2020 Land Rover Range Rover Plug-In Hybrid Road Test and Review

2020 Range Rover p400e PHEV Charging ・ Photo by Land Rover

With the family packed into the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover plug-in hybrid, we were northbound a few hours out of Los Angeles when we decided to take a little detour through Death Valley. Don’t worry kids, it’s on the way to Yosemite... sort of. There were a few groans from the Rover’s spacious back seat, but I reminded our littles that this 1,000-mile road trip was part road test and part family vacation.

Luxurious, comfortable, and off-road capable, the full-size 2020 Land Rover Range Rover PHEV proved to be the ultimate ride for the job. PHEV stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, and the Range Rover PHEV is the automaker's first attempt at an electrified luxury SUV. Introduced just last year, it’s the most fuel-efficient full-size Range Rover model available. It competes with hybrid versions of the BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne, plus a long list of conventionally powered luxury SUVs that includes the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Mercedes G-Class, BMW X7, and Audi Q7 and Q8.

Big, Powerful, and Pricey

Built just outside London, the 2020 Range Rover is the flagship of the Land Rover brand. Prices start at $92,195, including $1,295 for destination. Every 2020 Range Rover is equipped with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. However, there are several engines available, including a turbodiesel and a 557-horsepower supercharged V8.

With a base price of $97,245 including destination, the Range Rover PHEV (its official name is the Range Rover P400e) sits in the heart of the SUV’s extensive list of available models and powertrains. Now in its fourth generation, the Range Rover is offered in two wheelbases and five trim levels. However, the hybrid model is only available in the standard short-wheelbase body style and in two trim levels: HSE and Autobiography, which costs $34,350 more. With its extensive list of options and extra-cost packages, our HSE test vehicle cost $108,945.

Photo by Land Rover

Smooth, Quiet, and Quick

A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a small battery pack power the 2020 Range Rover PHEV. The system puts out a combined 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, so there’s plenty of power around town, and passing isn’t a problem on the highway despite the SUV’s considerable size and weight.

The powertrain is also very smooth and quiet. Under normal driving conditions, when more power is needed, the four-cylinder engine turns itself on and off to save fuel. Its operation is noticeable, but it’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. There’s also an EV mode so you can drive solely on electric power if you wish. The Rover’s eight-speed automatic transmission is also quite responsive and has a Sport setting for more immediate performance. Land Rover says the Range Rover PHEV can accelerate to 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds. That’s pretty quick, and it’s over a full second ahead of the diesel model.

Photo by Land Rover

Comfortable Ride and Athletic Handling

Unlike some full-size SUVs, the Range Rover PHEV doesn’t feel like you’re driving around in a lumbering 18-wheeler. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The Range Rover feels light on its feet. It’s agile and likes to be tossed around. Its steering is light and quick and offers plenty of feel. As a result, it’s very easy to drive around town. Climb behind its large leather-wrapped steering wheel and you’ll immediately notice the Rover’s unusually high seating position, but you get used to it quickly and begin to appreciate the incredible visibility it offers.

We were also impressed with the Rover’s handling and balance. There’s some body roll in corners, but the traction from its 21-inch tires is remarkable. Its long-travel air suspension also provides an incredibly soft and compliant ride, but it’s never floaty. Never sloppy. On the first day of our road trip, I drove the Rover for 12 straight hours without a single complaint about its suspension tuning or its seat comfort.

Photo by Land Rover

Good Fuel Economy for the Class

The Range Rover PHEV also delivers good fuel economy for its class. On a full charge, Land Rover says it can be driven about 31 miles on electric power alone. Although the furthest we got was 28 miles, if your commute is 10 to 15 miles, that's enough to drive the SUV to work and back emissions-free without using a single drop of gasoline. The Rover’s charge port is hidden inside its grille. Plug it into a standard household outlet and its battery pack will be fully charged in 14 hours. Owners will want to make it an overnight ritual.

The Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t yet released fuel economy estimates for the Range Rover PHEV, but we averaged 19.7 mpg on our family adventure. This calculation included 28 miles of EV driving, about 40 miles of off-roading, about 600 miles of interstate, and about 300 miles of two-lane and city driving. Last year we tested a Range Rover with the standard supercharged V6 and averaged 19 mpg in mixed driving around Los Angeles. With the available 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, the Rover has EPA fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Photo by Land Rover

Spacious, But No Third Row Available

Buyers should also be aware that Land Rover does not offer a third-row seat in the Range Rover. It is a five-seater. However, if you want a large Range Rover with a third row, check out the Range Rover Sport, which shares its powertrains, all-aluminum chassis, and 115-inch wheelbase with the more expensive Range Rover. With the same plug-in hybrid powertrain as the flagship, the Range Rover Sport PHEV costs about $80,000.

As we learned on our four-day family excursion across California, the standard-wheelbase, five-passenger Range Rover offers more than adequate accommodations for most families. The Range Rover offers more rear-seat space than many of its competitors, and there’s plenty of room for people over 6 feet tall. Rear air conditioning vents are standard, and HSE gets standard luxuries like a panoramic sunroof and soft door closing.

Photo by Land Rover

Impressive Cargo Volume

The Range Rover’s beautifully appointed interior also offers plenty of storage, including large felt-lined door bins and deep front cupholders. Our test car was equipped with an optional refrigerated center console, which sacrifices storage space for cold drinks. That's a fair tradeoff on a long family road trip.

One of our favorite features on the Range Rover is its unusual split tailgate, a design also used on the BMW X5 and the Lexus LX 570. While the top two-thirds of the hatch opens up like a conventional liftgate, the bottom third drops down like the tailgate of a pickup truck. It’s a great place to sit and watch the world. At 29.3 cubic feet, the Range Rover’s generous cargo hold swallowed our luggage with room to spare. Fold its rear seat, which is split 60/40, and there’s 80.0 cubic feet of space, which is about average for the class.

Photo by Land Rover

Incredible Comfort and Features

After our 1,000-mile road trip, I can say with conviction that the Range Rover’s interior is among the most comfortable in the world. You emerge from its driver’s seat feeling fresh, even after 12 hours of continuous driving. At 80 mph, there’s very little wind and road noise inside its cabin, and the SUV’s active cruise control with steering assist will practically drive the Rover for you.

Its interior is covered in high-quality materials, and its rotary shifter dramatically rises slowly from the console when you start the engine. The infotainment system could respond more quickly to your inputs, but its menus are intuitive and the system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Along with the Range Rover’s climate controls, it’s manipulated by two 10-inch touchscreens, which look quite sexy and are very easy to use. Another 12.3-inch screen displays a fully configurable digital gauge cluster with clean graphics.

Photo by Land Rover

Spectacular Off-Road Capability

Although few Range Rover buyers will ever fully explore the SUV’s extreme off-road capability, we gave it try, turning off the paved road somewhere in Death Valley. Range Rovers have been driven across the world’s great deserts, so I figured it could handle about 40 miles of fire road and rugged two-track, even on a 105-degree summer day. And I was right.

With its adjustable air suspension in its highest setting to increase ground clearance, our test vehicle lived up to Range Rover’s rugged reputation, handling rocky sections and steep climbs easily. The Range Rover’s abundant wheel travel, class-leading approach and departure angles, traction control, and all-wheel drive system, which offers settings for different surfaces including sand and mud, made the rough terrain easy to navigate. We also used its hill descent control, which keeps your speed at a crawl on steep declines. During the four-hour adventure, we stopped twice to help others change their flat tires, while the Range Rover never skipped a beat.

Photo by Land Rover

Final Thoughts

After a week driving the 2020 Range Rover PHEV, my extensive recorded notes were universally positive. A few points I’ve failed to mention are that the Rover has a tight turning radius that makes it easy to park, its regenerative brakes that help charge its battery pack feel natural, and it has an automatic parking brake that disengages when you put it in gear and engages when you put its transmission in park. My final entry says: "Might be the most comfortable SUV ever invented."

In a vehicle segment shopped by the wealthiest people in the world, the 2020 Range Rover PHEV continues to stand out. It sets the standards of refinement, opulence, aesthetics and off-road capability. If you’re in the market for the ultimate five-passenger luxury hybrid SUV, the Range Rover P400e is a wonderful choice.

Photo by Land Rover