- The Range Rover goes electric for the first time
- Class-leading refinement and luxury
- Go-anywhere ability remains intact
The Range Rover Electric is a spectacular luxury SUV that also happens to be electric.
Overview
Few cars have become as iconic as the Range Rover. Since it launched back in 1970 it’s morphed from a go-anywhere 4×4 into one of the most effortless luxury cars money can buy. And despite now being as premium as cars get, it’s never lost its famed off-road capability.
But with mounting requirements to shift away from combustion power, the Range Rover is embracing electrification for the first time. The new Electric sits alongside the existing mild and plug-in hybrid line-up and visually there is nothing to distinguish its electric internals.
It’s the same size and shape as the current Range Rover and the only telltale clue is the addition of EV lettering on the wheel centre caps. This similarity is purposeful and explained by its MLA-Flex platform that also underpins the combustion Range Rover, a platform was designed from the ground up with multiple powertrains in mind.
Big electric luxury cars aren’t as common as you may think. Audi, BMW and Lexus are all still currently absent from this segment and it’s only Mercedes-Benz that can offer something comparable with the G-Glass Electric, another iconic 4×4-turned-luxury SUV that can be found with all all-electric powertrain.
Pricing and spec
The Range Rover Electric has a slightly smaller line-up than its combustion stablemates but can still be found in standard and long-wheelbase configurations.
The standard-wheelbase range starts with the Autobiography at £154,570, followed by First Edition, SV and SV Black models. Long-wheelbase versions are available exclusively in SV and SV Black specifications and start at £181,400.
All versions share the same electric powertrain, battery and performance figures, meaning that trim decisions will be decided by the level of luxury a customer is after, ranging from top-suite hotel to private jet levels of prestige.
All models feature digital LED headlights, 24-way adjustable heated, cooled and massaging front seats, a Meridian sound system, panoramic sunroof, integrated centre-console fridge and an ambient fragrance diffuser.
SV models gain semi-Aniline leather upholstery, larger wheels and Body and Soul seats, which use vibrations to enhance the audio experience. The SV Black adds a sensory floor and two 13.1-inch screens for rear passengers alongside more trim tweaks.
Ultra models are the absolute pinnacle of luxury, as you’d expect from a five-metre car with four seats. The material choice and build quality is up there with the very best offered in any car and luxuries such as crystal glassware and a wooden table that emerges at the press of a button make almost every other car on sale feel almost puritan in the rear. Ultra models are also price on application (POA) so don’t expect to be tripping over them on forecourts.
Technology
Beyond all the toys fitted to the Range Rover Electric, there’s a 13.1-inch central touchscreen that handles most infotainment and vehicle functions. It’s straightforward to use and features nice large icons which makes adjusting the temperature or seat massage on the go a doddle.
There are very few physical buttons, but Range Rover hasn’t gone as wild as Polestar or Mercedes-Benz in the name of minimalism. There are still physical controls for the steering wheel, mirror and seat adjustment, a slew of buttons on the steering wheel and a nice big dial for choosing the driving mode.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are included as standard, as is a wireless smartphone charger.
Safety
The Range Rover Electric is stuffed full of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that help with overall safety and manoeuvrability. There’s blind spot assist, plenty of parking sensors, park assist and a 360-degree camera to help with parking, while adaptive cruise control, collision monitoring, and an occupant protection assist are also fitted as standard. The ADAS is also all well-calibrated and rarely overzealous. The speed bong has a hair trigger, but three presses of a button on the steering wheel will silence it.
Being a 4×4 at heart, there’s also a full suite of off-road driver assistance that includes hill launch assist, Terrain Response 2 and a low traction launch to prevent the car becoming bogged in mud.
Euro NCAP has tested the combustion powered Range Rover and it got the full five-star score back in 2022. So, while the electric model doesn’t have a score, the shared architecture means it should perform well.
Driving experience
Range Rover claim the Electric has similar performance to a Range Rover fitted with a V8. Official performance figures are a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 124mph, impressive figures for an SUV weighing 2,810kg.
Performance is both instant and incredibly smooth. If anything, the lack of a gearbox makes the Electric even more linear and effortless than a combustion model. The brakes are exceptionally well-judged too, with no switchover between regenerative and friction braking. There’s a solid reassurance from the pedal and the one-pedal drive mode is beautifully calibrated for slowing down gracefully.
There’s just the one battery size available, a double-stacked 118.5 (net) kWh battery that should be good for 372 miles on the WLTP test cycle. After a day of testing on a multitude of roads and ruts, we returned 2.6miles/kWh which will give the car a real-world range closer to 300 miles. An 800-volt electrical architecture also supports charging at up to 350kW which means a 10% to 80% charge will only take 22 minutes on the right rapid charger.
Air suspension is fitted as standard across the range, delivering the sort of refined ride expected of a flagship luxury SUV. In comfort mode, the suspension absorbs road imperfections effortlessly, although body roll and occasional floatiness become noticeable on faster, undulating roads. Dynamic mode tightens the body control with a small comfort penalty. Steering is predictable and well-judged for a vehicle of this size, while the car feels planted on the road.
Off-road, the Electric felt unstoppable. We pointed the Range Rover Electric at steep inclines, muddy ruts, rocky beaches and even a river and nothing flustered its ability to progress in a composed manner.
Practicality
The interior of the Range Rover is betting of a car that starts nroth of £150,000. It’s packed full of premium materials, feels well-made and is stuffed with room to spare for up to five occupants.
It’s beyond easy to get comfortable in the Range Rover, with plenty of room and adjustability.
Shorter occupants may struggle getting in and out though. Blame the battery pack build into the floor and huge wheels for that.
Boot capacity is an impressive 925 litres across the range. It also features a ski hatch to accommodate longer items, integrated dividers help secure luggage, and the split-level tailgate doubles as a useful seating area. Best of all, the seats and boot lid are all operated electronically which makes loading up awkward items a doddle. There is even a button to lower the rear suspension to make loading and unloading easier.