2023 Land Rover Range Rover Velar Review

Land Rover has a dual personality. On one hand, you have vehicles such as the Range Rover and Defender that rely heavily on their storied history. On the other, you have the Evoque, which is a more modern interpretation of the brand and caters to people looking to get into their first luxury SUV. The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Velar sits in the middle of that lineup, adopting the Evoque's sleek style and combining it with more space, power and capability.

As a Land Rover, the Velar also comes with some impressive off-road abilities and all-wheel drive as standard equipment. Even if you're not planning on exploring the wilderness, the Velar should be an excellent luxury SUV for those in wet and snowy climates. This year, the Range Rover Velar returns largely the same. Last year's HSE trim has been renamed HST, with most of the same features.

On the inside, the Velar delivers the kind of experience expected of a premium luxury SUV. The quality of materials is excellent throughout the cabin, and the minimal and high-tech style leaves a lasting impression. This doesn't come cheap, though. The Velar is more expensive than many rivals in the class, including the Genesis GV70, Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3. These may be better alternatives for everyday use, but if you desire some off-road capabilities and are drawn to more modern styling, the Velar is the clear choice.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Velar is a small luxury SUV that seats five people. It's available in three trim levels: S, R-Dynamic S and HST. The S and R-Dynamic S come standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine (referred to as the P250) that makes 247 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. The R-Dynamic can also be optioned with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine (P340) that generates 335 hp and 354 lb-ft. Finally, the HST trim comes exclusively with an upgraded version of that inline-six engine (P400) good for 395 hp and 405 lb-ft. All come paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. Feature highlights for each trim include: