Range Rover IVIS (InControl) Reviews

Range Rover’s Velar model launch caused a bit of a stir in our loins. Designers from all disciplines cocked their heads at the fancy new body lines and UX designers gawped at the new IVIS called the InControl Infotainment system.

Land Rover USA (2017). Note this presents a left-hand drive demonstration of the Touch Pro Duo version of InControl.

Lush.

Range Rover Velar left hand drive interior with ignition off
Figure 1. The Range Rover Velar interior showing the “virtual cockpit”, two touch screens, and thumb controls. Image from Land Rover (2018).

Two touch display screens (the “Touch Pro Duo”) dominate the impression and the binnacle houses a bright display screen too (the “Interactive Driver Display”). Snatty stalk control buttons update dynamically with thumb swipes wafted across their surfaces.

Range Rover Velar right hand drive cockpit with all displays turned on
Figure 2. The Range Rover Velar displays with the ignition turned on. Image from Carwow (2017b).

And like the Audi A6’s press reviews, the display screen strategy received a mixed reception.

Of note, Land Rover’s insistence on keeping the rotary gear selector on the Velar dissolved over time as the customers’ voice was listened to. For example, the Evoque 2019 model sports a gear shift stalk familiar to BMW.

Range Rover Evoque left hand drive interior
Figure 3. The Range Rover Evoque 2019 interior updated with a gear lever and the new IVIS. Land Rover (2019a).

Land Rover’s take on their InControl IVIS.
Land Rover Velar steering wheel with thumb controls
Figure 4. The Range Rover steering wheel capacitative switches. Image from Land Rover (2017).

Key points:

  • The unique, hidden until-lit switches on the steering wheel reduce the number of controls within the cabin…More regularly used features such as media and phone can now be fully operated from the new steering wheel controls in combination with the Interactive Driver Display helping to reduced driver distraction.
  • …our new standard dual Touchscreen system, allows the user to simultaneously view and interact with multiple features at once. This gives the flexibility to use the system more efficiently, whilst viewing all of the information required. For instance, you can use the navigation system in the upper screen whilst playing media on the lower screen.
  • With its ultra sharp resolution…this system features an optional Interactive Driver Display. You can interact directly with the display and can control your media, make and receive phone calls and select features to populate your chosen view.

Land Rover (2019b).

The Reviews

Carwow’s love affair with the Velar.
 

Key points:

  • (01:40) …climate, which is nice. It’s great when you’re sat still.
  • (1:42) This is blooming amazing. The problem is trying to use it when you’re driving so if you want to go from the vehicle setting to control the climate then you have to press this button. You then have these dials that operate certain functions and it’s all a little bit awkward to use and you have to take your eyes off the road and look down there, which isn’t ideal.

Carwow (2017a).

Note: Matt Watson is initially OK with the upper screen with its “infotainment” familiar to other marques and models. He only observes a safety concern with the new lower display and analogue-to-digital dials. Is this a genuine concern or a symptom of his learning something new?

Carwow’s Matt Watson takes another look inside the Velar.
 

Key points:

  • (00:40) The key party piece, however, is, without doubt, the dual 10″ screens stacked one above the other. They look fantastic and very modern.
  • (01:35) The second 10″ screen sits below the main display and if anything, looks even better than the top one… Flanked by a couple of physical rotary buttons so it looks seamlessly integrated into the dash.
  • (01:54) those rotary dials change functions depending on which menu you are in, however it’s all a little bit too confusing to use while you are driving. And the low location of the screen itself means you have to take your eyes off the road for far too long.
  • (02:25) …steering wheel controls with which you operate it all are a bit fiddly to use and generally the system isn’t quite as slick as that you get in an Audi or BMW.
  • …the UX isn’t as slick as it could be.
  • (Text copy). The car’s infotainment systems look cool, but they’re not very intuitive to use.

Carwow (2017b).

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References

Carwow. (2017, September 5.a.). Range Rover Velar 2018 SUV in-depth review. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXm6XMO2_j8.

Carwow. (2017, September 5.b.). Range Rover Velar 2018 SUV infotainment and interior review. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.carwow.co.uk/land-rover/range-rover-velar?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=Make-Land-Rover-Model-range-rover-velar-Type-infotainment#review-interior.

Land Rover. (2017). Range Rover Velar. Retrieved from https://www.landrover.ie/range-rover-velar.

Land Rover USA. (2017, October 2). Range Rover Velar, InControl Touch Pro Duo, Land Rover USA. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcI7KmFRfps.

Land Rover. (2019a). Introducing the New Range Rover Evoque. Retrieved from https://www.landrover.ie/vehicles-new-range-rover-evoque.

Land Rover. (2019b). Technologies. Retrieved from https://www.landrover.ie/range-rover-velar-technologies.