I’ve always felt that driving a Range Rover in Singapore is overkill. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a fantastic model. But our narrow car parks and clogged city streets blunt the car’s strengths: spacious seats and off-road capabilities. The updated Velar, however, has reframed my automotive views.
The Velar has always been the British carmaker’s middle child, competing for attention with the smaller Evoque and the bigger Sport. The latest edition enjoys several subtle visual upgrades such as a redesigned front grille, Pixel LED headlights that illuminate where you’re headed using Dynamic Bend Lighting technology, and hidden tailpipes.
Interior upgrades, on the other hand, have been extensive. You’ll notice that all the tactile buttons have disappeared from the centre console. In its place is a sleek, minimalist wood trim that hides a larger storage space.
Temperature control, auto-hold, and everything else you need is accessible via the 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system. Despite this, opinions are divided on the transition from tactility to digital reality. Research shows that touchscreens may reduce road safety because drivers must take their eyes off the road to adjust interior conditions.
Additionally, anecdotal studies reveal that drivers take two to four times longer to perform the same task using a touchscreen. Still, it looks great.
Naturally, the finishes are exquisite. Smooth, curved lines and beautiful brushed metal combine to create a gorgeous visual symphony. You’ll never want to leave the car. More importantly, it can accommodate a family of four with ease, yet is agile enough to tackle our city’s sharp corners and fit into small parking lots.
The 3D surround camera performs efficiently, allowing you to manoeuvre the car confidently in tight spots. Of course, it will never beat a sports car, but you don’t drive a Range Rover for razor-sharp steering. Instead, you want an incredibly comfortable ride that eats potholes for breakfast and nasty bumps for lunch. The Velar gobbles them up with no fuss.
If you go off-roading, the Velar is supposedly more than capable. To be fair, the only off-road I did was up a curb and I can say with absolute certainty that the concrete stood no chance.
The question is this: is the Velar a dinosaur, since Singapore aims to have 100 percent of its vehicles running on cleaner energy by 2040? Our unique COE system means you can enjoy driving the car for a decade before switching to an electric vehicle. However, if you want a head start, there is a hybrid version with an all-electric range of up to 64km—enough to take you from one end of the island to the other.
Otherwise, the ICE-powered Velar is still a treat to drive, even on Singapore’s congested city streets. In my opinion, it’s still overkill, but sometimes excess is fun.
