The 2024 Range Rover Velar 3.0L may be sharper and sportier than before, but it hasn’t lost an ounce of its poise
No one buys a Range Rover Velar expecting anything less than elegance on four wheels. But when you plant a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine under the bonnet, dial up the dynamic tuning, and sharpen its silhouette with slimmer headlights and a bolder grille, you get something altogether different. Welcome to the refreshed 2024 Velar 3.0L—a graceful brute that can hustle when asked to.
Beneath its polished shell lies a new powertrain that delivers a proper punch: 394 hp and 550 Nm of torque, channelled through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. It pulls hard when summoned, and you’ll feel all 2,085kg of it surge forward with surprising urgency—albeit never without poise. The century sprint is dispatched in just 5.5 seconds; while it’ll never feel like a hot hatch off the lights, the Velar has no trouble making its presence known.
Range Rover has positioned this Dynamic HSE trim as the sportiest in the Velar line-up—and it shows. Upsized 22-inch wheels, redesigned front-end accents, and a heightened sense of visual drama ensure it turns heads as easily as it turns corners. Yet despite its assertive stance, it remains unmistakably a Range Rover: composed, refined, and impossibly smooth when it chooses to be.
Its electronic air suspension and four drive modes (Dynamic, Comfort, Eco, and Off-Road) give it a wide-ranging personality. In Comfort mode, it glides along like a lounge on wheels. Switch to Dynamic, and it tightens up noticeably, eager to tackle winding roads with far more agility than its dimensions suggest. We didn’t have the chance to test the Off-Road mode, but with a maximum ground clearance of 251mm and All Terrain Progress Control, we suspect it’s more than up to the task.
Step inside, and the experience evolves from sporty to serene. Gone are the dual screens of the previous generation; a single, floating 11.4-inch touchscreen now handles everything from climate control to drive settings. Impressively, almost every function is accessible within two or three taps—no labyrinthine menus here.
If we had a quibble, it would be with some of the materials—certain trim elements feel more premium-adjacent than truly luxurious. But the Meridian Sound System more than compensates. With a bass-heavy track and the volume turned up just a touch more than usual, the subwoofer comes alive—and you’ll quite literally see it, pulsing through the rear-view mirror with every beat.
Steering is light, the paddle shifters offer a satisfyingly tactile click, and the car shrinks around you more than expected. For city dwellers seeking presence and punch, with the ability to tackle the occasional off-road jaunt, this Velar hits a particularly sweet spot.
Elegant when it wants to be, commanding when it needs to be, the Velar 3.0L isn’t merely a pretty face. It’s a statement SUV for drivers who value balance, beauty, and the occasional burst of bravado.
This story first appeared in the June 2025 issue. Purchase it as a print or digital copy, or consider subscribing to us here
