Diamond Geezer – Range Rover Velar
In cockney terms, a diamond geezer is a type of good bloke, a stand-up man, an all-round good sort… in other words, the Range Rover Velar. For as well as the Velar hailing from the UK, being a ‘bit of awright’, driving well and having some blinding good tech, it also comes loaded with diamonds – unfortunately, only the pattern kind though.
I don’t normally begin with the interior, but am happy to make an exception, as the Velar’s is very, very notable. At first glance, you will see that it’s crisp and unobstructed, there’s no sea of dials and buttons, just a well-designed, well-laid out dashboard and two 10-inch touchpad screens, which I’ll get to soon. The SE version(s) I’d been given had a bright, creamy-white finish with high-gloss black contrast accents – all very posh and yet not overdone. Look a little closer and the diamonds (and Union Jacks) appear. The fascia on the dash that greets the passenger, the mesh that covers the speakers, the door cards, even the leather seats you sit on, they all sport a raft of subtle diamond patterns, I didn’t try and count them – but there are loads! The resulting look is very refined.
The two-screen options give you the chance to really personalise what information you wish delivered and how. Top screen, bottom screen, plus ‘instrument cluster’ or ‘head-up’ display views. The screens are easy to navigate around (after a little bit of getting to know) and incredibly accommodating. The new InControl infotainment system (Touch Pro Duo) is tablet-easy to use and comes complete with apps, mood lighting, navigation, commute planner, media, on/off road support… in fact, it’s a list so long, we don’t have enough space here. I ended up feeling fully in control and the master of my own destiny (well at least until I got home).
On the subject of technology, I had been given the login and passwords for the Land Rover app and felt brave enough to use it. Following a visit to the Jaguar/Land Rover stand at the Big Boys Toys event, I dipped into the feature and started up the Velar before leaving the showgrounds. By the time we had walked to Cornwall Park, the SUV was up and running and the temperature inside was a cool 16 degrees – I guess it won’t be long before it will come and pick me up too!
Although the Velar’s exterior design has an upmarket elegance about it, the short overhang to the nose gives quite the masculine appeal. Plus, with a length of 4.8 metres and a width just a shade over 2 metres, it’s no shrinking violet either. The Velar has a seat-down loadspace of 1731 litres, ready and waiting for most weekend/DIY chores, but I know you’ll want to lay down some protective covering first – to keep the interior pristine.
The copper-coloured accents on the bonnet and lower-front air intakes act as eye-catching features and add an extra touch of class to the bodywork, while the pop-out door handles are both cool and aerodynamically functional.
I was given the option of either petrol or diesel power; went for the petrol and ended up going back-to-back with both, and I’m glad I did. The P380 – 3-litre petrol produces 280kW and 450Nm (at 6500rpm) while the D300 is equally a 3-litre, but delivers 221kW and a whopping 700Nm at 4000rpm. Although the reported 0-100kph are 5.7s vs 6.5s in favour of the petrol, just quietly, I ended up preferring the diesel – oh that torque!
There’s no denying that you do feel a little special when you have the keys to a Range Rover, and I was in a rush to get behind the wheel. Here’s a top tip: the A-pillar is something to watch out for, its sloping angle is likely to clock you one on entry. And on the subject of the clock, from the outside, the indicators are cool directional LEDs, but inside, they are relatively loud and sound like the tick-tock of a grandfather clock – in truth this is quite relaxing and therapeutic (especially after being introduced to the A-pillar).
From then on in, the Velar not only met with but exceeded my expectations. As I said earlier, it’s got plenty of power and is an incredibly versatile SUV. I didn’t get a chance to go off-road, but I can assume that with hill descent control (HDC) as standard, along with the optional Terrain Response 2, a ride height of 251mm (air suspension), wading depth of 650mm, and approach/departure angles nearing 30 degrees, it’s no slouch when it comes to venturing off the tarmac. But I can, however, tell you how well it rides on the road.
With its lightweight aluminium architecture, the Velar feels way lighter than it should. In Comfort, it’s smooth and road bump-absorbing, while in Sport, it hunkers down and allows a more fruity, more in-touch drive. The ‘bull nose’ means that the front corners are visible and the steering allows for responsive directional changes (it’s sure-footed around the bends). No need to worry about NZ’s changeable climate either, the intelligent, permanent Land Rover all-wheel drive (AWD) systems serve up all-weather and all-surface capability – phew.
Although the Velar has been built on Jaguar iQ platform and shares a number of components with the Jaguar F-Pace, XF and XE models, it drives and performs very differently. It’s more luxurious than sporty, but don’t think for one moment you’ll be embarrassed at the lights. It’s got the pedigree (and ability) to go way off the tarmac, but with a few caveats, and it’s certainly got style, but not the catwalk kind. It’s an SUV with its own certain swagger and, of course, possesses the heart, spirit and sparkle of Land Rover… in other words – the Velar is a diamond geezer.
