It’s the heady smell of the hides that hits you first, a rich and fragrant leather aroma that envelops the Range Rover cabin and stimulates your olfactory lobes. Like stepping into a boutique leather shop, it’s a dimensional quality that British automakers, including Bentley and Aston Martin, always make a priority, and is notably absent in Maybachs and Lamborghinis.

But it’s the noise that gets you next, rather the lack of it—complete silence. Start up the vehicle, tickle the throttle, and hardly a whimper emerges from the… battery? That’s right, this Range Rover is a plug-in hybrid, not the first of its kind, but the most developed Landie to come electrified. 

This PHEV powertrain consists of a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine paired with a 38.2 kWh lithium-ion battery and electric motor. It’s offered in two outputs: P460e with 454 hp and a 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds, and the P550e we’re testing with 543 hp and a 0-100 km/h time of 5.0 seconds. Land Rover claims an electric range of 85 km, while our driving yielded a respectable 82 km, enough to be genuinely usable, and making it more than competitive against the Volvo XC90 PHEV (53 km), BMW X5 xDrive50e (64 km), and Mercedes GLE450e (77 km). The Range Rover also supports Level 2 charging with one port on the driver’s side. 

Notably, the PHEV is only available on the entry SE model and in short-wheelbase spec only. You cannot equip it on the Autobiography, SV, or long-wheelbase variants. The SE is still well-equipped as standard with soft-close doors, perforated Windsor leather seats, and a panoramic sunroof. Nevertheless, the vast options list allows you to surpass the $200,000 ceiling and spec an SE that is close to an Autobiography, but without key features like the Meridian Signature sound system, leather headliner, or winged headrests.

Silent, electric propulsion fits right in with the Range Rover ethos. The ability to waft around with the gentle but confident stillness of a nuclear submarine augments its inherent strengths of road isolation and cabin insulation. Transitions between modes of propulsion are seamless, and acceleration is decent in EV mode, with temperate and progressive acceleration that doesn’t upset the ride. It’s only when the battery is drained that the engine and gearbox unveil a lack of precise and consistent flow, notably during moderate acceleration. Gear transitions are slightly hesitant and inconsistent, and power delivery is not as seamless as that of a BMW or Mercedes PHEV, which highlights the level of fine-tuning that years of experience bring – could also be the reason why the fully electric Range Rover has yet to be launched. 

Otherwise, when the battery is charged, the P550e powertrain delivers strong, sharp throttle response, backed by an instant electric push, making it pleasant and easy to drive, while maintaining a strong pace when requested. The six-cylinder is not as highly caffeinated as the BMW-sourced V8 P530 and lacks its free-revving character, mid-range grunt, and accompanying vocals to match. Instead, it emits an overly bombastic and rather embarrassing EV noise when in reverse gear, like you’ve just opened up the Queen’s regal celebration playlist on Spotify. However, it is still a suitable partner for PHEV duties and is just as relaxed gliding at low speeds as it is barreling down an empty left lane.

Despite weighing 100 kg more than the V8-powered model, the Range Rover maintains a floatiness where the wheels never feel like they’re touching the ground, instead hovering a few millimetres above it, where only the deepest divots unsettle its calculated rhythm and are slightly more pronounced compared to the non-PHEV models. Of course, these are relative terms, and it’s still much more compliant and comfortable than the Mercedes GLS 580 and BMW Alpina XB7. 

The Range Rover handles its momentum well thanks to an army of tech that maintains flat and excellent body control, rotating without too much top-heavy lean. Light and accurate steering provides a measured response, giving it a sense of agility. While the steering is overboosted and overly quick for our liking, it does mean you can maneuver it around parking lots with just your index finger – a feat unsatisfying in sports cars but highly sought after in luxury SUVs where minimal driver effort is key. This Range is not an unhinged, sport-focused SUV like a Urus or Bentayga, but rather a laid-back and mature character that prefers to cosset you to your destination in utmost comfort and style. 

Tall windows and wide seats that extend right to the door panel lend a sense of airiness and spaciousness that makes the Mercedes G-Wagon and Bentley Bentayga feel small and cramped by comparison. The Premium Upgrade Interior Package ($2,100) is highly recommended, as it adds leather to key areas, including the door armrest and lower sides of the center console. Though it’s Windsor leather and not the softer and more expensive semi-aniline, it’s still incredibly supple to the touch with its natural aromatics circling the cabin. 

This isn’t the Autobiography model, so winged headrests and massaging seats aren’t on the menu, but the wooden inlays, leather upholstery, and a suede-wrapped gear lever add to the expected visual drama of a six-figure SUV. The wood and leather steering wheel is another recommended option for its elevated feel. Be that as it may, the shifter is too easy to knock accidentally, and the Meridian speaker covers on the A-pillar look plasticky and out of place compared to the metallic covers in Mercedes’ Burmesters and BMW’s Bowers & Wilkins. 

The silent operation and effortless acceleration of the P550e suit and amplify the Range Rover’s inherent on-road strengths, and while the overall powertrain and ride quality lack the polish of its gas-only variants, its usable electric range and uncompromisingly luxurious interior make it an easy recommendation to those seeking an SUV statement piece with a bit of a green conscience. In a market where there have been seismic shifts in consumer tastes and the general realization that EVs aren’t the most enjoyable method of propulsion, this Range Rover PHEV effectively splits the difference and offers the best of both worlds. 

Specifications:

Model: 2025 Range Rover P550e SE SWB (L460)
Paint Type: Sunset Gold in Satin Finish
Base Price: $153,400
Price as Tested: $182,000
Wheelbase(mm): 2,997
Length/Width/Height (mm): 5,052 / 2,047 / 1,867
Curb weight (kg): 2,732
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six, battery, 38.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, electric motor
Horsepower: 543 hp @ 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 406 lb-ft @ 2,000-5,000 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Engine & Drive Configuration: Front engine, AWD
Observed Electric-Only Range: 82 km
Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Zero All-Seasons; 285/45R22