2019 Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Review Review

What’s the spec?

The Velar SVA Dynamic – at least that rolls off the tongue more easily – is twinned with the Jaguar F-Pace SVR, if with some crucial hardware and set-up differences. Both are based on the same Jaguar Land Rover aluminium underpinnings, get a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 in the same state of tune, with the same eight-speed auto and all-wheel-drive system too.

But the Velar rides on cushier air suspension and it’s more off-road capable thanks to an adjustable ride height and all-season tyres. It certainly did the business on the challenging off-road course we tried. On the road, Land Rover’s engineers have targeted a more sophisticated, less shouty kind of high-performance SUV than the extrovert Jaguar.

There’s also a decent step up in price to split the two: at £86,685, the Velar SVA Dynamic costs £11k more than an F-Pace SVR.

Tell me about the exterior and interior…

Even the most basic Velar can turn heads with its sleek, modern design (providing it’s on decently large alloys), so the SVA Dynamic’s suitably restrained approach essentially amounts to a Velar best-of package. A new front bumper and grille adds presence and improves cooling, plus there are deeper sideskirts, and a rear bumper with quad exhaust finishers. A contrast black roof, knurled Range Rover badging and new 21-inch forged alloys are all standard, with 22s optional. Both wheel sizes save 2.5kg per corner compared with a conventional cast alloy. The gorgeous Satin Byron Blue is exclusive to the SVA Dynamic, but it’s… £6k!

Inside, key differences versus a regular Velar include electric massage seats in Windsor leather that squish far more indulgently than the sports buckets in the F-Pace SVR. Shame they let themselves down with such flimsy electric adjustors. Elsewhere there’s a re-designed steering wheel, and knurled detailed for the controls. It’s an effective makeover for an already smart, calming interior dominated by impressive dual touchscreens.

How does the Velar SVA Dynamic drive?

Around town it’s as refined and effortless as you could wish for. There’s a plumpness to the air suspension that smothers imperfections, steering that shrugs off the Velar’s heft with its accuracy, speed and relatively low effort, plus smooth gear shifts and a lovely rich V8 exhaust note.

On the open road the Velar SVA Dynamic surges forward with a mix of easy torque, instant response and rapid-fire gear changes that make it feel relentlessly quick everywhere. For getting cross-country discreetly, rapidly and with large helpings of both security and comfort, the SVA Dynamic is a potent combination.

Only when pushed really hard does it begin to unravel and feel its weight and height, with a bit too much understeer and body roll. So if that’s how you drive, the F-Pace SVR will suit you better.

In a nutshell

The Velar SVA Dynamic is the Jaguar F-Pace SVR’s non-identical twin, and unquestionably delivers on its brief of being the more luxurious, refined and off-road capable sibling. Despite modest updates, it also looks suitably special inside and out. The Velar SVA Dynamic is an impressively sophisticated package, but space remains for it to balance everything it does so deftly with, well, a more dynamic feel when driven enthusiastically over a great road. View used Range Rover Velar cars for sale, available on finance, along with the entire Land Rover/Range Rover range with ChooseMyCar.

Similar car reviews

Also reviewed is the Land Rover Discovery Sport (despite its name) isn’t very sporty but is a comfortable and versatile family SUV.

Less luxurious, but still an equally good SUV is the Audi SQ5, with its turbodiesel power, is a very complete performance SUV car, and you can pick on up brand new from around £55k, you can pick up a used 2018 model for around the £42k mark.

Also, the latest BMW X7, is their first full-sized 7 seater, and offers a luxurious, but yet highly practical interior and is nicely refined, and nimble for its size.

Finally, Jaguar’s first compact SUV the Jaguar E-Pace is an attractively sporty design inside and out which is based upon the Land Rover Evoque.