The Range Rover Electric changes the mechanical package, but not the formula. In certain respects, it even improves it.
A Range Rover has always been built around a fairly straightforward premise: take its occupants almost anywhere in maximum comfort and with minimal effort. For the first time in over half a century, it will attempt this without burning a single drop of fuel.
The Range Rover Electric is the first fully electric model in this model line’s history, yet it does not aim to present itself as a revolution. Quite the opposite: the priority was for it to remain, above all else, a Range Rover. The electric powertrain comes second.
Beneath its iconic bodywork sits a battery with 118.5 kWh of usable capacity and an 800 V architecture, powering two electric motors. Together, they produce 550 hp and 850 Nm-17 hp and 100 Nm more than the Range Rover V8. That is enough to propel the Range Rover Electric’s 2.8 tonnes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, 0.1 seconds quicker than the V8. Claimed range is up to 600 km on the combined WLTP cycle.
Those figures are impressive, but they were never this car’s real challenge. A Range Rover needs to be quiet, comfortable, refined and able to reach places many rivals cannot. I travelled to Gaydon in the UK and drove it on JLR’s test track to find out whether replacing the combustion engine with a battery has improved or undermined the formula.
It remains a Range Rover
Anyone expecting the first electric Range Rover to use its new powertrain to announce to the world that it is different will be disappointed. Thankfully, that is not the case.
From the outside, there is almost nothing to reveal the lack of a combustion engine. The principal revisions are limited to the grille, wheels and lower body sections, all optimised to improve aerodynamics.
Much the same applies inside. The cabin layout, 13.1-inch central display, materials and extensive personalisation options will all be familiar to those who know this generation.
First driving impressions of the Range Rover Electric
After driving it at the Range Rover test track in Gaydon, I was left with little doubt: if you are buying a Range Rover for luxury, comfort and refinement, this is, in my view, the Range Rover to choose right now.
Electrification suits a vehicle of this kind particularly well. Nobody buys a Range Rover to listen to its engine climbing through the rev range. It is designed to cover distance quietly, comfortably and with as little effort as possible. Electric propulsion strengthens those qualities.
From behind the wheel, it is exceptionally quiet, smooth and progressive. Its 550 hp and 850 Nm bring its performance close to that of a top-specification Range Rover V8. There is always a substantial reserve of power, although accelerator response is not aggressive. It is fast without ever ceasing to feel like a Range Rover.
600 km of range and 22-minute charging
The current generation was developed from the outset on the MLA-Flex platform, which was designed to accommodate different propulsion systems. This made it possible to install a 118.5 kWh usable battery and 800 V electrical architecture without radically changing the product to make room for electrification.
It supports DC charging at up to 350 kW, taking the battery from 10% to 80% in around 22 minutes, while 22 kW AC charging is also supported. Under ideal conditions, just 10 minutes can restore up to 220 km of range.
The official combined WLTP range reaches 600 km, while Range Rover itself estimates up to 535 km in real-world conditions. That matters in a vehicle weighing 2810 kg, with an official consumption figure ranging from 21.9 kWh/100 km to 23.2 kWh/100 km.
Consumption will inevitably be high by electric-car standards. This is a large, heavy vehicle with an enormous battery. Its battery capacity and charging speed help offset part of that disadvantage.
Still ready to leave the tarmac
The move to electrification also required Range Rover to find new ways of retaining the off-road ability that forms part of the model’s identity. The two electric motors provide four-wheel drive, while a new traction management system can adjust motor speeds in only 50 milliseconds.
There is also a one-pedal driving mode designed for off-road use, allowing it to pull away on inclines of up to 33° and climb 45° gradients. Its ability to wade through water is unchanged too: it can tackle depths of up to 900 mm, exactly as expected of a Range Rover.
Not everything is better
On a long journey, refuelling a petrol or diesel Range Rover is still quicker than charging a battery. For those able to charge at home, however, around 600 km of range makes that difference far less relevant in daily use.
Towing capacity has also been reduced, although the negative aspect comes with a positive side. The Range Rover Electric can tow up to 2500 kg, compared with 3500 kg for some combustion versions. Based on the usage data it has collected, the brand believes 2500 kg meets the needs of the overwhelming majority of its customers.
Looking at its rivals, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class G580 has no towing capacity, which is a significant drawback for the German model.
In a segment where owners commonly use the towing ability of their SUVs and 4x4s for a boat, jet ski and similar equipment, the Range Rover Electric offers a suitably judged capability.
From €165,963
The Range Rover Electric is already available to order in Portugal, with prices starting at €165,963. It is one of the more affordable models in the line-up-only the 460 hp plug-in hybrid costs less-at around €30,000 below the Diesel and almost €65,000 less than the twin-turbo petrol V8.
It may seem contradictory to look for rationality in a vehicle from this segment, but luxury and sound financial sense are not necessarily incompatible. Running costs should be substantially lower, especially for buyers who can charge at home.
According to the brand, around 80,000 people have already registered their interest in the Range Rover Electric. More significantly, roughly 70% are not currently Range Rover customers, demonstrating the EV’s potential to attract new buyers to the brand.
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