by Aiden Eksteen
Powerful, hulking sport-utility vehicles equipped with gas-guzzling V8 engines are a US staple, but in a world damned by pollutants and emissions, conscious minds will see why progressive cars like the Range Rover Hybrid, with its hybrid electric powertrain, is the way of the future. Still bad-ass in every right, the Range Rover Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine working with an electric motor and a 13.1-kWh battery pack located under the cargo floor. Designated the P400e, outputs of 398 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque are dealt to the Range Rover's all-wheel-drive system. It also boasts a 19-mile all-electric driving range and combined gas mileage figures of 42 MPGe.
With Land Rover's very own Evoque and semi-electric competitors such as the Lincoln Aviator, Porsche Cayenne, and all-new BMW X5 all offering hybrid variants, competition is stiff. But the Land Rover Range Rover Hybrid is a premium family SUV with bonafide off-road capabilities. However, with a high price tag to go along with the luxury, some buyers may look elsewhere.
Elsewhere in the range, new models have been added for 2021, but the new Range Rover Hybrid is unchanged for 2021. As such, the lineup still comprises just the two familiar trims - the HSE and the Autobiography.
See trim levels and configurations:
Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
---|---|---|---|---|
P400e HSE PHEV |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Plug-in Hybrid
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$97,000 |
P400e Autobiography PHEV |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Plug-in Hybrid
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$131,000 |
Compared to a more compact SUV and others in the same segment, the new Range Rover Hybrid returns weak fuel economy estimates that aren't really much better than several of the gasoline models in the lineup. The dose of electrification might benefit straight-line performance ever so slightly, with 0-60 mph coming up in 6.4 seconds, but it seems little consolation when household charging of the car takes as long as it does. Buyers are also forced to choose between just two models, with no long wheelbase options available and with the cost of the cheapest trim starting at nearly six figures. It's likely these factors that have seen demand for the car dwindle, which is why the plug-in option won't be available for 2022. It's not all bad, though, as the Range Rover Hybrid is still exceptionally comfortable on-road, capable off-road, has decent specs that ensure it's capable of towing 7,700 lbs, and has a certain brand cachet that a BMW or Lincoln can't quite match. It's not the best in the segment, but if you have your heart set on one, you best act quickly before it's too late.
For the USA, Land Rover sells two trims. The price of the Range Rover Hybrid SUV in HSE guise starts at $97,000, before a $1,350 destination charge. The Autobiography is nearly $35k more at a price of $131,000. There's good news, however, as finding one for sale at a lower price could be a little easier thanks to its imminent discontinuation. More than this, the Range Rover Hybrid, and its Sport sibling, both qualify for up to $6,295 in federal tax rebates.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Hybrid: