Range Rover Evoque and Velar Set to End as Entry GT Arrives
Autocar reports that Range Rover will not replace the Evoque or Velar, leaving the upcoming GT and Sport as its entry models.
According to Autocar, the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velar will not be replaced when their production ends later this decade. Both models will remain in production throughout 2027, but each is nearing the end of its life after roughly ten years on sale.
Autocar reports that Range Rover chief Martin Limpert confirmed that no successor is being developed for either model. The change narrows the brand's lineup, which will sit in three tiers beneath the full-size Range Rover once the cheaper models have gone.
Under the new arrangement, the upcoming Range Rover GT and the existing Range Rover Sport would become the two entry points to the brand. Autocar's headline describes the GT as a model priced around £90,000, which would make it the lowest-priced Range Rover on sale.
The report frames the decision as a move away from the mainstream. Dropping the two least expensive models shifts the brand's focus upward, and the reporting suggests the GT and Sport will be positioned as very different vehicles at similar prices.
Background
Range Rover is the luxury arm of Jaguar Land Rover, a British automaker that has operated as a standalone luxury brand in recent years. For decades the name was tied to a single large, premium sport utility vehicle. Over time the company widened the range to reach more buyers, adding smaller and more affordable models that brought in volume and helped spread the badge into new segments.
The Evoque and Velar were central to that expansion. The Evoque arrived in the early 2010s as a compact, coupe-influenced crossover aimed at younger and urban buyers, and it became one of the brand's best-known nameplates. The Velar followed later as a sleeker, mid-size alternative positioned between the Evoque and the larger models. Both helped make Range Rover a more accessible name, though they also sat in a crowded market where rivals from German and other premium makers compete on similar terms.
Automakers often retire older models without direct replacements when they want to concentrate resources. Developing a new vehicle requires substantial investment in engineering, testing and manufacturing, so a company may decide that spending on a smaller model is less worthwhile than improving or extending higher-margin products. Smaller vehicles also face tighter regulatory and emissions pressures in many markets, which can make them harder to justify as the industry shifts toward electrification.
In general terms, an entry-level model in the luxury segment does two jobs. It attracts new customers to the brand, and it offers a path into ownership that can lead to later purchases. Whether a brand keeps that path open is a strategic choice with lasting effects on who buys its products.
Why it matters
The decision signals how a major luxury brand is weighing volume against price. Removing the two cheapest Range Rover models means the company is leaning toward fewer, more expensive vehicles rather than a broader lineup. For buyers, that changes what it means to enter the brand, since the lowest point of access would move considerably higher in price.
For the industry, the move reflects a wider pattern. Several premium manufacturers have trimmed compact and mid-size offerings in favor of larger vehicles with higher margins, and the reasons often combine cost pressure, shifting demand and the expense of developing new powertrains. A retreat from smaller models can free capital for electric and software projects, but it also risks leaving gaps that rivals may fill.
The change also affects existing owners and dealers. Those who bought an Evoque or Velar will see the models stop receiving successors, which can influence resale values and long-term confidence in the brand. Dealers that built their business around the smaller models will need to adjust their inventory and customer base as the line narrows.
Finally, the report raises questions about the identity of Range Rover itself. The name has long stood for a particular kind of upscale, road-going capability, and the brand's choices about which vehicles carry it will shape how buyers understand that reputation.
What to watch
The most immediate detail to follow is the launch and pricing of the Range Rover GT, since its position as the entry model will define the new lineup. Buyers and analysts will want to know how it compares with the Range Rover Sport and whether the price gap between them is clear enough to justify each model's place.
Production timing for the Evoque and Velar will also matter. Both are slated to continue through 2027, and their final sales figures and any run-out editions could show how strongly demand holds up as the models near retirement.
Watch for any statements from the company about electrification across the Range Rover family. Plans for battery-electric or hybrid versions could affect how the brand competes at both ends of its pricing range.
Finally, keep an eye on competitors. Rival luxury manufacturers may respond by targeting the buyers who might have chosen an Evoque or Velar, and their moves will show whether there is a market gap the Range Rover lineup is leaving open.
Viewpoints
Commentary from our columns: three angles on this story.
The Accountant price, value and running costs
Retiring two models without replacements is a bottom-line decision before it is a styling one. Building a successor for a compact crossover costs real money in engineering, testing and tooling, and that spending has to be recovered from buyers who may not be there in the same numbers. If the Evoque and Velar are near the end of their life, the company is effectively asking whether the return justifies another development cycle. That is a fair question.
The price shift matters too. A starting figure around £90,000 changes the arithmetic for anyone who once considered the brand as a path to ownership. Running costs, depreciation and insurance will all look different at that level, and buyers should compare total ownership costs rather than list prices alone. A higher entry point can protect margins, but it also narrows the audience. Before celebrating or lamenting the move, look closely at how these numbers will play out over five years of ownership.
The Skeptic open questions and weak points
The clearest weakness in this plan is what it leaves unanswered. The company has confirmed that the Evoque and Velar will not be replaced, but the reporting offers little on how the brand will reach buyers who once saw these models as their entry point. Will they move to rivals, wait for a used car, or simply drop out of the market? Those are open questions, and a confident strategy should be ready to answer them.
There is also a risk in assuming that a smaller number of expensive models is always the safer path. Luxury demand can soften, and a lineup with fewer rungs leaves less room to recover if one product underperforms. The GT and Sport are being presented as very different vehicles at similar prices, which makes the case for both more complicated, not less. Until buyers see how these two sell, the wisdom of the plan remains untested.
The Driver's Seat the enthusiast's take
There is something quietly significant about a Range Rover no longer offering its cheapest door. For a lot of enthusiasts, the smaller models were the way in: a sharp-looking crossover that still carried the badge and the sense of occasion. Losing them means the brand's upper reaches become more distinct, and the GT and Sport will carry the weight of the name more visibly.
That can be a good thing. A clearer hierarchy makes each vehicle easier to understand and perhaps more special. But it also means the people who once dreamed of owning a Range Rover without stretching far beyond their means may now have to look elsewhere. The brand is choosing to be a little more exclusive, and whether that feels right will depend on how much you value the badge as a promise rather than a price point.