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| © Michael Simari Halfway through its 40,000-mile test, our classy and capable 2018 Range Rover Velar frustrates us with numerous electrical glitches. |
By Mike Sutton, Car and Driver
WHAT WE LIKE: Now past the halfway point of its 40,000-mile stay, our 2018 Range Rover Velar continues to exude a swanky presence wherever it goes, and it offers enough cargo space behind the rear seats (a class-leading 34 cubic feet) to ensure its occupants have everything they need once they arrive. The Velar also is a well-mannered road tripper, with both good stability at highway speeds and decent composure when the roads become more challenging. While our excursions off the beaten path have been minimal, consisting of windy, two-track trials that most all-wheel-drive crossovers likely could navigate, it's comforting to know that our Rover's optional Terrain Response 2 system will let it crawl over rougher ground with relative ease. That we've refitted a set of Pirelli Scorpion Winter tires in place of the stock all-season rubber means that we can expect our Velar to conquer the white stuff when it begins to pile up.
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| © Michael Simari We Like the Range Rover Velar, But We're Tiring of Its Electronic Bugs |
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE: Less enjoyable have been the Range Rover's ongoing electronic glitches that manifest as frustratingly temporary hiccups. Since our last update, noted short-lived episodes have included the climate-control system blasting hot air on a summer's day despite being set at 68 degrees, hyperactive parking and collision-warning sensors that occasionally sound alerts when creeping forward in a line of traffic, and a recalcitrant electronic rotary shift knob that sometimes refuses to move from its D setting. The InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system's dual touchscreens also remain a point of contention with their less than optimal ergonomic layout, slow responses, and tendency to momentarily go dark and reboot while we're driving. On occasion, the screens have even frozen up and ignored both touch inputs and those from the steering-wheel controls until the Velar is shut off and allowed to sit for a few minutes before restarting. "The Velar makes me swear in front of my children, which I rarely do," one driver wrote in the logbook. We also echo our previous complaints regarding the lack of lumbar adjustability in our Velar's front seats, the clunky engine stop/start system, and that the Velar often automatically shuts itself off when engaging park.
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| © Michael Simari We Like the Range Rover Velar, But We're Tiring of Its Electronic Bugs |
WHAT WENT WRONG: Other than the sporadic and varied electronic gremlins that never stick around long enough to warrant a trip to the dealer, the Velar has been trouble-free since our last update. The Rover's long, 16,000-mile service intervals mean our scheduled visits are few and far between.
WHERE WE WENT: While the four-cylinder Velar has mostly lived a commuter's life in southeastern Michigan-which hasn't helped to boost its 22-mpg average fuel economy, 1 mpg less than its combined EPA estimate-it has ventured to the western side of the state, made a quick jaunt to Indiana, and completed one near-1500-mile road trip to Tennessee and back.
Months in Fleet: 9 months Current Mileage: 22,096 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 16.6 gal Observed Fuel Range: 360 miles
Service: $178 Normal Wear: $0 Repair:$0
