Refreshed SUV gets a plug-in hybrid range boost, style tweaks and new infotainment On sale Spring Price from £54,045
Alasdair Rodden alasdair.rodden@haymarket.com
AS ANY FASHION designer will tell you, sometimes style sells more than substance. So, while the Range Rover Velar might not be as capable off road as its larger SUV siblings, the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, its eye-catching looks and more modest price make it quite the must-have accessory.And now, thanks to a raft of updates, it should be more appealing than ever.
The first major change is to the Velar’s infotainment system. It’s now headed by a single 11.4in touchscreen through which climate, media, seat heating and navigation settings are all controlled, and it also looks after wireless smartphone mirroring via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.The system copies the look of the set-up in the Range Rover Sport, but it has a smaller screen and omits that car’s physical climate controls.
Helpfully, the Velar’s new system is mounted higher up in the dashboard than before, and almost every function is, at the most, two screen taps away from the home screen.This should make the system less distracting to use on the move than the previous set-up.
Exterior changes include new 3D-effect LED rear lights, optional Pixel LED headlights that promise even sharper illumination, and sleeker front and rear bumpers.
Also revised is the size of the battery in the P400e plug-in hybrid variant; it has increased from 17.1kWh to 19.2kWh, officially enabling the Velar to travel for up to 40 miles on
