Range Rover Velar review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

The Range Rover Velar is different from more attainable Land Rover models such as the Evoque and Discovery Sport because there is no front-wheel drive version offered. Even the entry-level diesel is 4WD only, which fits with the car’s high-end target market.

It does, however, mean that the 178bhp diesel manages up to a respectable but not outstanding 42mpg on the claimed combined WLTP cycle, with CO2 emissions of 177g/km. 

If you want to step up to a the 237bhp twin-turbo 2.0-litre diesel, the economy penalty isn’t too bad, either (it manages up to 41.1mpg combined and emits 181g/km). The V6 diesel in 271bhp D275 guise returns up to 38mpg and emits 195g/km. Opt for the 296bhp D300 version of this engine and those remain identical.

Do note however that regardless of CO2, all Velars are subject to the £325 a year road tax supplement (running from years two to six of the car's life) as the range starts at above £40,000.

Unsurprisingly, the petrols fare less well when it comes to efficiency. The most frugal 247bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder manages up to 30.8mpg combined and emits 208g/km, while the 296bhp P300 posts figures of 29.8mpg and 215g/km.

43

The best option for those wanting improved efficiency is the P400e plug-in hybrid, which is able to travel for around 30 miles on electric power alone. CO2 emissions of 51-56g/km will be attractive to business users, too.

The top-spec supercharged 5.0-litre V8 returns 23mpg on the combined cycle and emits 279g/km of CO2. Ultimately, buyers at this price point are more worried about range than fuel consumption; it’s the diesels which offer a greater distance between fill-ups.

Insurance groups

The Velar’s insurance looks to be roughly on a par with rivals from Audi and BMW, and cheaper than cars such as the Porsche Macan, which is a good achievement when you consider the Velar’s cost and desirability. The base diesel starts at group 31, and it rises to group 50 for the top-spec SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition model.

Depreciation

On average, the Velar range retains around 46% of original value over three years and 36,000 miles, although higher-spec HSE cars tend to fair better at around 50%. By comparison, the Porsche Macan holds onto 8-10% more over the same period.