Sure, you could order a 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar in beige with a tan interior and no options and call it a day, but you probably won’t. The automaker’s long list of optional extras extends well beyond convenience features to help well-heeled buyers make a 2020 Velar that feels as special as its hefty price tag indicates it should be.
We award the Velar 8 out of 10 on account of its good base and optional gear, and its fancy infotainment. It’s not a bargain, but when has a Range Rover ever been about value?
For around $ 57,500, the base Velar comes with leather trim, 18-inch wheels, 14-way power-adjustable front seats, Meridian speakers, and a pair of 10.0-inch touchscreens that handle just about every in-vehicle function.
At the opposite end of the lineup, figure upward of $ 90,000 for an SVAutobiography that includes an LCD instrument cluster, extra speakers, softer leather, heated, cooled, and massaging front thrones, and a whole host of other luxuries.
The best value lies somewhere in the middle. We’d pop for the $ 63,000 or so Velar S with its supercharged V-6 and then pay extra for metallic paint, upgraded interior trim, swankier audio, adaptive cruise control, and a few other niceties to wind up just north of $ 70,000 for an SUV that spoils more than some rivals costing 50 percent more.
Infotainment
One of the Velar’s biggest draws is its dual-touchscreen dash. The top display handles audio, navigation, and extended vehicle functions, while the bottom one is mostly there for climate, seating, and off-road functions. The screens are bright, crisp, and respond quickly to taps, though they may require some acclimation to operate safely while driving. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are included.
The optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster imitates analog gauges but with far more display flexibility. A head-up display is also available.
When all of the above are ordered, they cover 32 inches of real estate, or about the size of a San Francisco apartment.
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