An Electrified Range Rover is a preview of the near future

A fully electric Range Rover has been on the cards for quite some time, as it was first announced back in 2023. We believe it will finally become a reality early next year. However, buyers that love the imperious, peerless image of the largest vehicle Land Rover makes can already buy a part-electric Range Rover, as it has been available with plug-in-hybrid power for a while. Indeed, it’s the most popular powertrain for the big SUV and, having spent some time in the latest variant, we can certainly understand why customers are choosing it above the traditional diesel-engined models. And it’s not just about saving a few quid on tax, either.

Exterior design and image

There’s absolutely no compromise in terms of image or appearance if you go for one of the plug-in-hybrid versions of the Range Rover. Perhaps someone will notice there’s a fuel flap on each side of the car where there is usually only one (the second is for the recharging socket), but we doubt it.

The Range Rover has been evolving since 1970 and, while the latest, smooth-faced iteration with its high-tech, patented LED lighting is a far cry from the original, it is just as instantly recognisable as a Range Rover. It’s a large vehicle, imposing on the road, yet not aggressively styled as some are. Instead, the focus is on unadorned surfaces and a few key details, which mark it out as coming from this storied brand. We particularly like how the glasshouse smoothly wraps around the rear of the vehicle. There’s a wide range of personalisation options open to buyers, but the Range Rover is always relatively simply styled – and all the better for it. Those that want a more extrovert appearance will likely be drawn to the Range Rover Sport model.

Interior and practicality

While the on-stilts stance of the Range Rover hints at its rugged off-road roots and ability, climb up into the cabin and you’re greeted by unadulterated luxury. The design is restrained, but the materials used are exceptional and it’s an interior you’ll want to touch as much as you’ll want to sit in. The carpets are soft and deep, for example, the leather supple, and the wood trim has a tactile texture that distances it from shiny veneers of old. Alongside all that, anything that looks metal is, with a reassuringly cool feel to it. The solid gear change paddles behind the wheel are a particular highlight.

But this is no fuddy-duddy luxury car, as the luxurious surroundings go hand in hand with the latest infotainment technology in the form of a central touchscreen and digital instruments. These all work well, though one of our few complaints with the Range Rover is that there aren’t more physical buttons and knobs to use in place of the display.

Back-seat passengers actually do get traditional rotary controls for their air conditioning, and the rear accommodation is notably spacious and comfortable, featuring electric adjustment of the seats, and seemingly endless headroom. There are regular and long-wheelbase models to choose from if you need even more rear legroom and there’s even a seven-seat Range Rover.

A large vehicle such as the Range Rover naturally has a big boot, though we’re not sure we’d want to sully its deep carpets with muddy equipment. No doubt there are accessories available to accommodate that. All versions get a distinctive split tailgate, with the lower section hinged at the bottom. This doubles up as a perch to sit on, should the need arise.

Driving experience

Depending on which trim level you choose, there are diesel, petrol, or plug-in-hybrid powertrains on offer across the Range Rover lineup, with the hybrid available in two different states of tune. Even the entry-level model is impressive, however. As indicated by its ‘P460e’ name, it makes up to 460hp.

More importantly, the P460e is exceptionally quiet and refined. A 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine sits under the big bonnet, making cultured, distant sounds when you do extend it, but always remaining silky smooth.

The beauty of the plug-in-hybrid layout is that this Range Rover can drive silently on all-electric power at times and as it is equipped with a large battery pack and powerful electric motor, it does so far more than you might expect. An official range of 121 kilometres is quoted, meaning many owners’ daily driving could be covered without using a drop of petrol from the tank.

And while plug-in hybrids have been criticised for allowing their owners to benefit from tax breaks while never actually having to plug the car in, the Range Rover’s long electric range and ability to make use of powerful DC charging points mean it is more likely to be used as a pure electric car would.

It is at its best in this guise, working with the absorbent suspension to waft its occupants along in the comfort and quietness expected of a car bearing the Range Rover name. This bodes very well indeed for the forthcoming all-electric model.

What else could you spend your money on?

You may be expecting this to be the ‘bad news’ section, but actually, because of the way the Irish motor taxation system works, the plug-in-hybrid Range Rover is far more affordable than the equivalent diesel alternative, while offering the benefits of electric driving, and much more performance for your money on top. The P460e starts at €149,135, for example, while the cheapest diesel Range Rover is €209,569. Ostensibly, the BMW X7, Mercedes GLS, and new Audi Q9 are rivals, and good cars all, but they cannot hold a candle to the Range Rover’s gravitas – and none of them can be had with all-electric power.

Specs for Range Rover P460e

Notes: The hero photo behind the headline is ignored. The five other photos (four interior shots, plus the car charging) are marked with placeholders. The four interior shots sit together on the second page in print, so I’ve grouped them after the Interior and practicality section, and the charging photo after Driving experience. The specs box is a table (Motors, Power, Torque, 0-100km/h, Electric range, Battery, Luggage capacity, Price), so I’ve only put its title as a bold caption. If you’d like it built, say so and I’ll make the HTML version. The author headshot and the “Read more at www.mindo.ie” line are omitted. En dashes are kept as printed.