2021 MINI Countryman vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The original Land Rover Range Rover revolutionized the SUV game by combining off-road capability with a modicum of civility. Land Rover is now trying to milk that success by creating a “family” of Range Rover models, including some with more car-like styling and character.

That’s where the Land Rover Range Rover Velar comes in. Launched for the 2018 model year, it sits above the Range Rover Evoque, but below the Range Rover Sport, in size and price (the traditional Range Rover remains the brand’s flagship). Land Rover chose the Velar name as a nod to the original 1969 Range Rover prototypes, which were badged Velar to hide their origin.

The main change for the 2020 model year is the addition of an SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition to the lineup. It’s a one-year-only special that packs a V8 engine instead of the usual V6 or turbo-four. This is the version we tested as, aside from what’s under the hood, it is representative of other Velar models.