Only a few days after Land Rover announced its heavily updated 2019 Range Rover Sport P400e, the British automaker is adding that same plug-in hybrid powertrain to its revised 2019 Range Rover. The gasoline-electric system provides a very impressive all-electric range of 31 miles thanks to a 13.1-kWh lithium-ion battery and an 85-kW electric motor. Once depleted, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder kicks on to recharge the battery and power the Range Rover through the familiar ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Thankfully, the P400e is no slouch. It boasts a combined output of 398 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque good enough for a 0-to-60 mph run of 6.4 seconds and to a top speed of 137 mph. In other words, the Range Rover doesn’t lose any of its class-leading capabilities due to its new hybrid powertrain.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about hybrids from Range Rover. In fact, not only does the 2019 Range Rover P400e follow the Range Rover Sport P400e, it follows Jaguar Land Rover’s official promise to offer a hybrid powertrain in every one of its models by 2020. We had also seen camouflaged Range Rover test mules trudging through the snow with a slightly reshaped front end. Now, the P400e is only one member of the Range Rover lineup. There’s the 3.0-liter gasoline V-6 and the 5.0-liter V-8 – both of which are supercharged. Then there’s the newer 3.0-liter Td6 V-6 turbodiesel. All Range Rovers are undergoing a mid-cycle refresh for the 2018 model year. The changes include the new front fascia and some extensive technology improvements within the dash. Those wanting the P400e powertrain will have to wait until the 2019 model year, however. Still, it should be well worth the wait.

Continue reading for more on the 2019 Range Rover P400e.

2019 Land Rover Range Rover P400e

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2019 Land Rover Range Rover P400e
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 398
  • Torque: 472
  • Transmission: eight-speed ZF automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

For 2018 the Land Rover Range Rover is getting a welcomed mid-cycle refresh. These same changes will be found on the 2019 P400e, as well, though you’d have to be a true Range Rover fan to spot the differences. Most of the changes happen up front. The main grille now has a flat mesh insert rather than the three-part wavy mesh grille. The headlights are also new and feature a different LED pattern and both low and high beams are now LED. Down low, the tall air inlets below the headlights now integrate with the horizontal lower grille. Like we said, the changes are small.

The Range Rover P400e does have a trick up its sleeve. Engineers and designers teamed up to incorporate the charge port within the new grille. It’s hidden behind the green Land Rover oval. Two doors – an outer and an inner – are used to keep the charge port clear of water, dust, or mud.

Interior

While the outside didn’t get much more than a massage, the interior of the 2018 Range Rover (and consequently the 2019 Range Rover P400e) has a heavily reworked dashboard and center stack. The overall look hasn’t changed all that much, but Range Rover has given the 2018/2019 model the same dual, 10-inch screens found on the 2018 Range Rover Velar and the 2019 Range Rover Sport. The main gauge cluster also gets a welcomed graphic interface with updated icons and displays.

The two new screens in the center stack are part of Range Rover’s “Touch Pro Duo” system. Both screens have high definition resolution and touch capability. The upper screen even recognizes multi-gesture inputs. The lower screen is where the fun really happens. In normal operation, the screen shows the HVAC controls with the rotary dials operating vent speed and dual-zone temperature controls. But when it’s time to adjust the Terrain Response 2 system, the entire lower screen and the digital faces of the knobs change into the controls for the off-road modes. It’s a fantastic double use of space and keeps the console free from extra buttons and dials.

The Range Rover offers 17 connection ports in the standard wheelbase model and 18 in the long wheelbase version, all placed around the cabin for easy use. These connections include 12-volt plugs, a household plug, and HDMI and USB ports. The 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot also has slots for eight connections, meaning four passengers can have two devices online at the same time.

Adding to the tech is the addition of Jaguar Land Rover’s Activity Key. Like in other JLR products, the driver can simply wear a wristband that acts as the key. The waterproof band means no more lost or water-soaked key fobs.

Audiophiles will love having a choice between three sound systems in the Range Rover. There’s the base 380-watt system with 13 speakers, an 825-watt surround sound system with 19 speakers, and the 1,700-watt Signature Sound System with a whipping 29 speakers. All three systems come from Meridian. Having experienced the 1,700-watt system in several Range Rovers, we can vouch for its absolute movie theater-quality sound and thunderous bass.

Another new trapping inside the updated Range Rover is the gesture-controlled sunshade for the panoramic moonroof. Rather than pushing a button, the driver or front passenger can simply wave a hand to open or close the blind. Motion rearward for the shade to open and wave forward for the shade to close. While it sounds cool, we’ll reserve judgment until we can see how responsive and accurate the system works.

Drivetrain

The 2019 Range Rover P400e is nearly identical to the gasoline and diesel-drinking Range Rover. Of course, the big difference is its powertrain. The P400e uses a gasoline-electric hybrid system that operates normally as a parallel hybrid with the engine and electric motor working together. In higher load driving situations, the engine kicks on to supply power to the wheels and when coasting or during light acceleration, the battery powers the electric motors, which in turn, powers the wheels.

So what are the specifics?

The gasoline engine is Range Rover’s 2.0-liter Ingenium four-cylinder tuned to produce 296 horsepower and mounted longitudinally within the engine bay. It mates to the familiar ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, but with an 85-kW, 114-horsepower electric motor sandwiched between. The electric power comes from a 13.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack stored under the rear load floor. A 7.0-kW onboard charger feeds the battery pack when plugged into a power source.

Speaking of charging, the P400e can be charged both on the go and when stopped. In motion, the hybrid system will use the engine and regenerative braking to help replenish the battery. When stopped, the plug-in charge port will recharge the battery in as little as 2.75 hours with a public charging station or with the optional high-power AC wall box. On the typical household plug, the P400e will change in 7.5 hours. Naturally, Range Rover allows the driver to monitor and control charging via the InControl smartphone app.

The system provides a combined output of 398 horsepower and an impressive 472 pound-feet of torque. Despite the power, the Range Rover P400e has an all-electric range of 31 miles when driven conservatively. That’s a marvel considering the Chevrolet Volt, a ground-up designed hybrid, has an electric-only range of 53 miles. The Range Rover even out-performs the Toyota Prius Prime, which only has an electric-only range of 25 miles. Of course, the Nissan Leaf and every Tesla product have greater ranges. Still, this is a fantastic first stab at a gasoline-electric hybrid system.

At the time of this writing, the EPA has not tested the Range Rover P400e for its fuel economy.

Despite having a fuel-friendly powertrain, the Range Rover P400e remains a capable SUV. It will hit 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and will achieve a top speed of 134 mph. Not only that but when the road turns sloppy, the Range Rover falls back on its heritage. The full-time 4WD system remains in place, sending power to all four wheels. The electronically controlled transfer case and center differential send power where it's needed and the traction control system will deliver power to whatever wheel has traction. Both the center and rear differentials can be locked, providing a 50:50 torque split between the front and rear axles and a between the rear wheels, affording the Range Rover the maximum level of traction.

Managing the 4WD system is Land Rover’s famed Terrain Response 2 system. As mentioned, it now lives in the Touch Pro Duo’s lower screen and uses the HVAC knobs to adjust the terrain modes and other settings. The driver can select between Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Sand, and Rock Craw modes to suit the trail at hand. The system also has modes for on-road driving, too. These include Comfort, Dynamic, and Eco, with each recalibrating the power delivery of the engine, electric motor, and transmission shift points.

The Range Rover P400e continues to utilize Land Rover’s adjustable air suspension. Not only does it provide a smooth ride, the suspension offers multiple ride heights for different situations. These include Access Height, which lowers the vehicle by two inches to ease getting in and out. Then there is the normal ride height, though it will automatically drop by 0.6-inches when traveling over 65 mph to increase stability and reduce drag. When its time for getting dirty, two off-road ride heights provide extra ground clearance of 1.3 and 3.0 inches, respectively. These ride heights are limited to speeds under 50 mph and 31 mph, as well.

Interestingly, the air suspension can also be used to help with loading cargo and hitching a trailer. The rear suspension will lower up to two inches for a shorter lift height for heavy items. This can also be used when backing under a trailer coupler. Once aligned, the air suspension will raise up to 3.5 inches, taking the weight off the tongue jack for easy stowage.

Drivetrain Specifications

Gasoline engine

2.0-liter Ingenium four-cylinder

Horsepower

296 HP

Electric motor

114 HP

Combined output

398 HP

Combined torque

472 LB-FT

Tranmission

ZF eight-speed automatic

Battery

13.1-kWh lithium-ion

All-electric range

31 miles

0 to 60 mph

6.4 seconds

Top speed

134 mph


Safety

The Range Rover continues to offer a suite of driver assistance technologies. These include Lane Departure Warning, Emergency Braking, Front and Rear Park Distance Control, and a driver-selectable speed limiter. There is also a rear backup camera as part of the standard package.

Optionally, customers can get the Drive Pack. It comes with Blind Spot Monitor, Adaptive Speed Limiter, Driver Condition Monitor, and Traffic Sign Recognition. Above that is the Drive Pack Pro, which includes High Speed Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keep Assist, and an upgraded version of the adaptive cruise control that includes Queue Assist, which keeps the Range Rover moving in a stop-and-go line of traffic.

For those who don’t like parking, the Park Pack offers the 360-degree camera system, Reverse Traffic Monitor, and the Clear Exit Monitor. The Park Pack Pro goes beyond that to actually park the Range Rover by itself, with the driver only operating the pedals.

Pricing

Land Rover has not relapsed pricing for the 2019 Range Rover P400e model at this time. However, pricing for the updated 2018 Range Rover models was announced. The base SE with the 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 starts at $87,350. Moving to the turbodiesel will move the price to $89.350, while the supercharged V-8 starts at $104,850. Graduating into the range-topping SVAutobiography Dynamic trim with the 557-horsepower tune of the 5.0-liter V-8 costs $177,200 and the long-wheelbase version starts at $207,900. That’s a seriously wide range of prices.

We suspect the P400e will slot between the turbodiesel and the V-8, meaning its starting price could be around $90,000 to $100,000. Needless to say, people won’t be buying the Range Rover P400e to save money on fuel costs. This is just Land Rover keeping up with the times and offering a model that customers living near gasoline-free city centers can still have.

Land Rover didn’t give a specific timeline for the P400e’s arrival in the U.S., but will be sometime for the 2019 model year.

Competition

Volvo XC90 T8 Hybrid

The XC90 is a beautiful SUV worthy of any luxury buyer’s attention. Its classy and reserved appearance is only surpassed by its leather-lined and wood-accented interior. Large screens for the infotainment and driver’s gauge cluster keep information and controls handy, while three rows offer seating for seven. The Volvo might not have the Range Rover name or cache, but it definitely rivals the Range Rover in terms of fit, finish, and comfort.

The range-topping powertrain also happens to be the most efficient. Called the T8 Twin-Engine Plug-in Hybrid, the powertrain uses Volvo’s 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder mated to an 87-horsepower AC motor driven by a 9.2-kWh battery pack. Another electric motor, a 46-horsepower unit, is sandwiched between the engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission. Total output is up from the XC90 T6 model’s 316 horsepower to an impressive 400 horses and 472 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is EPA-estimated at 53 MPGe city and 25 MPGe highway.

Pricing for the XC90 T8 starts at $67,800. The “base” trim for the T8 Plug-in Hybrid is the trendy R-Design. The luxury-minded Inscription trim starts at $68,900, while the range-topping Excellence trim starts at $104,900.

Read more about the 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 Hybrid.

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid

Focused more on sport, the Cayenne E-Hybrid lives up to the Porsche name, while delivering improved fuel economy and 416 horsepower. The two-row SUV has a swanky interior that should fool the front occupants into thinking they’re flying a military aircraft. High-tech features abound, as does comfort.

Power comes from a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 mated to a 10.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which powers a 95-horsepower AC motor. The gasoline engine makes an impressive 416 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque by itself. Combined with the AC motor’s 229 pound-feet of torque, the Cayenne makes 435 pound-feet. That’s enough to push the two-row SUV to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and onto a top speed of 151 mph. An eight-speed automatic does the shifting. The EPA estimated the Porsche will achieve 46 MPGe combined between city and highway.

Prices for the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid start at $78,700, while the Platinum Edition starts at $81,600.

Find out more about the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid.

Conclusion

Land Rover’s acceptance and adoption of gasoline-hybrid technology is a huge milestone in automotive history. What’s more, its exciting and relieving to see an automaker with such a rich history in off-roading manage to retain that capability while still providing a more fuel-efficient powertrain with an impressive 31-mile, all-electric range. This is no small task and Land Rover deserves some serious credit here.

We can’t wait to see the 2019 Range Rover P400e is like in person and what the future holds for Jaguar Land Rover’s other models. The future is certainly exciting.

References

Land Rover Range Rover

Read our full article on the 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport P400e.

Land Rover Velar

Read our full review on the 2018 Land Rover Velar.