Range Rover PHEV
Verdict on 398bhp plug-in luxury SUV, plus E-pace D150
THIS is the new Range Rover P400e. It’s the first ever plug-in hybrid from Range Rover, and mixes one of JLR’S new 296bhp Ingenium 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engines with the power from a 114bhp electric motor. It offers an allelectric range of 31 miles and charging from a 32A wall box takes a little under three hours. Land Rover claims 101mpg economy and CO2 emissions of 64g/km.
There are two driving modes: Parallel Hybrid and pure EV. Leave the car to its own devices and it will switch between the petrol engine and electric motor, combining the two when necessary.
There’s a ‘Save’ mode to hold on to the battery’s charge for use later on, or a Predictive Energy Optimisation (PEO) mode as well. Enter a destination into the nav and the car will use GPS data to best use the engine and electric motor combination to maximise economy.
Twist the rotary knob to ‘D’ and the P400e glides away silently. At low speeds the plug-in Range Rover is in its element, with surprisingly quick responses and progressive brakes. The tranquility is enhanced by new thicker glass, too.
While driving around in EV mode is a joy, it’s not long before the petrol engine kicks in. The engine and electric motor are well integrated and the switch between them is almost seamless. But spot a gap in the traffic and there’s an alarming delay before the shove arrives. Under hard acceleration the four-cylinder unit sounds strained, but once the engine and motor are working together, it’s quick and quiet.
However, the publicised fuel figures are ambitious. Drive without regularly plugging in and the trip computer will hover at around 25mpg. There’s no battery charge mode, either, so once you’ve depleted the EV range, it’s not possible to use the petrol engine to top up the batteries. It’s here where the 2.5-tonne SUV feels out of its depth.
Elsewhere, all cars get a design update. There’s a new Velar-style grille and lights up front, while new LED tail-lamps and revised exhaust pipes adorn the rear.
The car gets Land Rover’s Incontrol Touch Pro Duo, using two screens for a multitude of info. Quality inside is better, and the new sun blind for the panoramic roof operates when you wave your hand under the rear-view mirror. Our car’s Exec Pack had airline-style individual seats; the wobbly electrically operated centre table was less inspiring, though.