Large, imposing and awesome to drive. The new Range Rover Velar is roomy enough for a family of five, but not too big to feel uncomfortable in city spaces. It performs beautifully on off-roads and glides stylishly on the highways. With this model, Range Rover remains true to its DNA, with a powerful, luxurious, high-end drive.;

THE EXTERIOR

Unlike some rough and mean looking SUVs, the Range Rover Velar sports a smooth, pared-back style with a stylish silhouette. The main features like the large grille, headlamps and bumper are flush with the body, creating a refined and contemporary presence.

Walk around the vehicle and notice the distinctive powerful front end, the flowing side flanks and the elegantly tapered back. The Velar is bigger than the Evoque but smaller than the Sport. It has an Acoustic laminated windscreen and Rain sensing windscreen wipers. The outside power-fold mirrors are heated to quickly remove frost and dew. On the driver’s side, the mirror has auto-dimming to reduce glare from following car headlights.

THE INTERIOR

Step inside and feel the luxurious ambience of the cabin, fitted in an elegant yet simple style. The seating for 5 is elevated, giving a great view of the scenery as you drive. The seating is sublime with padded leather and stitched accents. Headrests are large and comfortable. Seating arrangements are versatile and can be folded down into a 2 or 3 seater configuration to increase luggage capacity.

Create the mood you want with the Configurable Ambient Interior Lighting. The Driver’s control display eases into the minimalist feel of the dash with a frameless design. It offers navigation, entertainment, communications and many configurable car features that respond to voice control. Climate control is separately set for the driver and passengers. Technology is cutting edge – the steering wheel controls are touch-sensitive and stroke-responsive and the lit-up pictograms appear only when needed.

THE DRIVE

The standard model of the Range Rover Velar is powered by a 2 liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 247 bhp. It is an AWD with automatic transmission. 0 to 100 km/h takes around 6 seconds, with top speeds of 270 km/h. This is a refined, hushed SUV, with noise from wind and road reduced to a minimum.

The drive is responsive and smooth with accurate steering. Air suspension keeps passengers comfortable no matter what the road surface is. The driver has Normal, Sport and Dynamic Drive modes to suit your mood.

For off-roads you can adapt the height off the ground, change the powertrain calibration, the traction and diff thresholds. It also has Wade Sensing in case you decide to drive across a river, which you probably should not!

For city driving, you have Blind-spot Monitoring and Lane-Keeping Assist. On the open road, you will enjoy the security of Automated Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control.