The Range Rover Electric hasn’t been a secret. Fully unveiled earlier this year and available now to order, the Range Rover Electric’s development was announced years ago. Throughout that time, the manufacturer promised that the electric Range Rover would seamlessly sit alongside the combustion-powered members of the lineup, despite its use of EV technology.
Now, the new Range Rover Electric has arrived, and a drive through the Scottish Highlands gave us a chance to get behind the wheel. On paper, the Range Rover Electric is quite similar to the ICE Range Rover we’ve all known and loved: 542 horsepower on tap, a 0-60 time of 4.2 seconds, a host of luxurious features and appointments, and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that teams up with advanced off-roading systems for highly capable versatility. However, does electric power preserve the ethos of the Range Rover?
That is certainly the goal. When we asked Simon Fairbrother, program chief for Range Rover Electric, about what existing Range Rover customers will have to get used to with the new electric variant, he said, “Not a lot. Just not having to go to a gas pump, I guess.” The estimated driving range of the new Range Rover Electric is up to 333 miles, an impressive number for its size and sumptuousness, which not only easily accommodated our lengthy drives through the Highlands, but will certainly also serve the typical Range Rover driver on a daily basis.
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In addition to serial Range Rover owners, however, the new Range Rover Electric also has something to offer drivers who have already adopted battery-electric vehicles, giving them a taste of Range Rover luxury that fits right into a lifestyle they’ve already gotten accustomed to. In place of the typical sound of a V8 engine is a beautifully quiet interior, and a chime lets you know that the vehicle has been started or turned off in the absence of an engine.
“We wanted to offer everybody a Range Rover that was what they expected,” said Lynfel Owen, Vehicle Engineering Chief Engineer for Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. Beyond the engineering, that goal informed the decision for the Range Rover Electric to look nearly identical to its combustion or hybrid peers. The few differences include a flat grille, as well as “EV” badging on the wheel center caps. The interior is, happily, no different. The steering wheel, seats, instrument displays, and Pivi Pro infotainment system are all laid out in a way that is extremely familiar to a Range Rover driver.
Rather than opting for buttons, a dial, or touch controls, the Range Rover Electric keeps a shifter in the center console. For a relatively novice EV driver, this dramatically reduces the learning curve. The “S” selection on the shifter remains, as well, and rather than entering a sequential mode, the “S” instead puts the vehicle in single-pedal driving mode. It takes some getting used to, but the feature offers greater ease in traffic, added regenerative braking, and braking for corners that otherwise requires a bit of effort, what with navigating narrow, winding Highland roads in a large, heavy luxury SUV. Heavy as it may be, however, its 6,195 pounds of weight is not the heaviest in the current Range Rover lineup.
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When many BEV manufacturers aim to fill a void left by combustion vehicles by pumping in synthetic engine noise, and incorporating a driving mode that attempts to recreate driving with an engine, the Range Rover Electric is also unapologetic about being an EV, lacking paddles that would have felt gimmicky were they included.
The Range Rover Electric takes advantage of electrification's benefits with its engineering, too. Its MLA architecture was built with an EV variant in mind from the outset. Range Rover Product Manager Rachel Hogg commented, “If you have a customer who just loves the look of the Range Rover, we can now offer them a propulsion system that fits their needs.” In addition to that, the lower center of gravity offered by the battery contributes to handling improvements, and the lack of the mechanical components of a combustion powertrain means that switching between off-road driving modes and ride heights is even simpler than before.
That simplicity came in handy when we hit the road, leaving Aldourie Castle, which sits near the shores of Loch Ness, and heading north along the west coast of Scotland. The end of our first day of driving brought us to an off-road route, challenging the vehicle with loose, wet rocks along the beach, steep, muddy hills, and a wade that used a good portion of the vehicle’s 35-inch wading depth. Our destination for the night was Hope Lodge, a hunting lodge that dates back to the 19th century. Surrounded by captivating nature, we set off again the next morning to do much of the same.
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What the Range Rover Electric demonstrated on our drive was two dramatically different characters. On the road, the vehicle is an incredibly composed and decadently luxurious vehicle. The Meridian Signature audio system was rich and enhanced by the EV’s silence. The suspension graciously absorbed the imperfections of the rural Scottish roads. All 542 horsepower proved to be plenty when it came time to overtake, being delivered quickly but without harshness. All-wheel steering made it effortless to pull into a scenic roadside stop and leave the parking lot just as quickly.
However, engage the off-road driving mode, and the Range Rover Electric becomes something much different. The heads-up display goes from displaying convenient navigation graphics and reminding you of the speed limit to showing relevant off-roading information; the cameras on the center screen help you precisely place your wheels in the ruts, and the Intelligent Traction Management comes in to handle the difficult surfaces. The duality is the same as that of the combustion Range Rover, and as an EV, it takes place with even more of a sense of wizardry.
Our test vehicle was a Range Rover Electric First Edition, with a Standard Wheelbase. Based on the Autobiography trim, it sits between the Autobiography and the top-of-the-line SV. Our First Edition configuration consisted of a Belgravia Green exterior color and a Light Cloud interior. The perforated Ultrafabrics upholstery was soft to the touch and, paired with Kvadrat fabric accents, made for a beautifully airy cabin. Some other creature comforts in the First Edition include in-cabin fragrance, heated, cooled, and massaging front seats, and just about anything else you’d expect from a well-equipped Range Rover.
While the Range Rover Electric will carry a starting MSRP of $138,000 here in the States, the First Edition is a significant jump, starting at $179,150. For that money, you do, however, get a vehicle without many peers. While the luxury SUV market is certainly saturated, as is the arena of electric vehicles, the Range Rover Electric offers EV drivers, or Range Rover fans who want an electric option, an authentic Range Rover, batteries included. Our first drive of the Range Rover Electric showed that even with electric power, the Range Rover Electric manages to deliver the refined luxury, ample power, and formidable all-terrain capability that we’ve come to expect from the cherished luxury SUV brand, along with some new tricks and perks.
Image Source: JLR
