2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar presented a unique blend of style, sitting comfortably between the sleek Evoque and the boxy Range Rover. Its low roof and steeply-raked windshield gave it a distinct profile, setting it apart from the traditional upright Range Rover design. The Velar maintained an intimidating presence with its broad front end, while its short overhangs and optional air suspension provided off-road capability. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition added sportier touches, including larger air intakes and quad exhaust tips, enhancing its aggressive look. Inside, the Velar offered a luxurious experience with high-quality leather and metal trim, creating a cockpit-like feel that was more suited to urban environments than rugged terrains.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered a variety of trims, each with unique styling cues. The base LS and LT models featured different grille patterns, while the RST and Z71 trims boasted a sportier, blacked-out appearance. The upscale Premier and luxurious High Country trims added chrome accents and larger wheels. The Tahoe's design retained familiar themes but with more subtle forms, giving it a slab-sided appearance. The new independent rear suspension improved passenger comfort and cargo space, making it a more practical choice for families. The Tahoe's interior was centered around a larger infotainment screen and new electronic transmission controls, enhancing storage capacity but compromising control layout.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar introduced a significant performance upgrade with the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, featuring a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This engine allowed the Velar to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 177 mph. Despite these impressive figures, the Velar's performance was not as dominant as some competitors. The Dynamic Edition also included bigger brakes, retuned four-wheel drive, and an active exhaust system, enhancing its speed and body control. However, the Velar's chassis felt less sharp compared to other performance SUVs, and its size made it less agile on tight roads. The rest of the Velar's powertrain lineup remained unchanged, with a base 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 option. The Velar also featured Land Rover's Terrain Response system for off-road capability, although it lacked a low range transfer case.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered three engine options, starting with a 5.3-liter V8 delivering 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, standard in all but the High Country trim. The High Country featured a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel engine was also available, offering 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, promising improved fuel efficiency. The Tahoe's 10-speed automatic transmission powered the rear wheels, with a four-wheel-drive system optional on most trims. The Z71 trim came standard with 4WD and off-road enhancements. The major engineering change for the 2021 Tahoe was the adoption of an independent rear suspension, improving ride quality and interior comfort. The Tahoe Z71 impressed with its smooth ride, thanks to adaptive damping and air suspension upgrades. The 5.3-liter V8 and 10-speed automatic transmission provided refined and capable performance, while the Dynamic Fuel Management technology improved fuel economy.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar occupied a unique position in terms of size, being larger than small luxury SUVs but smaller than midsize counterparts. Despite its size, the Velar's interior space was not as generous as expected. The GLC offered more legroom, and the X3 provided more headroom. Cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 48.9 cubic feet with them folded. The Velar's avant-garde styling contributed to a claustrophobic feeling inside, with limited headroom and visibility. The cockpit-like front seating area felt cramped, although the tall center console was easily accessible. The Velar's towing capacity was respectable, with the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and V6 models rated at 5,511 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe benefited from its new independent rear suspension, providing improved passenger comfort and cargo space. The test vehicle featured heated power-adjustable front seats and a heated steering wheel, with a power sliding storage console for added convenience. The second-row offered a choice between a bench seat or captain's chairs, with the latter option providing comfort and easy access to the third-row. The third-row seat room was substantially improved, accommodating adults comfortably. The Tahoe offered impressive cargo space, with 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat, 72.6 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 122.9 cubic feet. These figures surpassed most full-size SUVs, making the Tahoe a practical choice for families.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, with dual 10.0-inch touchscreens, a WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The upper screen handled smartphone, navigation, and media functions, while the lower screen managed vehicle settings and climate control. The system received praise for its high-quality graphics and menu layout but was criticized for slow responses. The Velar also included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls, fitting the minimalist cabin design.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe boasted a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a new digital platform offering enhanced computing power and cybersecurity protection. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice-recognition system, and Chevrolet Connected Services. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a tablet-like interface, although some menu icons were hard to access. The voice-recognition system was particularly impressive, responding accurately to natural prompts. The test vehicle included a Rear Seat Media system, offering versatility for rear passengers. The Tahoe also offered an available 15-inch head-up display for added convenience.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, as low-volume luxury vehicles were a low priority for crash testing. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and front and rear parking aids. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were available as part of an option package. However, Land Rover's driver-assist tech offerings were less sophisticated compared to competitors, with only lane-keep assist available.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe included standard safety features such as Teen Driver, a rear-seat reminder system, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Higher trims or options added lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. Premier and High Country trims offered adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Tahoe's driving-assistance features worked as expected during testing, with no false threats. The available surround-view camera was recommended for maneuvering the large SUV.