Range Rover
Plug-in hybrid claims to achieve 101mpg
LAND ROVER’S FLAGSHIP Range Rover model has been updated for 2018 with changes that run far deeper than a quick glance at the car’s exterior would suggest.
The star attraction is the addition of a company-car-tax-friendly plug-in hybrid version, the P400e. It’s Land Rover’s first plug-in hybrid model, combining a 296bhp petrol engine with a 114bhp electric motor and a boot-mounted 13.1kwh battery pack.
It’s officially good for average fuel economy of 101mpg and CO2 emissions of 64g/km, comfortably making it the most efficient model in the range on paper. It can also drive on electric power only for up to 31 miles. A full recharge of the battery from a 7kw home wallbox takes 2hr 45min.
The beauty of the P400e is that despite the multiple hybrid and off-road driving modes, it’s no harder to drive than a typical luxury SUV. You simply press the starter button, twist the rotary gear selector around to Drive and pull away in near-silence (if the battery is charged). It’s a serene experience that feels perfectly in tune with the Range Rover ethos.
But what happens when you use up all the battery’s charge? Well, at that point the electric motor seamlessly hands over to the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine. In fact, at urban speeds it can be difficult to detect exactly when the transition takes place.
However, the compact four-cylinder engine isn’t without flaws. It becomes markedly more vocal once you get onto faster and more undulating roads, requiring plenty of revs to deliver the same kind of punch as Land Rover’s V6 and V8 diesel units.
A standard eight-speed automatic gearbox that’s too keen to change down when it should be using the available torque is also frustrating.
But then again, this is a 2.5-tonne SUV, and if there’s one take-home message from driving the P400e, it’s that you can’t beat physics. Even when pulling out of a car park, you can feel the impact of that heavy battery, with the P400e feeling more ponderous and less keen to change direction than other Range Rovers.
Factor in firmer suspension (necessary to keep that extra weight in check) that has the P400e shuddering over small imperfections and you’re left with a dynamic package that’s slightly unbecoming of a Range Rover.
As with all plug-in hybrids, you can’t take the fuel economy claims literally. If you have a short commute and are able to plug your car in at home and at work, you might get close to 101mpg. But if you cover a lot of miles or don’t have easy access to a charger, expect economy to drop to 20-25mpg.
Like most hybrids, the P400e also loses some boot space (and a full-size spare wheel) to accommodate the battery and motor; the floor is raised by 46mm and 98 litres of volume is lost. Factor in a price that’s around £7000 more than that of the 254bhp 3.0 TDV6 diesel and we think that the latter makes a lot more sense. Will that stop buyers from flocking to the P400e? Of course not; in fact, Land Rover claims that 20% of orders for the 2018 Range Rover are for the plug-in hybrid.
Even so, for those who crave a long range and world-class refinement, the six-cylinder diesel engine remains the pick of the range.