Range Rover Velar vs Jaguar F-Pace SUV comparison

Premium SUVs are perfect for buyers wanting a practical family car with off-road capability combined with the prestige and quality of an upmarket badge. The upcoming Range Rover Velar offers great looks and a sophisticated interior but how does it compare to its stablemate, the fun-to-drive Jaguar F-Pace?

See how much you can save using our Jaguar F-Pace deals page. If you’re not sure what to buy, read our list of the 10 best luxury SUVs currently on sale and our countdown of the best SUVs for sale or check out our car chooser tool for help making a decision.

Range Rover Velar vs Jaguar F-Pace styling

The exterior styling of the Velar is somewhat divisive – it’s bolder and more angular than recent Range Rover offerings which may or may not be to your tastes. Its sloping coupe roof appears to come from the Evoque, the front echoes both the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport with a large grille flanked by angular headlights, albeit with a few distinct tweaks.

At the back, the Velar has a sloping spoiler and a small rear windscreen – the car is completed by a chrome bumper flanked by two large chrome exhausts. Top-spec First Edition versions sit on giant 22-inch wheels and are trimmed with eye-catching bronze exterior trim pieces.

The F-Pace sits lower than the Velar with a sporty stance. The front is dominated by a large grille flanked by lower vents and angular headlights borrowed from the XF. Viewed from the side, the Jaguar’s large alloys fill the wheelarches while the sloping roof adds to its sporty image.

A pair of skinny taillights, a hatch-mounted spoiler and a small rear windscreen complete the F-Pace’s sporty design. Range-topping F-Pace S models feature aluminium grille inserts and silver trim pieces to set them apart from standard models.

Range Rover Velar vs Jaguar F-Pace interior

With its trio of infotainment screens – two centrally mounted 10-inch displays and a 12.3-inch digital cockpit – the Velar feels more technological inside than the F-Pace. The Range Rover’s interior is minimalistic with few buttons thanks to most of the car’s functions being controlled via the centrally mounted screens. The overall design is smart, functional and, above all, luxurious. The Velar also offers an interior trimmed in sustainable faux-leather made from recycled plastic bottles.

The F-Pace’s interior is by no means sparse but it can’t match the Range Rover in terms of technology and simplicity. Entry-level F-Pace models come equipped with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen while higher trims get the InControl Pro 10.2-inch infotainment system. If you want the 12.3-inch digital dials found in the Range Rover, you’ll have to pay an extra £1,710.

Compared to the Velar, the F-Pace’s interior feels much sportier. The dashboard cocoons the driver and passenger, while the seats sit low in the car, offering a sportier driving position than the Range Rover – much like the F-Type Coupe. The Velar counters by being much more spacious than the claustrophobic cockpit in the Jaguar, however.

Range Rover Velar vs Jaguar F-Pace driving

Dynamically, we expect the Range Rover to drive more like its larger Range Rover Sport brother than the smaller Evoque. Being a large SUV, the Velar might not be the easiest car to manoeuvre around town but comes into its own when at a cruise. The Velar’s party piece is its sophisticated terrain response system that allows it to conquer most off-road obstacles thrown at it.

Although it may not be as capable as the Range Rover when off-road, for everyday usability, the Jaguar offers a sporty driving experience for an SUV – masking its mass very well. Some may find the F-Pace’s ride to be a little too firm, but optional adaptive dampers soften the ride somewhat.

Range Rover Velar vs Jaguar F-Pace practicality

The Velar will happily swallow 632 litres of luggage with the rear seats up but, if you fold them away in a 40:20:40 split, you’ll be able to carry an impressive 1,731-litres. This is significantly more than the 1,400 litres offered by the Mercedes GLC Coupe, but less than the Jaguar’s 650-litre boot that expands to a vast 1,740 litres.

The cabin features a number of useful cubbies including a cup holder under the centre armrest and an optional cooled glovebox. There are also enough USB ports and 12V sockets as standard to keep as many as five devices fully charged. An extra 12V socket and two further USB ports can be specified for rear-seat passengers, too.

The Jaguar is just as practical as the Velar, offering massive door bins – for both front and rear passengers – and an array of cubby bins scattered around the cabin. Rear passengers will find adequate headroom thanks to a flat roofline.

Range Rover Velar vs Jaguar F-Pace engines

You get a choice of six petrol and diesel engines across both cars – ranging from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel to a more powerful supercharged petrol V6. The Entry-level 2.0-litre diesel in the Velar produces 178hp, compared to the 163hp in the Jaguar. Both cars are available with a more powerful 237hp engine equipped with twin turbos that claims 48.7mpg in the Jaguar.

If you’re after performance, opt for either the 3.0-litre diesel V6 that’s good for 296hp or the powerful 375hp 3.0-litre supercharged petrol engine, shared with the Jaguar F-Type. The high-powered petrol engine seems more suited for the Jaguar, thanks to its sportier driving dynamics, while the torquey 3.0-litre diesel will better suit the Range Rover’s laid-back driving style.

Range Rover Velar vs Jaguar F-Pace prices

Land Rover’s confirmed the new Velar will cost from £44,830 for a 178hp diesel model in the most basic trim. Top-spec First Edition models will set you back £83,350 and £85,450 for 3.0-litre diesel and petrol models respectively.

The prices for the Jaguar are not as dear, with entry-level, rear-wheel drive 163hp diesel models costing from £34,570. To benefit from a bit more power, automatic and four-wheel drive, you’ll have to pay £38,760 for the 2.0-litre diesel with all-wheel drive, while top-of-the-range petrol V6 models are priced from £52,815.

Range Rover Velar vs Jaguar F-Pace verdict

It’s a very close call between these two cars. The Jaguar is possibly better suited to drivers after a sporty model who need the practicality of an SUV. The Velar, on the other hand, will be better suited to buyers after an SUV with some limited sporty pretensions. The one you choose will reflect what you prioritise in a new car.

Save money on your next new car

To see how much carwow could help you save on either of these premium SUVs, head over to our Jaguar F-Pace deals page and as the Range Rover Velar isn’t available yet, check out its sibling the Range Rover Sport deals page. To see what else this class has to offer, take a look at our car chooser or read our list of the 10 best luxury SUVs currently on sale.