Skin-deep

The Land Rover Range Rover Velar has received its first facelift and the changes are subtle

-  Joshua Varghese

IN RANGE ROVER'S LINE-UP OF LUXURY SPORT utility vehicles (SUV), there was a huge gap between the Evoque and the Sport, the latter being more than twice as expensive as the former. It is into that space the Velar slots in nicely. It was launched in India in 2018 and since then the segment has seen considerable advancement. The car you see on these pages is the latest version of the Velar, a facelift meant to tackle its rivals and remain relevant in an extremely competitive space.

The Range Rover family's styling is consistent across the range. It certainly works in the Velar's favour because there are design elements and contours that give it a striking resemblance to the most premium Range Rover. "Reductive" is the word they use to describe the Velar's design and its simplicity only adds to its appeal. The flush-fitting door-handles and 20-inch wheels offer an interesting balance of form and function. Most of the exterior has been left untouched in this facelift; the only notable new elements are the grille and LED lighting all around. Those who do a lot of night driving may like to know that the headlights are equipped to illuminate the curvature of a road as it approaches.

The simplistic design philosophy has been carried forward into the interior as well, resulting in a well-appointed yet clutter-free cabin. If one were to look for an ambience that mimics a lounge in a night club, the Velar's cabin would come close to the mark. Dark colours are used for the dual-tone scheme and the music of choice is delivered brilliantly by Meridian's capable sound system. Instead of sofas and polished tables, this luxury SUV offers Windsor leather seats (ventilated with massage functions) and a seamless centre console that is devoid of buttons but features a tasteful element of ash wood.