2023 Range Rover Velar facelift introduces new curved infotainment system

• Revised exterior and lighting design
• P400e PHEV now with 40-mile range
• Available to order now from £54,045

Following the release of the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, Land Rover has decided to facelift its more avant-garde offering to match its flagship models. The facelifted Range Rover Velar brings a refreshed exterior, as well as an all-new infotainment system and an upgraded plug-in hybrid version with 40 miles of electric range.

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The facelifted Range Rover Velar is available to order now, with prices starting from £54,045. Sitting above the entry-level Evoque in Land Rover’s lineup, the Velar’s sloping roofline makes it a rival for other coupe-SUVs such as the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe, alongside sporty SUVs – namely the Porsche Macan and Jaguar F-Pace.

This update has smoothed out many of the wrinkles in the Velar’s design, using Land Rover’s latest ‘reductive modernism’ design philosophy. This involves a flush-fitting grille – similar to that seen on the new full-size Range Rover – as well as a simplified LED headlight signature. On top-spec cars, these utilise Pixel LED technology, which can switch off individual LEDs in order not to dazzle other drivers, while still providing maximum illumination of the road.

At the rear, the facelift brings a smoked set of LED tailights, reminiscent of those found on the new Range Rover Sport, while a new rear bumper conceals the tailpipes to achieve a more uncluttered look. There are two new exterior colours to choose from – Varesine Blue and Zadar Grey – and alloy wheel sizes range from 19-22 inches in diameter.

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Bigger changes can be found on the inside where the new Range Rover Velar ditches the old car’s dual-screen infotainment system for Jaguar-Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro system. This comprises a single, curved 11.4-inch touchscreen and houses many of the car’s functions including the Terrain Response system for off-road driving. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and even Amazon Alexa compatibility are all standard, too.

In the pursuit of minimalism, Land Rover has removed the Velar’s physical climate controls for this update; instead, the air conditioning can be controlled via sliders at each side of the touchscreen – something that may be a frustration for many. Nonetheless, the centre console now has an incredibly clean and swooping appearance and is available in a variety of finishes. 

Clients can also choose from one of four leather colours – Cloud, Caraway, Raven Blue and Deep Garnet – yet, perhaps the most interesting choice is the new leather-free Kvadrat Ultrafabric upholstery, which features a unique ‘Diamond Herringbone’ perforation.

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Also new for the facelift is an air purification system; available as part of the optional Comfort Pack, this cleans the air entering from the outside via the air conditioning system, keeping out any toxins and/or allergens. Specifying the range-topping Meridian sound system brings with it Active Road Noise Cancellation, which generates opposite sound waves to the road noise in order to make the cabin quieter – just like a pair of posh headphones.

Land Rover has slimmed down the Velar’s lineup for the 2023 update; there are now just four trim levels available: S, Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE and Autobiography. Even the entry-level S model (starting at £54,045) comes luxuriously equipped, while the range-topping Autobiography (starting at £76,415) boasts exclusive design details and all the bells and whistles you’d expect of a car at this price point.

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There are two petrols, two diesels and one plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model to choose from – while the traditional combustion engines remain unchanged since the update, the P400e PHEV has received a significant upgrade. This comes in the form of a larger 19.2kWh battery pack which extends the plug-in Velar’s pure electric range to 40 miles – seven miles more than before. An increase in range moves the Range Rover into the lower 8% Benefit-in-Kind tax bracket, which should come as good news for company car drivers.

Utilising a 50kW DC rapid public charger, the Velar P400e can be charged from 0-80% in just 30 minutes – a full charge from a 7kW home wallbox takes around three hours. All Velars come as standard with four-wheel-drive, while plug-in hybrid and six-cylinder Velar models get an adaptive suspension setup which can stiffen up for sportier driving or slacken off for a more comfortable ride; this system also comes as standard on top-spec four-cylinder Dynamic HSE examples. 

Want to see what other options are out there? Check out our list of the top 10 best luxury SUVs