The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar slots under the midsize luxury SUV segment and remains the smallest among the Range Rover umbrella. It is powered by two motors the base being a four-pot oil burner while the other one is an inline-6 motor available in two states-of-tune. The Velar isn't as capable as the bigger Range Rover but it remains a comfortable luxury cruiser and if asked for is capable of mild off-roading.
The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar comes with minor changes this time out of which the heated front seats are now standard. While on the optional features list there is a new PM 2.5 air filter with air ionization and upgraded adaptive cruise control with steering assist. While the off-road driving mode is also now a part of the standard features list. For all this, the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar starts at $57,200 which is a nominal $300 price bump from the 2021 Velar.
Apart from these changes the mechanicals and driving dynamics of the new Velar remain identical to the outgoing model. While on the inside, there aren't many changes either. Although we were expecting to see the new infotainment system of the 2022 Range Rover being given to the Velar but Land Rover has continued with the last year's 10.0-inch dual screen Pivi Pro infotainment system. How well does this luxury cruiser fares in 2022? Let's find out in this review.
The 2022 Range Rover Velar will be a carryover model, the trim levels will also remain the same as the outgoing model. The trim levels include S, R-Dynamic S, and R-Dynamic HSE. There are two engine options, the base being (P250) 247-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 motor while the other being (P340) 335-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 motor. The latter engine in the P400 tune sees a power and torque bump. Irrespective of engine options the ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission is available with all the engine options. The base S trim starts at $57,200 and covers almost all the available features while going up the trim level sees either a more powerful engine or more luxury features. Both the R-Dynamic trims i.e. S and HSE are covered in a separate review.
Models |
S |
R-Dynamic S |
R-Dynamic HSE |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP (P250) |
$57,200 |
$59,200 |
N/A |
MSRP (P340) |
$63,600 |
$65,600 |
N/A |
MSRP (P400) |
N/A |
N/A |
$77,300 |
Key Features |
19-inch alloy wheels |
Adds or upgrades to 'S' |
Adds or upgrades to 'R-Dynamic S' |
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LED headlights w/ automatic high beam |
19-inch satin dark grey alloy wheels |
21-inch alloy wheels |
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Power tailgate |
Perforated leather-trimmed seats |
20-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seat w/ driver's seat memory function |
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Power-reclining rear seats |
Leather-wrapped steering wheel |
Perforated Windsor leather front seats w/ massage function |
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Power-adjustable steering column |
Ebony headliner |
Adaptive cruise control w/ steering assist |
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12-speaker 400-watt Meridian Sound System |
Satin chrome finished gearshift paddles |
17-speaker 750-watt Meridian sound system |
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11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system w/ voice activation Navigation system |
Heated rear seats w/ power recline |
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Active noise-cancellation system |
Ventilated front seats |
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360-degree camera |
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Panoramic sunroof |
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Rear foglights |
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Forward collision warning w/ automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection |
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Blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assist, and rear cross-traffic detection |
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For a compact luxury crossover, the 2022 Range Rover Velar returns some decent fuel economy figures. The turbocharged four-pot motor does a great job of balancing performance and fuel economy and returns a maximum of 21 MPG within the city limits, 27 MPG out on the highways, and 23 MPG of combined mileage. On the downside, the SUV gets a rather small 16.6-gallons gas tank which is on the smaller side as per the segment and fails to offer a commendable driving range.
Models |
2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar |
2021 BMW X5 |
2021 Porsche Macan |
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
21 |
21 |
19 |
19 |
MPG (Highway) |
27 |
25 |
23 |
26 |
MPG (Combined) |
23 |
23 |
21 |
22 |
Fuel Capacity (gal.) |
16.6 |
21.9 |
19.8 |
22.5 |
Range (City/ Highway/ Combined) (mi.) |
349/ 448/ 382 |
460/ 548/ 504 |
376/ 455/ 416 |
428/ 585/ 495 |
The BMW X5 truly impresses with its fuel economy numbers considering the amount of power and performance it has on tap. The Porsche Macan, despite being almost equally specced as the Velar, is the least fuel-efficient of the lot. The Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 has almost similar fuel economy ratings to the Velar but offers some impressive driving range figures owing to its huge gas tank.
The guys at Land Rover truly know how to build a posh cabin and the 2022 Range Rover Velar’s interior is a fine example of their work. The attention to detail is excellent and there are a very limited amount of exposed plastic surfaces. The cabin comes with superior noise insulation with an active noise cancellation system and acoustic laminated glass as well. The rear windows do get the privacy glass as standard. The leather upholstery can be found on the seats, dashboard, and on the center of the steering wheel as well along with a nice, contrasting white stitching all around. The dashboard and the door panels get soft-touch materials with a unique texture finish on them. The steering wheel controls and the infotainment screen surrounds are finished in piano black color, giving off a nice shine.
The front seats offer adequate support along with excellent comfort levels as well. They do boast a 14-way power adjustment feature along with a memory function for the driver’s seat. The rear seats are comfortable too with an electric reclining function and a center arm-rest with cup-holders. The cargo capacity is decent at 34.4 cubic feet but its rivals offer better. Land Rover has given the 2022 Velar with the same PIVI PRO infotainment system which incorporates two 10-inch touchscreen displays same as the last year. The dual displays offer a smooth user experience along with bright and crisp images.
The infotainment system will always remain updated and smooth owing to the OTA (over the air) updates as promised by Land Rover. The system offers almost all the basic and advanced connectivity and infotainment features along with an 11-speaker Meridian Sound system. Optional features here include a 17-speaker 750-watt Meridian sound system, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, Wi-Fi hotspot, and a few more.
Models |
2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar |
2021 BMW X5 |
2021 Porsche Macan |
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
38.1/ 57.2/ 40.3 |
40.7/ 60.0/ 39.4 |
N/A |
40.5/ 59.3/ 40.3 |
Rear (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
38.0/ 55.6/ 37.2 |
38.7/ 58.1/ 37.4 |
N/A |
39.6/ 58.3/ 40.9 |
Cargo Capacity (ft³) |
34.4 | 33.9 |
17.6 |
33.3 |
The BMW X5 has the most spacious cabin among the rivals here which is well-appointed as well. The Beemer’s cabin might miss that British touch of the Velar but is gorgeous and plush either way. It also offers the best trunk space here as well. The Porsche Macan has a plush cabin too but its restricted cargo space might turn off some potential buyers. Also, it offers fewer creature comfort features than the Velar but gives no room for complaint with its significantly lower base price. The Mercedes-Benz GLE350 gets the most futuristic cabin here with a plethora of high-tech features and an uber-cool design. The GLE350 offers some truly standout features which if not less but at the same level as you would find in the Velar, making it a better SUV for the price.
Interior Features:
Since the Velar gets the Range Rover tag, its exterior design language is quite similar to the bigger Range Rover models. Despite that, the 2022 Velar looks quite fashionable with sleek exterior design cues. The front end looks big with the brand’s iconic grille design and the LED DRLs flanking it nicely.
The front bumper houses the big air dams and nicely gels in with the curvy front fenders. The side profile looks neat with few smooth lines running across the vehicle. The rear end gets a gradually tapered design language with an extended rear blacked-out skid plate that houses the rear parking sensors and the camera.
Models |
2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar |
2021 BMW X5 |
2021 Porsche Macan |
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
4,130 |
4,863 |
4,099 |
4,608 |
Length (in) |
188.9 |
194.3 |
184.9 |
194.3 |
Width (in) |
84.4 |
78.9 |
76.2 |
76.7 |
Height (in) |
65.6 |
68.7 |
64.0 | 70.7 |
Ground Clearance (in) |
8.3 | 8.7 |
N/A |
N/A |
Wheelbase (in) |
113.1 |
117.1 |
110.5 |
117.9 |
The BMW X5 looks the weirdest one here with that huge kidney front grille but it is bigger than the Velar in terms of exterior dimensions. The Porsche Macan is the most compact one here and wears the traditional design language from Porsche. The Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 boasts the best design here and it feels bigger than the Velar as well.
Exterior Features:
The 2022 Range Rover Velar comes with an array of basic and advanced safety techs along with a strong body shell for superior protection. Even though the SUV doesn’t have any crash-test rating from the IIHS and the NHTSA, its safety systems are adequate to keep the occupants protected in various circumstances.
Safety Features:
The BMW X5 is the more practical and sensible alternative to the Velar. It offers a more spacious cabin, more performance right from its base trim, and a much better reliability aspect. The X5 offers some features such as 3-stage ventilated front seats, a microfilter ventilation system, etc which are missing on the Velar.
The Beemer loses out to the Velar in terms of styling, off-roading capabilities, and the standard AWD system. But between the two if you need an SUV for driving only around town both the SUVs are a perfect match but the BMW X5 won't take you far enough when you go off-roading.
The Porsche Macan is clearly for those who desire a “Porsche” above anything else. The Macan carries a lower base price than the Velar but is evenly matched to the latter in terms of performance. The interior of the Macan is not as stylish or tech-rich as the Velar but has a great and traditional Porsche design.
While the Macan falls short in terms of overall spaciousness and trunk capacity. But as a driver's car, the Macan is much better to drive than the Velar, and with the lower price tag than the latter makes for a very compelling buy.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 is, perhaps, one of the best alternatives to the Velar. It comes with a more stylish and feature-rich cabin along with comfortable ride quality as well. Some notable features of the GLE 350 include ambient cabin lighting with 46 customizable colors and Nappa leather upholstery with contrasting stitching.
On the pricing aspect, the GLE 350 costs slightly more than the Velar but makes every penny worth it with its superb fuel economy, reliability, and a similar performance to the Velar.
The 2022 Range Rover Velar is for the fashionable buyers out there. It has a striking exterior design, a feature-packed and posh cabin, a balanced ride quality, and decent off-roading abilities for a compact luxury crossover with the brand’s iconic terrain modes. It also costs way lesser than the bigger Range Rovers and offers somewhat similar capabilities too. If you’re looking out for a stylish SUV with a good road presence and stylish design without burning a hole in your pocket, the 2022 Velar might be a good option.