2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition Road Test and Review

2020 Range Rover Velar hero ・ Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition has the longest name of any SUV we’ve ever tested. It’s also one of the best SUVs we’ve ever tested. It’s the new high-performance version of the Range Rover Velar, and it’s packing enough speed and handling to embarrass many sports sedans.

Since its debut in 2018, the Range Rover Velar has proven popular for its comfort, performance, and eye-catching design. This year, Land Rover has cranked up its performance with the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, a one-year-only version with a 550-horsepower supercharged V8 engine. Refined, fun to drive, and family-friendly, the Velar has been one of the most attractive five-passenger SUVs around. Now it’s also one of the most powerful SUVs in the world. It competes against BMW X3 M Competition, Porsche Macan Turbo, Audi SQ5, and Mercedes-Benz GLC 63.

A Product of Special Vehicle Operations

Along with the other Velar models, the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition is built in the UK. With a base price of $91,815, including $1,025 destination fee, it sits at the top of the Velar range, above the R-Dynamic HSE, which is powered by a 380-hp supercharged V6.

This edition the work of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations, and it’s the fastest and quickest Velar ever. SV is Land Rover’s in-house speed shop. It’s sort of like BMW’s M Division or AMG at Mercedes, and its previous work includes the 575-horsepower Range Rover Sport SVR and the 595-horsepower Jaguar XE SVR. “Developing the Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition is the kind of task Special Vehicle Operations was made for,” says Michael van der Sande, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations. “The challenge here was to increase performance without compromising the composure, capability, and refinement inherent in the Range Rover Velar.” The team managed to do just that. Under the Velar’s hood is the brand’s exceptional supercharged 5.0-liter V8, which is paired with an equally impressive eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive system.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

It Looks Fast

The Range Rover Velar shares its aluminum chassis and most of its mechanical hardware with the Jaguar F-PACE, but you’d never know it from the outside. Land Rover’s Design Director Gerry McGovern has done a masterful job giving the Velar its own skin. It looks like a proper Range Rover, but it’s also quite unique with a powerful stance, low roofline, and aggressive forms that have a “shaped by the wind” quality. It looks fast.

A unique front bumper features larger air intakes than other Velar models to better cool the SVAutobiography’s massive engine and upgraded brake system. There’s also a new grille, reshaped lower side moldings, and a revised rear bumper with four massive chrome exhaust pipes. Huge 21-inch wheels and tires are standard, and our Byron Blue test car looked fantastic on its optional 22-inch five-spoke-style dark gray rims.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

Explosively Quick

At about 4,600 lbs, the 2020 Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition is no lightweight, but it weighs about 500 lbs less than the more powerful Range Rover Sport SVR, so it’s just as quick and considerably more fun to drive. Punch it off the line and the Velar is explosive, thanks to the V8’s incredible torque. It sprints to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of 170 mph. The supercharged V8, which is also used in the Jaguar F-TYPE sports car, is smooth and revs happily to its 6,500-rpm redline. It also sounds great, belching a throaty roar worthy of a muscle car.

The Velar’s eight-speed automatic transmission is well-geared and responsive, and it has a Sport setting for even more immediate performance. Paddle shifters for manual control are standard. The driver can also tune the Velar with different driving modes, including Comfort and Dynamic, which quickens throttle response and tightens up the SUV’s independent suspension to improve handling. But it’s not too stiff. Even with our test car’s optional 22-inch wheels and tires, this SUV rides comfortably.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

Handles Like a Sports Sedan

An air suspension is also standard, so the Velar’s ride height is adjustable, which improves its performance both on and off road. Like the larger Range Rover, the Velar is easy to drive around town, and parking it won’t make your palms sweat thanks to its tight turning circle. It’s also incredibly athletic for such a heavy SUV.

It handles well around town, feeling light on its feet and responsive. It’s fun to hustle this SUV through traffic. On a twisty mountain road, in Dynamic mode, you’d swear you were driving a European sports sedan. Body roll is very well controlled in corners and its steering is quick, well-weighted, and precise. Its huge tires and retuned all-wheel drive system provide plenty of grip on the road and its brakes, which are over 15 inches in diameter and have cool red calipers, are extremely powerful and easy to modulate. Land Rover says its Special Operations engineers spent more than 63,000 hours fine-tuning the SUV’s ride, handling, and responsiveness, and it shows.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

Still Off-Road-Capable

A Range Rover that can’t be driven off road isn’t much a Range Rover, so the Velar SV retains the brand’s All-Terrain Response System, which offers settings for different surfaces, including grass, gravel, snow, mud, and sand. Surely this isn’t the Range Rover to buy if you plan to traverse jungles, but it’s still equipped to handle dirt roads and slippery conditions.

Fuel economy is also good for this class, but you can’t expect big mpg numbers from a 550-horsepower SUV. The EPA estimates the Velar’s fuel usage at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. I averaged 17 mpg during a week of mixed driving, and I continuously used the Rover’s start/stop feature, which shuts off the engine at idle to safe fuel. It isn’t the smoothest start/stop system around, but it isn’t rough enough to be a bother. On the highway, you can drive about 300 miles between fill-ups.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

Modern, Elegant, and Comfortable Interior

Much like its exterior, the interior of the 2020 Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition is minimalistic and impressively modern. It’s also beautifully finished and artistically crafted. Nothing feels cheap, and all of its knobs and switches function with precision. A power panoramic sunroof is standard, and the Velar’s rotary shifter rises dramatically from the console when you start the engine. Its configurable 12.3-inch gauge cluster is also pretty nifty, offering several displays that include one with a full-size navigation map.

Its seats are firm, but comfortable, offering heat, ventilation, and massage. There are also two large touchscreens: one for the SUV’s climate controls, seat heaters, and related functions, and a second 10-inch screen for its InControl Touch Pro infotainment and navigation system. The system is still slow to respond compared to the best luxury suvs, but it’s simple enough to use and offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Wi-Fi. There are just two USB ports, however, both of which are up front.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

Seats Five Comfortably

The Velar isn’t as large as a Range Rover Sport, but its generous 113-inch wheelbase provides plenty of interior space. Five fit comfortably, and its rear seat reclines and features its own climate controls. A third row is not available; for that feature, check out the Range Rover Sport and the Land Rover Discovery.

On the safety front, Land Rover offers some driver aids on the Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition. Many are standard, including a blind-spot monitor, and our test car was equipped with the optional Driver Assist Pack with adds a list of others for just $1,300. Buyers should be aware the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have not crash-tested the Range Rover Velar. 

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

Plenty of Cargo Space

Although its center console bin is small, overall storage space inside the Velar’s interior is plentiful, and there are three well-placed front cupholders. Cargo space behind its backseat is also generous. There’s 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space back there, and it’s easily accessed with a power liftgate, which is standard. That’s plenty for any shopaholic on a binge. Plus, the Velar’s air suspension can lower the SUV to make loading items easier.

For more space, its second row is split 40/20/40, and easily folds flat opening up an impressive 60.2 cubic feet of space. Although that’s about average for the luxury suv class, it more space than you’ll find in the larger Range Rover Sport.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

Final Thoughts

The comical length of its name aside, the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition has given us very little to complain about. Yes, its infotainment system is a bit sluggish and it’s priced higher than many of its rivals, but this is one of the most attractive and enjoyable SUVs we’ve tested. We’re huge fans of the Velar in general, but the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition is truly something special.

The engineers at Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations have created a fast and fun high-performance machine that’s still comfortable, easy to live with, and family-friendly. Plus, its 550 horsepower is more than you’ll find in most of its German rivals. If you’re looking for a high-performance mid-size luxury SUV, the 2020 Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition is an exceptional choice.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover