Velar buying guide: Grab a real Range Rover for Jaecoo 7 money

As for the driving experience, the Velar is a sort of long-distance GT dressed as an SUV. It makes for a fab motorway weapon, cruising fast and comfortably. On twisting roads, the Velar handles competently, but it stops short of being engaging.

So the Velar is a pretty compelling all-rounder and you might see fit to overlook gripes such as the slightly fussy ride and noisy cabin exacerbated by the largest, 22in wheels. Air suspension improves that. It was an expensive option on four-cylinder models but standard on six-cylinder cars.

There are other reasons to choose the bigger engines. The fours are pretty refined, but the smooth sixes are excellent and more reliable. We would avoid the D180 and D240 2.0-litre diesels with a high reported failure rate. The D200 (the numbers correspond to a model's power in PS) is a revised version, introduced in 2021, and is proving more reliable. The six-pot D275 and D300 are the picks of the range (they switched from V6 to straight-six power in 2021).

The petrols are rarer but also more reliable than the 2.0-litre diesels. In 2.0-litre P250 and P300 form, they're fine. The 3.0-litre P380 and later P400 are fantastically powerful, smooth and sonorous, but don't expect more than 25mpg. There's also the P400e, which pairs the 2.0-litre petrol with a battery and electric motor. It's good for around 30 miles of EV range in the real world and owners haven't reported any major reliability concerns. It doesn't command a significant premium either.

What to look for

Four-cylinder engines: There are many horror stories about the 2.0-litre diesel, particularly regarding the diesel particulate filter, timing chain, turbos, oil dilution, excessive cylinder wear and coolant leaks. The 2.0-litre petrol and later 2.0-litre MHEV diesel are safer bets, but they can still suffer timing chain and turbo issues.

Six-cylinder engines: Many owners agree the 3.0-litre V6 and straight-six petrol and diesel engines are the most reliable. Nevertheless, listen for knocking in the diesel (crankshaft issues) and watch out for heavy coolant use in the petrol (water pump problems).

Alternator: The belt tensioner can fail in MHEV cars. Budget for as much as £2500 unless it's covered by a sensible extended warranty.

Steering: If the electric steering motor develops a hairline crack, the electrical circuit board inside the unit is exposed and becomes corroded, rendering the car undrivable. Check for grinding, groaning or a heavy feel.

Transfer case: Signs of a drip or transmission warning messages could point to a leaking transfer case, which can lead to component damage and costly repairs.

Electrics: Many owners have faced frozen display screens. The solution is normally to turn the car off and on again. Failed parking sensors have also been reported, typically rendering the entire sensor system inoperative.

Also worth knowing 

Service intervals are every year or 16,000 miles, but some owners recommend changing the oil more frequently.

Given JLR's reputation for patchy reliability, you might value the reassurance of an extended warranty. It will typically cost around £1000 for a year from JLR. For a little more, plenty of third-party providers will cover a Velar for three years.

A Velar that's more than five years old won't attract the £425 luxury car supplement. VED will be £195 annually - or £620 if the supplement applies.

Insurance is a thorny issue for some Range Rovers, yet the Velar was never that badly affected. Insurance groups range between 31 and 50, so it could still be costly, though.