WHY NEW RANGE ROVER VELAR IS KIM’S FIRST CHOICE

When Kim Kristiansen moved to Florida from his native Denmark to head‑up U.S. sales and marketing for a leading Danish software company, the first decision he had to make was which new car to buy. Here he explains why a new Range Rover Velar topped his list.

Is this your first Range Rover?

Yes it is. My wife and I have just moved to St. Petersburg, Florida from Denmark which has some of the highest taxes in the world; a new car is taxed at up to 180 percent. We tended not to buy too many luxury cars, which is why I was so excited to transfer to the U.S.; within days of arriving I was planning which new car to get.

Why the new Range Rover Velar?

I have a good friend who owns a supercharged Range Rover Sport and loves it. He told me about the new Velar and said I should go and look at one. Being the quick‑decision person I am, I rushed off to the dealer and, of course, this being July, it had yet to go on sale. I came home with a nice brochure.

What else was on your shopping list?

After living in Denmark, I was over‑joyed at the prices of luxury vehicles in the U.S. By comparison, they seemed very affordable. I test drove a new Porsche Panamera, a Maserati Ghibli and a BMW X6, but I kept coming back to the Velar. I just loved the sleek design, the style of the interior and the compact size. I contacted the dealer and asked for a call the moment a new Velar came in. In late August I got the call.

Which version did you end‑up getting?

As the Velar was so new, my choices were a little limited. I would have loved a supercharged 3.0‑liter R‑Dynamic, but I bought a 2.0‑liter turbo Velar S. Yes, I could have placed an order, but I just didn’t want to wait. Also, living in Florida with the sunshine, I felt I needed a light exterior color with a light interior. When the dealer said they had a new Velar S with Fuji White paint and an Acorn leather interior, I grabbed it.

How do you like it so far?

I still think the Velar is one of the best‑looking vehicles out there. I’m Scandinavian so design is very important to me; I really love the way it looks. On the inside, the entire fascia is so sleek and clean with the two 10‑inch touchscreens in the center. The quality and craftsmanship of the leather is also first class. I like the flexibility of having a rear seat that splits 20:40:20 rather than the usual 60:40.

How does it drive?

I must say that initially I was a little disappointed at the thought of not having the supercharged V6 with its 380 horsepower, but after spending a few weeks with the 2.0‑liter turbo four‑cylinder, I have to say that it has all the power and performance I need. More than enough, in fact. I really like the  agility of the Velar; its steering is so precise and nicely weighted. It just feels very nimble and sure‑footed.

How was the buying experience?

It could not have been better. In the end I decided to lease. What impressed me was that two weeks after I took delivery, I got a call to set‑up an appointment for a follow‑up tutorial. The tutorial involved a technician coming to my home, spending an hour answering all my questions, and making sure I fully understood the Velar’s technology. That was great service.