Land Rover Range Rover Velar S 3.0 (2025) Review: Sublime Upsizing
The Velar is one of the first examples of upsizing, turning the tide on the march for ever-smaller engines to meet emissions regulations. And it’s all the better for it.
We test drove the facelifted Velar just last year, in Dynamic HSE trim and with a 2.0-litre I4 engine. We did a double-take and we were offered the Velar for a test drive again this year - what exactly is new?
As it turns out, a lot more than meets the eye. The major change is the switch from the turbo four to a turbo inline-six. Apparently, due to new EU6e emissions regulations, the larger engine now performs more efficiently on the new test cycle regimes. The premise is that it does not need to work as hard as the smaller engine to get the SUV up to speed. This is a very interesting shift, as car manufacturers have been downsizing engines all this while to meet the requirements of regulators. It seems like upsizing could now be the next new trend.
The benefits are obvious. The I6 engine - the most balanced engine layout you could wish for short of a V12 - is creamy, effervescent and characterful. It enlivens up the Velar by quite a big margin with its superb power and charisma, even if the former does come in with a little lag. Its exhaust note is pretty decent in this day and age of duct-taped regulations. I particularly like how the car sounds when it's starting from cold.
The other change is the beefing up of the spec sheet on the most basic ‘S’ trim. Very welcomed are features from the previous Dynamic HSE trim that have been bumped down to the S trim, like the Meridian sound system as well as air suspension. As a result, the entry-level S trim is far from basic. It indeed makes the Velar very well-equipped.
This is definitely intentional, as the Velar is asking for a premium over the base models of its competitors, like the BMW X3. With its specifications, it can meaningfully offer more despite its higher price. And to get a six-cylinder engine in the X3, you’d have to spend $442k on the M40i variant - some $15k more than the Velar - the latter doesn’t seem so expensive now, does it?
All of these changes make the Velar a true junior Range Rover Sport. The way it steers, rides and goes on the road has the feel and spirit of the larger car. You sit imposingly high on the road, making imperious progress with the I6 and waft through bumps riding on air. Less and less brands get what true comfort is all about. Land Rover has it nailed down with this Velar. It’s a special experience, which is really what the Velar needed all this while to justify its asking price.
OK, it is not all good. Since the facelift last year, the Pivi Pro infotainment system now incorporates climate control - a shame since the previous physical climate control panel with its iconic ‘push and pull’ function was easier and more tactile to use. The system itself, as well as the instrument panel menus, are also a little ponderous to get through, although it looks very sharp. Some interior materials are also not quite Range Rover Sport standard, but I reckon it is on par with the segment.
In conclusion, I believe the value proposition of the Velar now is even stronger than ever, even though it is in the later stages of its model life cycle. This is a rare and very commendable achievement that we should all celebrate. Kudos, Land Rover!
Photos by James Wong
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