The 2023 Range Rover PHEV offers an EV-only driving range of 32 miles or 51 kilometres.
The P440e powertrain generates a combined output of 434 horsepower.
As British manufacturer JLR, or Jaguar Land Rover, is moving towards an all-electric future, the Land Rover division has decided to split itself up into three brand families, including Range Rover, Defender and Discovery. Despite these changes, one thing hasn’t: the 2023 Range Rover is still the flagship utility vehicle, and it’s now available in a fuel-efficient Range Rover PHEV variant.
And to showcase its plug-in hybrid powertrain, the automaker brought it along for this year’s AJAC EcoRun, an annual event during which automotive journalists from across Canada get together to drive some of the latest fuel- and energy-efficient vehicles available in the country.
The 2023 Range Rover PHEV for North America is equipped with the P440e powertrain consisting of a 3.0L inline-six, an electric motor, an eight-speed automatic transmission and a small battery pack, good for a combined 434 horsepower (or 440 PS) and 457 pound-feet of torque. According to the manufacturer, the plug-in hybrid variant in short-wheelbase configuration can dash from 0 to 60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 5.7 seconds, while in EV-only mode, the P440e is able to cover is distance of 48 miles or 77 kilometres on a single charge.
During the EcoRun’s two-day trip from Vancouver to Kelowna, passing through Kamloops, nine journalists had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the 2023 Range Rover PHEV. Each leg was different from the next, as some drivers tackled a constant uphill stretch of road to reach the next stop, while others had an easier time heading mostly downhill. I was part of that second group, as I posted the best result with an average of 35 mpg or 6.8 L/100 km, and that’s without any battery range left when I started my portion of the drive. Three drivers managed scores between 29 and 34 mpg and or 7.0 and 8.0 L/100 km, the worst result was 19 mpg or 12.5 L/100 km, and the overall average for all nine drivers was 9.4 L/100 km. Premium fuel is required.
| Average (mpg) | Average (L/100 km) | |
| Best average | 35 | 6.8 |
| My average | 35 | 6.8 |
| Worst average | 19 | 12.5 |
The P440e’s powertrain is also quite refined and the transitions between the gas engine and the electric motor are barely perceptible. Performance is more than adequate, thanks to the electric motor’s contribution of instant torque, but the experience obviously isn’t as thrilling or aurally pleasing as with some other powertrain choices. Such as the 523-horsepower, twin-turbo 4.4L V8 dubbed P530. A P400 mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0L inline-six that generates 395 horsepower is also available, as is a U.S.-only P360 mild-hybrid turbo six with 355 horsepower.
As with any other variant, the 2023 Range Rover PHEV’s cabin boasts exquisite craftsmanship, it feels and smells lavish, and as expected, ride comfort is exceptional thanks to the SUV’s air suspension. The plug-in hybrid version also sacrifices nothing in terms of off-road capability, if that’s what we’re looking for.
In the U.S. market, the 2023 Range Rover starts at $107,975, including freight and delivery charges, and reaches a starting MSRP of $228,475 for the top-shelf SV. The Range Rover PHEV starts at about $112K.
Pricing for the 2023 Range Rover line starts at $134,700 in Canada, which is subject to a recently introduced luxury tax that adds another $6,940 to the tab. The Range Rover SV with the 607-horsepower P615 powertrain is listed from $272,200. The Range Rover PHEV comes in at approximately $135K before options. All these prices include freight and delivery charges, but not the luxury tax—amounting to either 20% of the price above $100K or 10% of the total MSRP.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that in the U.S. and Canada, the P440e will be replaced with the P550e for the 2024 model year, which boasts 542 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque.
On the same subject:
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