2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

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Rating8.1

Ranked #11 in 

Midsize SUV
Write Review
$56,900 - $76,900
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on October 31, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

The sleek and distinct design language

Firm and bumpy suspension setup

New Inline-6 engine option

Luxurious cabin

Expensive than rivals

Updated infotainment system

Powerful and efficient engine options

V8 engine discontinued

MInor changed in the options list across trims

Specs & Features

$56,900

price

247 hp @ 5500 rpm

horsepower

269 lb.-ft. @ 1400 rpm

torque

8-Speed Automatic w/od

transmission

2.0L 4cyl 4WD 8A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The Velar is one the sleekest vehicles in the Range Rover lineup from Land Rover and comes with a design language that depicts that this one is a fast SUV aimed at enthusiastic driving. But the looks don't always define a car’s driving characteristics. There have always been much more better-handling SUVs in the segment the Velar resides in. It comes with a lot of standard and available luxury options on the interior as well as customization options on the outside. For 2021 it comes with some major changes and upgrades over the last year’s model while remaining in the same generation.

Buying Advice

The R-Dynamic S trim with the P340 powertrain consisting of the stronger Inline-6 engine would be the best option to choose. It comes with updated styling over the base S trim along with a specific R-Dynamic appearance. The R-Dynamic S with the stronger engine is the perfect balance between the much more expensive R-Dynamic HSE while looking and feeling much more luxurious than the base S trim.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar comes with some major powertrain revisions including the introduction of a new engine option. A new Inline-6 engine option with a mild-hybrid system has been introduced for this model year while the supercharged V6 and the V8 options have been discontinued. The Velar also features the new and updated pivi Pro infotainment unit with a dual-screen setup. It is, however, on the more expensive side compared to some of the rivals in the class. The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar competes with the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE 450, Genesis GV80.

Features

The Land Rover Range Rover Velar is available in three trims with various powertrain options. The base S well as the mid-level R-Dynamic S trims are available with two powertrain options. The P250 models are powered by a turbocharged 2.0 L Inline-4 engine, whereas the P340 models lose the V6 that has been powering them till last model year and gains a new turbocharged 3.0 L Inline-6 which is said to deliver more fuel efficiency. The P400 models come with the same engine but with more power. 

All models come as standard with the same 8-speed automatic transmission and AWD as standard. There are also various packages including Hot and Cold Climate Packs, Dynamic Handling Package, and a truckload of other customization options available with the Velar. These options can however increase the price of the Velar drastically. The major differences across trims are specified in the table below with their respective prices- 

Trims

S

R-Dynamic S

R-Dynamic HSE

MSRP

$56,900 (P250) $63,900 (P340)

$58,900 (P250) $65,900 (P340)

76,900 (P400)

Key Features

Premium LED headlights with signature Daytime Running Lights

Velar and R-Dynamic Badge

Meridian 3D Surround Sound System

 

Heated, electric power-fold door mirrors with approach lights and auto-dimming driver-side

R-Dynamic Exterior Pack

Perforated full leather steering wheel

 

19" Style 5108, 5 spoke, Gloss Silver finish wheels

Ebony Morzine headlining

Electrically adjustable steering column

 

Leather steering wheel

Ebony Perforated grained leather and suede cloth seats with Ebony interior

20-way heated and cooled, memory, massage front seats

 

Cabin lighting

Satin Chrome gearshift paddles

Extended Leather Upgrade

 

14-way driver memory front seats

Leather steering wheel with Satin Chrome bezel

Power adjustable steering column

 

Perforated grained leather seats

Shadow Aluminum trim finisher

Adaptive Cruise Control

 

Light Oyster Morzine headlining

Bright metal pedals

21" Style 5109, 5 spoke, Satin Dark Grey finish wheels

 

Meridian Sound System

Metal front treadplates with R-Dynamic branding

 
 

3D Surround Camera

   
 

Pivi Pro Infotainment System with dual touch screens

   

We Recommend

The R-Dynamic S trim with the P340 powertrain consisting of the stronger Inline-6 engine would be the best option to choose. It comes with updated styling over the base S trim along with a specific R-Dynamic appearance. The R-Dynamic S with the stronger engine is the perfect balance between the much more expensive R-Dynamic HSE while looking and feeling much more luxurious than the base S trim.

Fuel Economy
8.0/10

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar comes with the new engine option which is said to deliver improved efficiency figures compared to the older V6. And It certainly does what it claims to do. The Velar provides a fuel economy of 20mpg in the city, 26 on the highway, and a combined efficiency of 22 mpg which is 2mpg higher than the 20mpg of combined fuel economy that was provided by the older V6 model. 

The base engine of the Velar delivers a combined efficiency of 23 mpg while the top-end P400 powertrain gives 21 mpg. The Range Rover Velar with the P340 engine option delivers a range of 332 miles in the city. 432 on the highway and a combined range of around 365 miles which is actually on the lower side. 

Models

2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar P340 S 

2021 BMW X5 xDrive40i

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4Matic

2021 Genesis GV80 3.5T

MPG (City)

20

21

21

18

MPG (Highway)

26

25

26

23

MPG (Combined)

22

23

23

20

Fuel Capacity (Gallons)

16.6

21.9

22.5

21.1

Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles)

332/432/365

460/548/504

473/585/517

380/485/422

Both the BMW and the Mercedes deliver the best-combined fuel efficiency of 23 mpg followed by the Velar providing 22 mpg. The Velar, however, does give a slightly higher fuel economy of 26 mpg on the highway compared to the BMW. The Velar has the smallest fuel capacity among all of the competition with a capacity of 16.6 gallons which is much lower than all others. The Mercedes and the BMW deliver the best-combined range also, topping up above the 500-mile mark.

Interior
8.5/10

The Land Rover Range Rover Velar comes with a luxurious interior with all of the creature comforts and a super well-built cabin. The cabin gets an Ebony-themed interior Cosmic Grey trim finishing in the base trim while the higher models are finished in a Shadow Aluminum trim finish. The interior features Ebony perforated grained leather seats in the base trim, while the higher trims further get suede cloth inserts in the seats. The top-end HSE trim also gets an extended leather upgrade and comes with Ebony perforated Windsor leather. 

The base trims get 14-way-adjustability for the driver seat along with memory functionality for the front seats while the R-Dynamic HSE trim comes exclusively with 20–way heated and cooled, memory, massage front seats. The seats are supportive and super-comfortable during long drives and journeys. The interior is spacious and offers enough space in both rows along with a spacious cargo area. The legroom in the front, as well as second rows, is impressive while the shoulder room is a bit tight compared to others in the segment. The Velar, however, has a cargo capacity of 34.4 cu-ft which is very good.

Models

2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar P340 S 

2021 BMW X5 xDrive40i

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4Matic

2021 Genesis GV80 3.5T

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)

38.1/57.2/40.3

40.7/60.0/39.4

40.5/59.3/40.3

40.2/60.2/41.6

Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)

38.0/55.6/37.2

38.7/58.1/37.4

39.6/58.3/40.9

38.4/58.2/38.7

Cargo Capacity

34.4

33.9

33.3

34.9

The interior quality of the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is impressive and on par with the BMW X5 and the Mercedes GLE-Class. The Mercedes however is the most spacious providing the best overall interior space followed by the Genesis GV80. The Velar is on par with the rivals in terms of legroom but it seriously lacks shoulder room compared to others which are significantly wider. The Velar, however, delivers a larger cargo area measuring 34.4 which is slightly better than the BMW and Mercedes while being a little lesser than the Genesis. The following are the most important interior features- 

  • 20–way heated and cooled, memory, massage front seats
  • Ebony Perforated grained leather seats and suede cloth seats with Ebony interior
  • Extended Leather Upgrade
  • Leather steering wheel
  • Ebony Morzine headlining
  • Two-zone Climate Control
  • Cabin lighting

How intuitive is the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar’s infotainment unit?

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover features the new and upgraded 12,3" high-definition Interactive Driver Display along with Pivi Pro dual touch screens of 10-inches each for infotainment. The screens control various infotainment features along with the climate controls and other system functions. The infotainment unit is impressively intuitive and easy to use with a superb-looking user interface. 

The audio system is a Meridian sound system in the lower trim 12 speakers and a dual-channel subwoofer and a 400W amplifier along with Meridian Digital Signal Processing, Cabin Correction, and Digital Dither Shaping. The HSE R-Dynamic trim features a higher quality Meridian 3D Surround Sound System with 17 speakers and a dual-channel subwoofer and an 825W amplifier along with 3D Trifield technology. The following are some of the most important infotainment features-

  • Meridian 3D Surround Sound System
  • Interactive Driver Display
  • Pivi Pro dual 10-inch Touchscreen with newly designed interface
  • All-new intelligent navigation with Real-Time Traffic Information
  • Available Heads Up Display
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration 

Exterior
8.5/10

The Velar looks incredibly beautiful and sporty from the outside with a bold and sleek design language with extensive lines and curves all over it. The Velas has some exclusive touches all around including the flush deployable door handles which makes the vehicle look more advanced. The Velar comes with 24 color options in which the only one is a free option which is Fuji White while all others are paid options. The Velar has a distinct design language with a more aerodynamic design compared to other Range Rovers.

The wheels in the Velar are 19-inch 5 spoke, Gloss Sparkle Silver colored ones in the S models and larger 21-inch Satin Dark Grey ones of the same style in the highest HSE R-Dynamic trim. There are also plenty of available wheel options that can be opted for at an extra cost. The Velar is definitely one of the best-looking Range Rovers of the present generation, if not the best. The R-Dynamics trims can also be further equipped with the R-Dynamic Black Pack that comes with Narvik Black accents all around the exterior. 

Models

2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar P340 S 

2021 BMW X5 xDrive40i

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4Matic

2021 Genesis GV80 3.5T

Curb Weight (lbs)

4,430

4,863

5,013

5,038

Length (inches)

188.9

194.3

194.3

194.7

Width (inches)

76.1

78.9

76.7

77.8

Height (inches)

65.6

68.7

70.7

67.5

Ground Clearance (inches)

8.3

8.7

7.1

8.1

Wheelbase (inches)

113.1

117.1

117.9

116.3

The Velar is the shortest while all of the others in the comparison are around 6-inches longer than it. The width of the Velar is however on par with the competition. The Velar from the exterior doesn’t match others in terms of exterior size, but it competes with the larger vehicles in terms of price. This is where its higher price tags let down the Velar. But however, the Velar does provide impressive legroom and cargo capacity despite being smaller in exterior size which is actually an advantage. The following are the standout exterior features-

  • 21" Style 5109, 5 spoke, Satin Dark Grey
  • Premium LED headlights with signature DRL
  • Sliding panoramic roof
  • Solar attenuating windshield
  • Acoustic laminated windshield
  • Privacy glass
  • Powered tailgate

Safety
7.0/10

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover has not been crash-tested or rated by either NHTSA or IIHS, so these ratings are not available for comparison and analysis. However, the Velar features a host of safety features including Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Low traction launch, Electronic Traction Control (ETC), Roll Stability Control (RSC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), and Hill Descent Control (HDC) along with another advanced safety tech. The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is undoubtedly a very safe car with impressive safety and driver assistance features. Other important safety features include-

  • Emergency Braking
  • Driver Condition Monitor
  • Lane Keep Assist
  • Front and Rear Parking Aid
  • Traffic Sign Recognition and Adaptive Speed Limiter
  • Blind Spot Assist Pack
  • Standard Driver Assist Pack

Competition
8.0/10

2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2021 BMW X5

The BMW X5 is the overall superior machine providing more power as well as better handling. The interior quality is on par with each other but the BMW provides more space inside the cabin whereas the Velar has slightly better cargo space. The BMW is also better in terms of braking as well as fuel economy making it the obvious choice. The Range Rover comes with a better and more intuitive infotainment unit compared to the iDrive unit in the X5. The Velar and X5 while being very similar in terms of pricing, BMW is the overall better option.

2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The Mercedes-Benz GLE is the better performing SUV in terms of handling as well as speed runs. The Velar doesn’t have much to provide over the Merc as it comes with better fuel economy as well as interior space. The Velar however provides a little bit more cargo space but the difference is marginal. The inside of the cabin, however, is equally plush and luxurious in both models. But overall the GLE-Class is a better option than the Velar. 

2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2021 Genesis GV80

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is the better choice compared to the Genesis GV80. The Genesis, although it outputs far more power than the Velar, is still slower than the Range. The Velar also has a more luxurious and premium cabin along with a far better infotainment unit. The Genesis, however, is more spacious in terms of both passenger space as well as cargo capacity. Overall the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is the better option compared to the Genesis GV80.

Final Verdict

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is a great vehicle that just has been priced a bit higher than it should have been, That makes it overshadowed by some healthy and better competitors like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Class. It is in the pricing department Land Rover should have concentrated better. 

The base powertrain model is lower priced but that one lacks power and punch whereas the Inline-6 powered motor is powerful enough but for the price, it is not just worthy. The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is definitely a great vehicle with lots of features, but unless you are sure that you want this one only, there are much better options in the price range and segment.

Trims

    S
    $56,900 onwards
    • 1st and 2nd row Sliding and tilting glass Sunroof
    • A-Spec Sport Seats
    • Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
    • Keyfob (all doors) Remote keyless entry
    • SiriusXM AM/FM/Satellite, Radio
    R-Dynamic S
    $58,900 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl 4WD 8A
    • Horsepower: 247 hp @ 5500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 269 lb.-ft. @ 1400 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 7.1 sec
    • Top Speed: 135 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 23 mpg
    R-Dynamic HSE
    $76,900 onwards
    • Engine: 3.0L 6cyl 4WD 8A
    • Horsepower: 395 hp @ 6500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 405 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 5.2 sec
    • Top Speed: 155 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 21 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$56,900- $76,900

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

8.08

Horsepower

395 hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque

405 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$19,000- $26,900

Gasoline

6.46

137 hp @ 5000 rpm

162 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

5

Read Review

$38,050- $40,050

Gasoline

7.36

221 hp @ 5500 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1800 rpm

7

Read Review

$31,545- $50,725

Gasoline

7.39

235 hp @ 4500 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

7

Read Review

$68,200- $77,850

Gasoline

7.21

335 hp @ 5700 rpm

369 lb.-ft. @ 1370 rpm

5

Read Review

$54,950- $72,000

Gasoline

8.08

248 hp @ 5000 rpm

273 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

7

Read Review

$48,900- $65,550

Gasoline

8.02

300 hp @ 5800 rpm

311 lb.-ft. @ 1650 rpm

5

Read Review

$29,800- $54,595

Gasoline

6.25

310 hp @ 6800 rpm

266 lb.-ft. @ 2800 rpm

8

Read Review

$29,800- $48,600

Gasoline

7.65

193 hp @ 6300 rpm

188 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

7

Read Review

$65,050- $86,250

Gasoline

8.19

335 hp @ 5500 rpm

331 lb.-ft. @ 1500 rpm

5

Read Review

2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    7.1 sec15.6 sec135 mph
    2021 Audi Q8

    Ranked #1

    5.3 sec14.0 sec130 mph
    2021 BMW X6

    Ranked #2

    5.6 sec13.4 sec132 mph
    2021 Audi Q5

    Ranked #3

    5.7 sec14.7 sec130 mph
    5.9 sec14.4 sec-
    2021 BMW X4

    Ranked #5

    6 sec15.1 sec130 mph

    2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      20 mpg26 mpg23 mpg16.6 gal.348.6/448.2 mi.
      28 mpg31 mpg29 mpg13.2 gal.369.6/409.2 mi.
      2021 BMW X3

      Ranked #2

      23 mpg29 mpg27 mpg17.2 gal.430/498.8 mi.
      23 mpg29 mpg26 mpg16 gal.368/464 mi.
      23 mpg31 mpg26 mpg15.9 gal.365.7/492.9 mi.
      22 mpg29 mpg25 mpg17.4 gal.382.8/504.6 mi.

      2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        188.9 in.76.1 in.65.6 in.8.4 in.113.1 in.
        204.3 in.78.6 in.70.7 in.7.51 in.120.9 in.
        2021 Audi Q7

        Ranked #2

        199.3 in.77.6 in.68.5 in.7.7 in.117.9 in.
        198.8 in.78.9 in.70.2 in.8.2 in.119.1 in.
        198.3 in.78.3 in.70 in.8 in.117.3 in.
        2021 Audi Q8

        Ranked #5

        196.6 in.78.5 in.67.2 in.5.8 in.117.9 in.

        2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          34.4 cu.ft.-66.8 cu.ft.
          18.5 cu.ft.116.1 cu.ft.56.5 cu.ft.
          2021 BMW X6

          Ranked #2

          27.4 cu.ft.164.4 cu.ft.59.6 cu.ft.
          31.5 cu.ft.177.4 cu.ft.148.9 cu.ft.
          20.6 cu.ft.153.7 cu.ft.96.8 cu.ft.
          19.4 cu.ft.-56.5 cu.ft.

          2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            66.8 cu.ft.34.4 cu.ft.66.8 cu.ft.-
            52.9 cu.ft.17.6 cu.ft.52.9 cu.ft.-
            2021 Audi Q7

            Ranked #3

            4.8 cu.ft.14.8 cu.ft.69.9 cu.ft.232 ft.
            18 cu.ft.16.5 cu.ft.18 cu.ft.-
            92 cu.ft.19.4 cu.ft.56.5 cu.ft.-
            148.9 cu.ft.31.5 cu.ft.148.9 cu.ft.74 ft.

            2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              1653 lbs.-4130 lbs.
              7716 lbs.1984 lbs.4550 lbs.
              2021 Audi Q8

              Ranked #2

              7700 lbs.1124 lbs.4960 lbs.
              2021 BMW X6

              Ranked #3

              7209 lbs.1025 lbs.4687 lbs.
              6000 lbs.-4707 lbs.
              5500 lbs.-3638 lbs.

              2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar SUV Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              1

              Recalls

              0

              Investigations

              5

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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              Horsepower : 247 hp @ 5500 rpm

              MPG Combined : 23 mpg

              0-60 : 7.1 sec

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              2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar User Reviews

              4.0

              [1 Reviews]

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              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              2

              [100.0%] [1 Reviews]

              3

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              4

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

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              POPULAR TAGS

              B

              Badsoden

              2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

              P250 S 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L Turbo 4cyl 8A)

              4

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: September 30, 2023

              Fussy vehicle

              Pros - Looks great, inside and out. Smooth ride

              Cons - Vehicle switches gear to Neutral from Drive while sitting at a traffic light

              Twice now my Velar has switched into Neutral while I was waiting at a traffic light. I worry I will get rear ended because I take my foot off the brake to move forward and realize the car isn't moving. Dealership has no idea what the problem is. No response from Land Rover company. Also I am finding that this car also does not want to move forward smoothly after being parked. There is definit...

              4/10
              Features
              5/10
              Interior
              5/10
              Design
              4/10
              Safety
              3/10
              Reliability
              4/10
              Deal Value
              3/10
              Dealer Review