A Plush Revelation

What we like:

Build quality

Design

Performance from that 3.0 Supercharged V6

Still a serious off-roader

And a serious On-roader

What we dislike:

The higher-spec models can be expensive

Under the bonnet, our test car gets their 3.0 V6, supercharged engine, which delivers a superb 380bhp, and 450Nm of torque, passing all of this on to all four wheels via an eight-speed cog swapper. More than enough for a good hill climb we say.

While it might share the same platform Jaguar’s F-Pace, the Velar is after all built to be a more off-road biased car, and we would not expect the same near-razor sharp type of handling. But while having said that, the Velar does love it around the bends, and feels well-balanced. Perhaps, it might just lose out slightly to a Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe AMG 43, which we believe that the Jag would be a closer match to.

But what it can deliver once off the tarmac, in our eyes, is a tougher thing to do (this, after ticking all the checkboxes on being an already competent road car). The Velar also boasts a respectable 215mm ground clearance, and a class-leading wading depth of 650mm. While the 24 degree breakover angle might not be as extreme as the 34 degrees that the Discovery offers, but the focus of the Velar has more of a lean to luxury.

Even with the air suspension, there is very little bounce, and even with those large 21” inch rims, there is very little road noise intruding into the cabin, and there is still enough play for a comfortable ride.

For some, there are SUVs which are road-biased, which may suit their purpose, the Velar on the other hand, does what a Land Rover-badged vehicle is built to do.

Not only were we impressed with how it can do its off-roading, the Velar makes one of the strongest arguments yet, of a car this balanced, not only in design and luxury, but also in getting the job done, whatever the job is.

Credits: