Timeless Velar refreshed with hybrid engine

The model by Range Rover is relaxing to drive, but the controls feel lighter and less direct than those of its rivals

- Lee Nian Tjoe

The Range Rover Velar has quietly undergone a subtle update in Singapore in 2024. Following design tweaks introduced in late 2023, it is ending the year with the version tested here a 3-litre engine that replaces the 2-litre.

In the family of Range Rover models, the Velar sits between the Sport, which is bigger and pricier, and the Evoque, which is a lot smaller overall. With the latest update, the Evoque is the only model in the local Range Rover line-up to have a 2-litre engine.

The Velar is harder to pin down when compared with other luxury sport utility vehicles (SUVs). It is larger than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, but not quite as big as the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5. The closest is probably the Lexus RX.

Exterior design tweaks to the car are subtle. Blink and you will miss the different grille design consisting of a series of rectangles instead of the alternating horizontal lines, and the slightly different detail on the rear bumper. Matched with the polished 22-inch wheels, the car looks as sensational as it did when it debuted in 2017.

Tweaks to the interior are more significant.

Instead of having two screens, the infotainment system is now a single touchscreen. The space occupied by the second touchscreen is now a lidded cubby, which also incorporates the wireless phone charging pad. Smartphone connection for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is wireless, and works faultlessly during the drive.