√2024 Range Rover Velar facelift revealed, priced for Australia

The Range Rover Velar luxury SUV has gained exterior, interior, technology and engine upgrades, with first Australian arrivals due this year.

The facelifted 2024 Range Rover Velar luxury SUV has been unveiled with a new look, upgraded technology, revised trim and updated plug-in hybrid power.

Orders in Australia for the updated Range Rover Velar are now open, ahead of first deliveries due in Land Rover showrooms in July or August 2023 across seven model variants, priced from $106,150 plus on-road costs.

Prices have risen by between $5300 and $7250 on equivalent variants for the new model year – while the axing of the entry-level R-Dynamic S P250 has increased the price of entry into the range by $9550.

New variants – the Autobiography P400 petrol, and a cheaper Dynamic SE P400e plug-in hybrid – join the range for 2024. The previous ‘R-Dynamic’ branding has been replaced by ‘Dynamic’.

Exterior changes include new headlights with simpler LED signatures – and the option of matrix LED technology – plus a restyled grille, new 3D-effect LED tail-light signatures, and a new rear bumper.

Two new exterior colours have been added, Metallic Varesine Blue and Premium Metallic Zadar Grey.

Inside, a new 11.4-inch touchscreen replaces the 10-inch display, running an updated version of the existing Pivi Pro software with sidebars with touch shortcuts, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, Amazon Alexa, and what3words functionality.

The leather-free interior upholstery option now includes Kvadrat wool (which is said to be 58 per cent lighter than leather) and Ultrafabrics polyurethane textiles, while there are four new leather colours: light grey (Cloud), tan (Caraway), Raven Blue and red (Deep Garnet).

These leather choices are joined by new chrome accents on the steering wheel, centre console and air vents, and metal-look or wood-veneer inlays on the console.

Also new are revised active noise cancellation and cabin air purification systems, while a range of audio systems are available, including a 17-speaker, 750-watt Meridian 3D surround-sound system.

Four engines will be available in Australia – two petrols, one diesel, and an upgraded plug-in hybrid model, which Land Rover says gains a revised battery that has increased in capacity from 17.1kWh to 19.2kWh, increasing claimed electric driving range from 59km to 69km.

It is combined with a carry-over 221kW turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and 105kW electric motor for combined outputs of 297kW/640Nm, good for a 5.4-second 0-100km/h acceleration time.

The ‘P400e’ PHEV is capable of DC fast charging, for a claimed zero to 80 per cent recharge in “as little as 30 minutes” on a 50kW plug. Empty to full on a 7kW home AC wallbox is claimed to take 2.5 hours.

The plug-in hybrid is joined by 184kW/365Nm ‘P250’ 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol, 221kW/650Nm ‘D300’ 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder diesel, and 294kW/550Nm ‘P400’ 3.0-litre turbo inline six-cylinder petrol engines.

All models are equipped with all-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmissions, while the D300 and P400 engines are fitted with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology.

Land Rover claims 0-100km/h and fuel efficiency of 7.5 seconds and 7.8 litres per 100km for the P250, 6.5 seconds and 7.0L/100km for the D300, and 5.5 seconds and 8.7L/100km for the P400.

The 2024 Range Rover Velar is now available to order in Australia, ahead of first deliveries due in July or August 2023.