2019 Range Rover Velar gains new diesel, tech tweaks

Range Rover’s sleek Velar has come in for its first major update, with the bold British SUV receiving a range of improvements under the bonnet and to its electronics suite.

Meanwhile, other tweaks focus on suspension, with air springs and electronically-adjustable adaptive dampers now more widely available across the bewilderingly huge Velar range.

In Europe, premium cloth trim also becomes available on a broader selection of models, and even the fuel tank on four-cylinder petrol variants has been increased in size to 82 litres, up from 63 litres, providing a significant boost to range.

But the most noteworthy change is the addition of the 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 D275 powertrain to the Velar’s existing list of engines. Sitting between the current D240 and D300, the D275 generates 202kW and 625Nm and, if it were confirmed for the Australian market, would bring the total number of engines available locally to six. It would also tip the petrol/diesel balance firmly in favour of oil burners, as the fourth diesel-drinking variant.

Adaptive cruise control is already a feature of the Velar, but for the 2019 model year gains the ability to operate between 0-180km/h and handle the stop-and-go of heavy traffic. In Europe, a rear camera, front and rear parking sensors, fatigue monitor, lane keep assist and AEB become standard-issue – though the bulk of these features are already standard in Australia.

The Velar’s four-cylinder petrol engines – of which only the P250 is offered on our shores – gain a particulate exhaust filter to scrub emissions, though it’s unclear whether Australia-bound cars will be fitted with that technology.

Already on sale in Europe, Land Rover’s Australian operation has yet to confirm price, specifications and launch timing for the updated Range Rover Velar.