Range Rover’s Most Desirable Velar Gets A Facelift For 2023

• New Range Rover Velar has been revealed and is on sale in its home market, the UK. 

• Gets revised exterior and interior, features a new 11.4-inch floating touchscreen. 

• To get more powerful P250 petrol and D200 diesel engines, plug-in hybrid offered in some markets. 

• Will be pricier than the existing Velar that retails for Rs 89.41 lakh (ex-showroom). 

British luxury marque Land Rover has revealed the facelifted 2023 Range Rover Velar SUV for global markets. The Velar, which sits comfortably between the Evoque and the big Range Rover Sport, gets revised aesthetics inside and out and feels up-to-date next to its larger flagship stablemate that was launched in a slick, new generation avatar only last year in 2022.

What’s new on the outside 

If you’ve seen a Velar before, the new SUV will look familiar. Its sleek, swept-back aesthetic with a long bonnet and coupe-esque rear roofline are intact, but it gets fresh front and rear-end styling and a new set of dual-tone, machined alloy wheels.

At the front, the 2023 Velar features a new grille with a similar pattern as the big Range Rover. Its headlights feature a subtly redesigned two-part LED DRL and the SUV also gets different exterior trim bits at the bonnet vents and fenders. Other than these changes, the front and side profiles are largely identical to the outgoing model.

The rear end gets split taillights as before, but the LED lighting elements are new and lend the SUV’s rear end a more plush and modern feel. Lower down, the bumper gets new trim elements and a faux diffuser with concealed exhaust outlets, unlike its predecessor that had dual exhaust exits within the bumper.

Overall, the new Velar has a clean, minimalist design that hasn’t been tinkered with too much but gets evolutionary changes for a more modern look. It’s still as good-looking as before and should grab as many eyeballs.

More luxurious interiors 

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Inside, too, the design changes are subtle, but you get a different set of gadgets on the dashboard. The three-screen interface of the previous SUV is gone, so you only get two screens on the dash. The 12.3-inch digital driver’s display with navigation and infotainment integration continues as before. But the central touchscreen is a new, floating 11.4-inch unit with curved glass. There’s no secondary screen for controlling the HVAC system. Instead, the AC, seat ventilation and air purifier controls are all integrated into the large central touchscreen. As a result, there’s a distinct lack of buttons and dials on the dash and centre console.

Other than that, the SUV’s buyers will get a choice of different materials for the upholstery, including a new leather-free option. It’s as luxurious as before, with all the niceties you’d expect for the price, such as a panoramic sunroof, driver-assistance features, a 1,300-Watt Meridian sound system, air suspension, wireless phone charging and heated, cooled and massaging front seats. Moreover, the SUV adds a new Active Road Noise Cancellation system to make the cabin even quieter.

Powertrain specs 

The new Velar continues to get the 2-litre petrol and diesel engine options as before, but with increased power outputs. The P250 petrol engine now makes 250PS and 365Nm (previously 184PS), while the diesel gets a 54PS bump in power, producing 204PS and 430Nm (previously 150PS). As before, the petrol unit is ICE-only, but the diesel gets mild-hybrid tech. 

A range-topping, 404PS petrol plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain is also offered overseas, but we don’t expect it to be available in the India-spec SUV.

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With the facelifted Velar already on sale in its home market, the UK, our hopes are high for its launch in India in the next few weeks. Expect the updated Range Rover Velar to carry a premium price over its predecessor which retailed at Rs 89.41 lakh (ex-showroom).