – 56 g/km | A – A |
Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Plug-in hybrid models | 39 miles | D | 29 – 40 miles | D – E |
Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
All models | 50 | F | 31 – 50 | C – F |
Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
Year 1 | £364 | C |
Year 2 | £771 | C |
Year 3 | £1,281 | C |
Year 4 | £1,615 | C |
Year 5 | £2,134 | C |
Overall | £6,165 | C |
The Range Rover Velar is a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The plug-in hybrid gives the impression of being very economical and cheap to run, but this is largely due to misleading UK/EU government lab tests. There is no way you will ever be able to drive a Velar for 161 miles on a gallon (4.5 litres) of petrol and some electricity…
Insurance is typically expensive for anything with a Range Rover badge, while servicing costs are average.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 102
Average repair cost: £1496.01
Last updated: October 2024
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
The Range Rover Velar has a woeful reliability score of just 13%, according to workshop and warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at MotorEasy.
The most common fault is also, unfortunately, the most expensive. Engine repairs have an-eye-watering average bill of £4,000. Electrical problems are also common, although they’re much cheaper to fix. The overall average repair bill is high, at about £1,500.
If you’re looking at a used Range Rover Velar, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Range Rover Velar
Date: June 2024
Recall number: R/2024/255
Model types: All
Build dates: 11/2023 to 03/2024
Number of vehicles affected: 30
Defect: The incorrect specification of plastic was used to manufacture the oil filter housing. This housing may over time and with vehicle use crack. This could result in oil under pressure leaking and coming into contact with hot components of the engine which may result in a fire. Additionally oil may leak onto the road surface posing a skid hazard.
Remedy: Replace the oil filter housing complete with filter and associated O-rings.
Date: March 2024
Recall number: R/2024/145
Model types: All
Build dates: 09/2020 to 02/2022
Number of vehicles affected: 16,598
Defect: The manufacturer has developed a software enhancement to further increase vehicle security.
Remedy: The software enhancement will deploy this update and reduce the theft risk.
Date: June 2024
Recall number: R/2024/113
Model types: All
Build dates: 03/2020 to 02/2024
Number of vehicles affected: 18,354
Defect: A turbocharger oil feed pipe may, over time, loosen and lead to an oil leak.
Remedy: Replace the turbocharger oil feed pipe O-rings and install an additional clamp.
Date: October 2023
Recall number: R/2023/293
Model types: All
Build dates: 11/2022 to 09/2023
Number of vehicles affected: 770
Defect: On affected plug-in hybrid vehicles, it is possible that the internal combustion engine will not start when required. This may occur whilst the vehicle is in motion and the vehicle will operate in Electric Vehicle (EV) Mode only. When the EV system is no longer able to propel the vehicle the vehicle will unexpectedly slow down and no drive is possible.
Remedy: Software update to the powertrain control module.
Date: May 2023
Recall number: R/2023/087
Model types: All
Build dates: 12/2019 to 01/2023
Number of vehicles affected: 18,151
Defect: On affected vehicles there is a risk where the water pump pully drive belt can become damaged leading to detachment or destruction. Where water pump pulley drive is lost, this leads to a loss coolant flow in the engine.
Remedy: Affected vehicles will have the engine coolant elbow replaced. In addition, a turbocharger feed coolant pipe will be replaced.
Date: May 2023
Recall number: R/2023/044
Model types: All
Build dates: 08/2022 to 01/2023
Number of vehicles affected: 499
Defect: For certain 3.0-litre AJ20-P6 vehicles, a small number of engines the cam carrier oil gallery hasn’t been fully drilled. As a result the oil channel could be blocked leading to accumulation of oil against the pressure control valve rubber membrane and subsequently an external oil leak or increased oil carryover into the air intake system.
Remedy: The engine cam carrier will be inspected and where an incorrectly machined cam carrier is found replace it with a correctly machined component. Depending on mileage and engine conditions further associated components may require replacement.
Date: August 2022
Recall number: R/2022/222
Model types: All
Build dates: 12/2021 to 05/2022
Number of vehicles affected: 2,981
Defect: Damaged front seat belt pretensioner tube may have been installed on the seat belt retractor.
Remedy: Inspect the seat belt pretensioner tube for damage and if damage is identified the seat belt retractor will be replaced.
Date: June 2021
Recall number: R/2021/231
Model types: All
Build dates: 01/2020 to 04/2021
Number of vehicles affected: 7,502
Defect: The rubberised fuel return hose assembly may have been incorrectly manufactured.
Remedy: Inspect the date code on the fuel return pipe and replace the part if necessary.
Date: April 2019
Recall number: R/2019/049
Model types: All
Build dates: 03/2015 to 07/2018
Number of vehicles affected: 4,779
Defect: Vehicles failed to routinely achieve the required levels of CO2 emissions.
Remedy: Update the vehicle software to the latest version.
Date: January 2019
Recall number: R/2019/013
Model types: All
Build dates: 10/2018 to 12/2018
Number of vehicles affected: 219
Defect: The crankshaft pulley retaining bolt may fracture due to a production specification error.
Remedy: Replace the crankshaft pulley centre retaining bolt with one that has been manufactured to the correct specification.
Date: March 2018
Recall number: R/2018/059
Model types: All
Build dates: 04/2017 to 11/2017
Number of vehicles affected: 5,958
Defect: The air inlet door linkages to the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning may detach become detached and depending on operating mode position cause unexpected severe condensation/fogging of the interior windows. At temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius where the linkage detaches in recirculation mode it may not be able to clear condensation/fog from the inside of the front windscreen or other windows which can restrict the driver’s field of vision and could lead to an increased risk of an accident.
Remedy: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and download the latest software to the vehicle. Additionally the actuator arm will be replaced.
Date: March 2018
Recall number: R/2018/036
Model types: All
Build dates: 05/2016 to 01/2018
Number of vehicles affected: 1,537
Defect: The brazing of the fuel rail end caps is inconsistent and may not correctly seal the fuel rail ends. Fuel vapour and liquid fuel leaks can occur over time. This can lead to a liquid fuel leak into the engine bay.
Remedy: On affected vehicles replace the fuel rail with a correctly manufactured version.
As of September 2024, there have been 12 DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Range Rover Velar addressing various different issues.
Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Land Rover dealer.
If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used Velar, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Range Rover Velar has received
2018
- World Car of the Year Awards – World Car Design of the Year
- News UK Motoring Awards – SUV of the Year
- GQ Car of the Year Awards – ‘Climb Every Mountain in Luxury’ Award
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Range Rover Velar, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Alfa Romeo Stelvio | Audi Q5 | BMW X3 | BMW X4 | DS 7 Crossback | Genesis GV70 | Jaguar F-Pace | Lexus NX | Mercedes-Benz GLC | Porsche Macan | Volkswagen Tiguan | Volvo XC60
More information
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