What’s hot?
- The Range Rover Hybrid uses same 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine as the standard Range Rover, but with a 35kW electric motor integrated into the 8-speed automatic gearbox.
- Together the Hybrid powertrain produces 340bhp, good enough for 6.7 seconds to 0 to 62mph and a max speed of 135mph top speed. Which makes it faster than the standard diesel (0 to 60mph in 7.4 seconds, 130mph) and on a level with the 339bhp 4.4-litre V8 turbodiesel (6.5 seconds, 135mph) – but it’s more economical (44.1mpg vs 37.7)…
- … and has better CO2 emissions than the standard V6 turbodiesel, dropping from 196g/km to 169g/km along with the plummeting company car tax bands.
- So now, for the first time, you’ll find a Range Rover sitting in the 25% company car tax band – if you stick with the non-hybrid V6 turbodiesel the company car tax band is 34% – representing a massive nine band drop (diesel-electric hybrids aren’t subject to the standard 3% company car tax diesel surcharge – see Yeeha! HMRC says diesel hybrids are exempt from 3% company car tax surcharge.
- Inside the Range Rover Hybrid, the only giveaway that you’re in a diesel-electric Land Rover is the optional power meter that sits in place of the rev-counter.
- A green band illustrates the most efficient driving manner.
- When fully charged, the Hybrid can manage a mile in electric-only mode.
- But battery charge also used to smooth out any (of the few) power gaps in the V6 turbodiesel’s range. Which provides even silkier gearchanges and further enhances the Range Rover’s overall refinement.
- A Sport mode offers improved performance when you want it, combining the diesel and electric power sources.
What’s not?
- It’s going to cost – the likely price tag for the Range Rover Hybrid is £100,000 – a hefty £30k more than the entry-level V6 turbodiesel Vogue model.
- EV mode, which prioritises recharging the battery, only offers a real dead-feeling throttle response.
- The waiting time for a new Range Rover.
