First drive

Range Rover PHEV

THE words ‘Range Rover’ conjure up images of opulent interiors, intimidating looks and go-anywhere ability. But scrape under the skin, and the engine choices have remained stubbornly powerful, polluting and thirsty. Enter therefore the plug-in Range Rover hybrid, which gives citydwellers an alternative to plain old internal combustion.

It combines a four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and battery, capable of travelling up to 31 miles on battery power alone – perfect for cross-city jaunts.

This engine sits near the top of the existing model line-up – undercut by both V6 and V8 diesels plus the V6 petrol, but less expensive than the fire-breathing V8 petrol models. It can count the new Bentley Bentayga hybrid and Porsche Cayenne hybrid as rivals.

For 2018, the Range Rover receives some extra glitz aimed at making it feel even more luxurious. There’s a Velar-inspired grille, new lights front and rear, and the tailpipes have been integrated into the rear bumper. Inside, nearly every button on the centre console has gone, replaced instead by a dual-touchscreen setup. Where buttons remain, they’re seamlessly integrated into one another, and light-up too.

Thicker windows and noise-cancelling tech aim to make the car even more eerily silent than before, and there are new seats, too. But, of course, the biggest change is the powertrain...

The Range Rover PHEV debuts the brand’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain. It mates a 296bhp, 2.0-litre petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor for a maximum power figure of 399bhp. That’s good for a 0-60mph sprint of 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 137mph – or 85mph if travelling on electricity alone.

Land Rover claims a combined fuel economy figure of 101mpg. The reality is very dependent on how you drive. If you charge the car every night and the majority of your journeys are within the 31-mile electric range, you might hardly need to use the petrol engine.

In solo cruising with a discharged battery, though, we achieved a more realistic Range Rover economy figure of 24mpg. The engine is powerful, with a seamless transition between power sources. Push it hard, though, and the raucous note of the comparatively small engine penetrates the cabin.

Range Rovers are at their best while

With the arrival of a hybrid version, Range Rover has finally caught up with its rivals. The new PHEV model offers increased levels of luxury as well as battery power