Range Rover Evoque and Velar Will Get the Axe for 2027
With Jaguar’s bold reboot taking up the bulk of the spotlight, it can be easy to forget that changes are also happening at Land Rover as the SUV brand prepares for an electrified future. The Range Rover GT is the brand’s latest attempt at entering the EV market.
However, all of this change will come at a price. The company has confirmed it will axe both the Evoque and Velar SUVs for 2027 to make way for more EVs and pricier products.
Evoque and Velar Were From a Different Time
The news was first reported by Autocar before it was later confirmed by the automaker. The Range Rover Velar and Evoque were products of a different era for Range Rover. Back then, Land Rover was trying to cater to as many segments as possible in the SUV market in an attempt to broaden its appeal and boost sales. The Evoque in particular was a textbook example of this when it made its debut in 2011.
The SUV rode on a front-wheel-drive (FWD) platform that originated when Ford owned the brand. Still, it managed to hide its Blue Oval origins well thanks to its stylish exterior, premium interior, and coupe-like profile. It also had decent off-road chops, though most Evoques traded trail work for parking lot duty at the local mall. The Evoque was also the cheapest Land Rover model in the lineup, with a base 2026 model starting at $51,375 when you include the $1,475 destination fee. This price tag helped the Evoque post respectable sales during its 15-year production run despite its age.
The $63,175 Velar was also designed to bring in more buyers, but it put a stronger focus on design. It shared its platform with the Jaguar F-Pace and served as a bridge between the Evoque and bigger Range Rover models. This bridge status helped the Velar attract more shoppers too, but sales were not as high as the Evoque’s.
No Replacements Coming
With both models exiting the stage after 2026, some buyers expected Land Rover to come up with replacements. However, in this case, no replacements are coming. Instead, their cancellations will free up production space for more expensive vehicles. The Velar’s exit will allow the company’s Solihull, U.K., plant to boost production of the bigger Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. Any leftover capacity will help boost production of the Jaguar Type 01 EV.
Dealers Will Feel the Loss
As for the Halewood, U.K., plant, that facility will also reorganize its production space. It could build the upcoming Defender Sport and the teased Range Rover GT. This news will also understandably sour the mood of some dealerships that have leaned on the Land Rover brand to make up for lost sales after Jaguar embarked on its reboot. Some of them cut the Jaguar brand outright to focus purely on Land Rover, and the Velar and Evoque were still drawing customers into showrooms. Their loss will make that task tougher, at least in the short term.
Move Will Also Strengthen Sub-Brands
The loss of these two models will also give the company’s sub-brands new opportunities. With the loss of the Evoque and Velar, the Range Rover sub-brand will have the opportunity to fully move upmarket and devote all of its effort to winning over wealthier buyers who gravitate toward its bigger SUVs.
Meanwhile, the Defender and Discovery sub-brands will most likely become the new gateway for buyers who want an “entry-level” Land Rover. The Defender is coming off a modest refresh in Europe, and it’s shaping up to be a bigger part of the company’s sales plans. The Discovery brand will also play a bigger part. While the Discovery Sport is showing its fair share of wrinkles, it’s still Land Rover’s best seller despite its last major update coming back in 2019. A 2026 model starts at $49,900.