PROS PHEV drivetrain enables limited electric running at speeds up to 135km/h Excellent blend of everyday comfort, refinement and performance 3500kg towing capacity It shares its drivetrain with the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
CONS PHEV drivetrain adds handsomely to the weight Li-ion battery robs 70L of boot space Lacks the traditional hardened performance focus for which Volkswagen R models are renowned
“A curious mix of speed and efficiency with a big dollop of comfort. It's just not especially fun ”
PROS Comfy, plush, quick and a company car bargain
CONS Not as nimble as a Cayenne
The VW Touareg R is comfortable, well-equipped and effortless to drive, but not sharp or engaging enough to be considered a true sports SUV. That leaves it in somewhat of a no man’s land. Put simply, those looking for a fast yet relatively frugal sports SUV would be better served by the similarly priced Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid, while those wanting a luxurious and well-rounded plug-in hybrid luxury SUV would be better off with the BMW X5 xDrive45e.
PROS Well-equipped Spacious inside for up to five people Very quiet in electric mode
CONS Cheap-feeling interior Fussy infotainment system Not very exciting to drive
“The Velar plugs a gap in, er, Land Rover's range of Range Rovers. It's bigger than the Evoque but smaller than the Sport ”
PROS Achingly stylish inside and out. Improved engines and plug-in option make the heavy-duty bits more competitive. Relaxed and refined, yet unusually superb off-road.
CONS Infotainment screen not quite Land Rover’s latest and greatest. Expensive once you start speccing it
The Range Rover Velar is a stylish, refined and seriously appealing coupé SUV. If you keep to small wheels, it's a comfy companion while our favoured S trim gets plenty of kit. It’s best to stick to the cheaper trims and engines – once you start moving up the range, the price rises into the realms of better-resolved cars, such as the Audi Q8 and BMW X6.
PROS Decent economy with diesels and plug-in Smooth and punchy D300 engine Good off road
CONS Average rear leg room Wallowy handling Some cheap plastics inside
