Should the Range Rover Velar use 95 or 98 octane fuel?

[OSpencer]

Range Rover Velar uses 95 octane fuel. Additional information is as follows: 1. Design: The Velar continues the design language of the Range Rover family, but subtle innovations highlight the strong sporty character of this new model. The vehicle features a large black mesh grille, with slender matrix laser LED headlights that carry a strong family identity. From the side, the overall design of the Range Rover Velar is consistent with that of the Range Rover Sport, particularly the sloping D-pillar design that creates a floating roof effect. 2. Powertrain: The Range Rover Velar offers five powertrain options for consumers to choose from, including high and low power versions of the Ingenium series 2.0T diesel engine, a low power version of the Ingenium series 2.0T gasoline engine, a 3.0T twin-turbocharged V6 diesel engine, and a 3.0T supercharged V6 gasoline engine. Later, the model will also introduce a high power version of the Ingenium series 2.0T gasoline engine.

[PiperMarie]

Last time I went to the 4S店 for maintenance, the technician showed me my Range Rover Velar's manual and said the car has a very high compression ratio. There's also a sticker inside the fuel cap indicating that 98 octane is the recommended option. 95 octane can be used temporarily in an emergency, but long-term use may cause knocking, with slight metallic tapping sounds heard during acceleration. Once on a long trip, I accidentally filled up with 95 octane, and the engine warning light actually came on. The diagnostic tool showed abnormal ignition timing. Now, gas prices are expensive, but considering the repair costs of this 3.0T engine, I still insist on using 98 octane—at least cold starts are smoother, and there's less throttle lag.

[StHolden]

As a three-year owner of the Velar, I specifically tested two types of fuel: with 98-octane, the urban fuel consumption was around 12L, but switching to 95-octane shot it up to 14L. The 98-octane fuel has a higher content of detergents in the tank. After using it continuously for half a year and removing the spark plugs to inspect, the electrodes were noticeably cleaner. During a car club event, Old Zhang, who runs a repair shop, used a borescope to show us the cylinders. The piston tops of cars using 98-octane were almost free of carbon deposits. Although it costs 70-80 cents more per liter, the difference in power response on the highway is particularly noticeable—the moment you floor it to overtake, the 98-octane fuel presses your back firmly into the seat, while the 95-octane feels sluggish.

[VonEmmanuel]

Refueling really depends on how you use your Velar. I commute 80 kilometers daily on the outer ring road, and using 98-octane costs me an extra 300 yuan per month, but the engine does sound noticeably smoother. Last time I drove to Qinghai for a road trip, remote gas stations didn’t even have 98-octane, so I had to use 95-octane for 2,000 kilometers without any issues. Before heading back, I specifically bought a bottle of octane booster to mix in. The vehicle manual also states: 95-octane is permitted when 98 is unavailable, but you should switch back to higher-octane fuel as soon as possible. Just be careful not to mix different octane grades, as it can easily trigger fuel system fault codes.