Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs Honda CR-V Hybrid

Land Rover adopted a “reductive” design philosophy to guide the 2024 Velar’s exterior styling and interior design. This minimalistic approach sought to reduce unnecessary elements, aiming to simplify and modernize the SUV's overall look. The Velar, first introduced in 2018, was the initial Range Rover to embrace this ethos, and the 2024 model took it even further with a new grille, revised headlights and taillights, fresh wheel choices, and updated exterior detailing. The redesigned rear bumper emphasized the Velar’s width, lending it a lower and wider appearance with the full-length upper stop lamp reinforcing this aesthetic.

Inside, the Velar sported a larger 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that appeared to float in front of the dashboard. The new center console eliminated traditional controls such as climate system dials and the stereo volume knob, relying solely on the touchscreen for these functions. Despite its modern look, Velar's approach to a purely digital interface was not without controversy.

Furthermore, despite some substandard quality within its cabin, like problematic plastic on lower door panels and poorly fitting driver’s floor mats, the overall interior appearance was luxurious. The Kvadrat wool blend option offered a sustainable alternative to animal-based seat upholstery. Additionally, the available Cabin Air Purification Plus system included PM 2.5 filtration and carbon dioxide monitoring.

Contrast that with the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid, which, with a base price of $33,700 for the Sport model, offered an affordable electrified SUV option. Our test vehicle, a Sport Touring Hybrid at $41,175, came in Canyon River Blue. The Honda CR-V Hybrid sported conservative styling with a technical face resembling an angry robot—a design expected to age well, though too much visual weight on the front detracted from its elegance. The tusks framing the lower air intake didn’t enhance its aesthetics.

Interestingly, the CR-V’s best angle was from the rear quarter where its tidy design and Volvo-adjacent taillights offered an upscale appearance. Honda refrained from overusing SUV styling cues, and while the 19-inch gloss black wheels exclusive to the Sport Touring trim added a touch of shine, their impact was muted on darker paint colors.

Inside, the CR-V Sport Touring boasted leather seats with orange contrast stitching and numerous sophisticated details. The quality of materials shone through various elements like the sound of the doors shutting and the soft-touch upper dashboard pad introducing a sense of refinement rarely found in the compact SUV segment.

The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar offered two engine choices, with our test model equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine featuring a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing 394 horsepower between 5,500 rpm and 6,500 rpm, and 406 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 rpm and 5,000 rpm. Velars with this engine carried the P400 designation, while models with a less powerful 247-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine were labeled P250.

We recommended the engine upgrade, as the turbo six propelled the Velar to 60 mph nearly two seconds faster, delivering a richer driving experience despite a slight drop in fuel efficiency to 21 mpg in combined driving. We averaged 19.5 mpg during our evaluation. The Velar's eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system with variable power distribution ensured seamless performance. Ground clearance ranged from 8.4 inches to a maximum of 9.9 inches with the optional air suspension, enhancing its water fording capacity.

The Velar included standard Terrain Response driving modes, tailored for diverse conditions. Its Dynamic mode, specific for on-pavement driving, saw the SUV perform admirably on mountain roads. In Comfort mode, the Velar offered a quiet and soothing ride, but urban driving highlighted its softer dynamics. We could not take the Velar off-roading due to loan restrictions, though it appeared to have competitive off-road capabilities.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation two-motor hybrid drive system, producing 204 horsepower through an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with electric motors. This system worked differently from other hybrids, using one motor for propulsion and the other as a generator/starter motor, effectively managing power distribution through various driving states.

According to the EPA, the CR-V Sport Touring should net 37 mpg in combined driving. However, our test loop in Southern California yielded 32.4 mpg, far short of estimates. Despite this, the CR-V’s ride was relatively quiet, with compliant handling traits. Variable steering effort and the underwhelming performance of the two-motor system's sound marred the experience slightly.

Approaching the 2024 Velar, flush-mounted handles powered out for use, though the design had potential hazards with the doors. Entry was challenging for taller individuals due to the angled windshield pillars and small opening. However, once seated, the 14-way power adjustable, heated leather front seats offered substantial comfort, with additional ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated windshield, and a headlight power-wash system available through the Cold Climate Pack.

Our test vehicle's Cloud over Ebony theme with genuine wood veneers emanated quality, despite issues with cheap-looking plastic on lower door panels and a loose driver’s floor mat. The rear seats provided excellent support with ample legroom and lumbar support, although rear doors lacked sunshades.

Cargo capacity in the Velar was 30.9 cubic feet, expanding to 62.7 cubic feet with the 40/20/40 split-folding back seat. Storage was adequate but not class-leading.

In comparison, the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled with high-quality materials, intuitive control layouts, and comfortable seats. The CR-V Hybrid offered a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and was user-friendly for both front and rear passengers. The spacious backseat and 90-degree rear door openings facilitated easy entry, especially beneficial for installing child safety seats. The rear air conditioning vents and USB-C charging ports added to passenger comfort.

The CR-V Hybrid’s front and rear storage compartments were generous, though the glove compartment was surprisingly small. Topping the form and function, the CR-V Hybrid's Sport Touring trim offered 34.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up and 76.5 cubic feet with the seats folded, among the highest in its class.

The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the updated Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, over-the-air software updates, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, though it also centralized functions like climate control and stereo volume within the touchscreen. Despite sidebars offering shortcuts to functions, the added complexity and small icon sizes were less user-friendly.

The Velar came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, standard Meridian premium, and optional high-fidelity sound systems. Our test vehicle benefited from a HUD but lacked a surround-view camera, relying on a reversing camera and parking sensors.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid sported a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a touchscreen infotainment system, with a 9-inch display available on higher trims. Features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a premium Bose audio system were reserved for higher trims. Familiarity and ease of use stood out in the CR-V Hybrid, though its voice recognition system was less advanced compared to competitors.

Every 2024 Velar was equipped with an extensive array of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control with a speed-limited function and adaptive cruise control with Steer Assist. However, Steer Assist's performance left much to be desired, often causing stress rather than relieving it, with poor handling in typical driving scenarios.

By contrast, the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid included Honda Sensing's suite of safety features. Our comprehensive testing showed the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems performed smoothly and accurately. The CR-V Hybrid also had rear-seat reminders, automatic high-beam headlights, and front and rear parking sensors on higher trims. It received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS for 2023, signaling top-tier safety credentials.