Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs Jaguar F-PACE

There was a time when the notion of a Jaguar SUV would cause much harrumphing and the displacement of monocles. The stalwart British automaker has traditionally been known for sports cars and fast-yet-luxurious sedans, but market trends demanded an SUV. So, the 2022 Jaguar F-Pace tries to channel the spirit of previous Jags into a high-riding utility vehicle package.

The Jaguar F-Pace arrived for the 2016 model year as Jaguar’s first SUV (it’s since been joined by the smaller E-Pace and all-electric I-Pace). It thus introduced Jaguar’s “Pace” naming convention for SUVs, derived from the brand’s old marketing tagline “grace, pace, and space.” That’s fitting because, to succeed and keep star-crossed Jag alive, the F-Pace needs all three.

This crossover SUV has done wonders for Jaguar’s bottom line, but it still faces tough competition from rivals like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, and Volvo XC60, as well as the newcomer Genesis GV70. To help distinguish it from the wares of sibling brand Land Rover, the F-Pace focuses more on sporty driving dynamics than off-road capability.

Following a major update for the 2021 model year, the F-Pace rolls into 2022 essentially unchanged. The F-Pace lineup includes a base four-cylinder powertrain (in P250 S configuration), a V6 mild-hybrid powertrain, (available in the F-Pace P340 S and P400 R-Dynamic S variants) and the V8-powered Jaguar F-Pace SVR performance model. We tested a mid-level F-Pace P340 S.

A luxury SUV with seating for five people, the 2024 Velar is one of four SUVs to wear Range Rover lettering across the leading edge of its hood. It slots into the lineup between the smaller Evoque and more capable Sport. This model year, the Velar receives several updates. They include design and comfort enhancements and several improvements to the standard infotainment system.

Verdict: The changes to the 2024 Range Rover Velar result in an appealing, if flawed, alternative to the best-sellers in the segment, such as the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. If the Velar had more natural and less frustrating technology, it could raise its profile in the midsize luxury SUV segment considerably.