The Land Rover Range Rover Velar is more expensive than rivals, and we’re not sure it’s worth it.

Not everyone can afford to drive a Range Rover; it’s a full-size luxury flagship SUV that costs over $107k, so this news shouldn’t be too surprising. But why should Land Rover crush the dreams of anyone who doesn’t have an executive level job title and a well-funded investment portfolio? There are many of us who want to drive a Range Rover without having to sell our soul to afford one. That’s where the Land Rover Range Rover Velar fits in. It’s the ‘mid-level’ Range Rover, slotting in above the tiny Evoque, but below the Range Rover Sport.

Land Rover introduced the Velar back in 2017, but the model was recently given a mild refresh for the 2024 model year. Coming in as one of the more affordable vehicles to wear a Range Rover badge, the Velar should be able to make a strong case for itself in the compact luxury crossover segment. But after spending a week driving a 2024 Range Rover Velar Dynamic SE, we aren’t sure if it can justify a nearly $80k price tag.

Exterior: Evolving Beauty

We think Land Rover’s current design language, especially with the Range Rover lineup, is on point. The Velar was a great-looking SUV when it debuted in 2018, but now in its seventh model year, we are starting to wish Land Rover did more to update it. The grille design is slightly different for the new year, and the headlights now have a more simplistic LED running light pattern. If you didn’t see the 2024 Velar next to last year’s model, you probably wouldn’t spot the differences. The saying, “why fix what isn’t broken?” does somewhat apply here, but we imagine current Land Rover owners won’t be aching to upgrade when the new model looks almost identical to the old one.

In terms of size, the Velar is on the larger side of the segment, measuring a few inches longer than rivals like the BMW X3 and Porsche Macan.

Even the entry-level Velar S and SE models are pretty attractive, but the base models ride on basic-looking 19-inch five-spoke wheels (dubbed Style 5108) that look more appropriate for a Kia or Hyundai, not a Land Rover. Those wheels look slightly less boring when painted in Satin Dark Grey on the Dynamic SE, but we much prefer the optional 20-inch Gloss Black wheels (Style 1089) that cost $1,500 extra. Our tester rode on gorgeous 21-inch Diamond Turned Satin Dark Grey wheels, but they are a pricey add-on at $2,600. You can spend even more on 22-inch 10-spoke wheels that cost $3,100 in Gloss Black or $3,400 in Dark Grey with a contrasting Diamond Turned finish.

Interior: Where Have All The Buttons Gone?

The 2024 Range Rover Velar has received similar updates in the cabin as the smaller Evoque, namely the complete elimination of buttons and knobs. Nearly everything is done via an 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen infotainment system, including the audio and climate controls. This change could have been a disaster, but large zones on the left and right of the screen allow for quick changes to the volume and temperature. Changing the fan speed still requires at least two screen taps on an additional menu, though. The only physical controls remaining include the steering wheel buttons, stalks, hazard lights, and the shifter.

Automakers like Tesla and Volvo have proven that minimalist cabin design can be elegant, but to us, it just looks boring inside the Range Rover Velar. It’s just a solid sea of Ebony Black grained leather everywhere, with no intricate contrast anywhere to break up the monotony. Land Rover offers an optional Cloud (grey) interior for the Dynamic SE trim that is brighter, as well as Cloud/Ebony or Raven Blue/Ebony combinations that are slightly more interesting. Stepping up to the Dynamic HSE adds Deep Garnet and Caraway (brown) as options with Windsor leather, both of which are far more visually interesting. Unless you spend up for the HSE, the Velar lacks the elegance of the big Range Rover or the rugged charm of the Defender.

We also came away disappointed by how many features were optional, even on our well-equipped tester. Heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats are part of the $1,175 Cold Climate Pack that was selected on our test vehicle (they can also be added inidivudally for around $300 each), but massage seats are only available on the pricier Dynamic HSE trim. Additionally, our near-$80k Velar did not have a surround-view camera since it has to be added as part of the $1,300 Technology Package that was left off on this specification.

Practicality: Middle Range

Sitting between the Evoque and Sport models, the Velar delivers a nicely-sized package that could be appealing to many buyers. Headroom is slightly below par, but legroom is generous and in line with some of the most spacious options in the compact crossover segment, matching the Genesis GV70 and outclassing the BMW X3. Trunk space is competitive too, with two cubic feet more than the BMW X3 behind the back row. The overall storage capacity with the seats folded is identical to the X3, though.

Powertrain: Mild Acceleration Or Mild Hybrid

The Velar shares its base engine with the smaller Evoque, and that is not a great starting point. It’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (dubbed the P250) that produces 247 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. We weren’t particularly impressed with this engine in the Evoque, but the Velar does have the saving grace of mating the lackluster four-pot to a smooth ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, not the terrible nine-speed in the smaller Evoque. Despite being significantly larger, the Velar only weighs 195 pounds more. Power is sent out to all-wheel-drive regardless of engine.

Related Test Drive Review

Driven: 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Has No Buttons But Loads Of Style

Has copying some EV brands worked for the new Evoque, which now lacks physical controls in the cabin?

Fortunately, our test vehicle was kitted out with the optional 3.0-liter turbocharged mild-hybrid inline-six (P400), which is a far superior powertrain. It delivers 395 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque – significant boosts over the four-cylinder. The inline-six drops the Velar’s 0-60 mph time from a sluggish 7.1 seconds to just 5.2 seconds. With no launch control available, CarBuzz could only manage a 5.86-second sprint to 60. Even with such improved performance, fuel economy only takes a minor hit with the inline-six. Land Rover does charge a hefty $7,000-plus premium for the more potent engine, though.

Driving Impressions: Comfy But Lacks Character

The Velar feels like a middle child that is struggling to find its own personality. Comfort is the Velar’s most impressive attribute, which is to be expected from a Range Rover product. Even on 21-inch wheels, the Velar cushions its occupants from road impacts and softens both wind and tire noise. Nothing else about the driving experience is negative, but nor is it special. The steering has a nice weight to it, but it’s less engaging than its platform stablemate, the Jaguar F-Pace.

We like Land Rover’s inline-six engine, which emits a nice wail under hard acceleration. This is far from its sportiest assignment though, and there is some noticeable lag off the line that presented itself when we attempted to match Land Rover’s claimed 0-60 mph time. Most buyers won’t notice or care since the inline-six is usually very responsive thanks to a well-calibrated eight-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that can spool the turbocharger and produce a smoother stop/start sequence.

Pricing & Verdict: Paying For The Badge

It may be significantly less expensive than a full-size Range Rover, but you still need to pay up to wear that prestigious badge. The 2024 Range Rover Velar S starts at $61,500, significantly more than similar options from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and even Porsche – by more than $15k in the case of the Genesis, and $12k for a comparable BMW X3. It only gets worse from there, rising to $63,600 for the Velar Dynamic SE. That price doesn’t include the inline-six engine, more attractive wheels, or various option packages that add technology and luxury like ventilated seats or a 360-degree camera. With a few options, our Dynamic SE tester rang in at $79,933, including $1,275 for destination and delivery.

That’s more expensive than the Dynamic HSE, which costs $78,400 but includes the P400 inline-six as standard. Even that top trim level still requires optional packages for items like heated rear seats and a surround-view camera. At that price, you can get far sportier options, like the BMW X3 M. Unless you really want a vehicle that says Range Rover on it – and you’re willing to pay for that privilege – we think there are better compact luxury SUVs for a better price. Or save your pennies until you can get a Range Rover Sport.