2027 Range Rover Electric First Look: EV Power Meets Land Rover Capability

• What's new: Land Rover adds a fully electric version of its iconic Range Rover luxury SUV.
• Why it matters: Land Rover finally has an entry in a crowded field that includes the Cadillac Escalade IQ, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Rivian R1S and more.
• Edmunds says: The Range Rover Electric is a compelling luxury EV, even at its $140,450 asking price.

The existence of an all-electric Range Rover was no secret. The company announced electrification across its lineup back in 2021, and we even drove a prototype last year in the Arctic Circle. But now I'd see the final version, free of any data-gathering doodads. Best of all, I'd get a chance behind the wheel to see if this new EV lived up to the claim of being a "Range Rover first, and an electric vehicle second," as I heard countless times during my visit. I also got a tour of the factory where Land Rover has made a $5 billion investment to build its own batteries and electric motors. After spending a day immersed in the Range Rover Electric's development and capabilities, it was clear Land Rover had done its homework. 

Of course, so has everyone else. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class Electric, Cadillac Escalade IQ, Rivian R1S, Lucid Gravity and especially the striking new Genesis GV90 are all vying for the same luxury dollars. But the Range Rover Electric's specs are competitive, and it promises maybe an even better driving experience than gas-powered Range Rovers, potentially making it a strong choice. 

Why electric? And why now?

It's an interesting time to be launching an all-electric version of an already expensive SUV. Along with U.S. regulations changing, the EV market overall has softened, and some of the Range Rover Electric's competitors have underperformed since their introduction, at least in the U.S. Some manufacturers have even dropped their EV plans altogether.

I spoke with Martin Limpert, the global managing director of Range Rover, about this. He oversees the brand vision and product strategy for Range Rover, and despite the changing market, he believes there's room for the Electric because it's more of what people expect from a Range Rover. 

He noted, among other things, that Range Rover has a very loyal customer base. "Those customers who already have their second, third or fourth Range Rover, they value the DNA and the key elements of what Range Rover stands for," he said. Limpert suggested that the electric drive enhances those qualities. "We're not launching Electric because it's electric, we're launching it because we believe, for many of our customers, it will make the Range Rover experience an even better experience."

That said, Limpert is also practical. Some areas, such as Northern Europe, will have higher initial demand. In others, like the U.S., "the tipping point might come later," he said. Limpert also pointed out the Electric is built on the same line as the gas and hybrid versions, giving them flexibility on what they produce. "We will not be pushing volume, we will make sure it's a demand-driven business model," he said. However, he was quick to note that this is part of a long-term strategy for the brand. "I personally believe, in the longer term, electrified powertrains will be the dominant ones in the marketplace globally," he said.

What's different

Well, certainly not the stylng. The only visual clues that a Range Rover is electric is a blanked-out grille that otherwise precisely mimics the gas-powered versions, a smooth undercarriage thanks to the lack of engine and other gas-powertrain components, and aerodynamic wheels that supposedly improve range, while still shedding mud easily. This is still a Range Rover after all, and the company promises the kind of off-road capability that's the company's hallmark. As for the looks, I'd prefer a bit more styling differentiation instead of the blink-and-you'll-miss-them tweaks, but the result is a normal-looking Range Rover, and that's no bad thing. For what it's worth, there will be a special First Edition in curated colors with subtle badging to distinguish them.

That's just the visual changes. Under the skin, things are more substantial. The battery all that investment led to sits under the floor in lieu of a transmission, gas tank, and driveshaft. Its 118.5 kWh of usable capacity gives the Range Rover Electric an EPA-estimated range of 333 miles. We'll see how that holds up in the real world in our Edmunds EV Range Test, but Land Rover reps pointed out you'd get about as many miles out of a tankful of gas in a regular Range Rover. 

The battery itself is stacked in two layers like pancakes, and the charging mechanism is split as well. This is supposed to make charging overall more efficient. The battery uses an 800-volt architecture, meaning it can use 350 kW chargers. When plugged in to one of those, the Range Rover Electric should add 125 miles in about 10 minutes, or charge from 10 to 80% in 22 minutes. That's pretty competitive with other big electrics. 

Owing to their off-road and bad-weather capabilities, Range Rovers are often driven in areas with extreme climates. It's no secret that batteries hate extreme high and low temperatures, and it woudn't do much good if your fancy electric Range Rover crapped out when it got too hot or cold. To help combat this, the battery pack in the Range Rover Electric uses a special heat management system. Called "ThermAssist," this system is designed to optimize driving range, charging speeds, and battery life in extreme temperatures. Using a heat pump and some extremely sophisticated monitoring software, Range Rover engineers say the system provides solid benefits. For example, in cold weather, the Electric gains an additional 25 miles of range than it would have without ThermAssist. The battery itself has been tested at temperatures ranging from -40°F to +194°F, and endured enough shaking, jolts, bangs, and bumps that the aluminum enclosure and battery within should be able to take anything the real world throws at it, including modern crash tests. 

All that battery tech powers two 260 kW permanent-magnet motors, one in the front and one in the rear. The motor placement means there's no front luggage storage, or "frunk," but it also means the combined 542 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque make the Range Rover EV one of the most powerful versions of the Range Rover you can get, with more torque than even the Range Rover SV. Range Rover says it should get to 60 mph in about 4.3 seconds, and it should be able to tow about the same as a gas-powered Range Rover.

Finding the right buyer

The Range Rover Electric is available for ordering now, with a starting price of $140,450, assuming the same $2,450 destination and handling price as the rest of the lineup applies. That's $25,000 more than a gas-powered Range Rover, which isn't cheap, but it's not wholly outrageous next to its competition, either. An electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class is about $20,000 more, the Cadillac Escalade IQ about $10,000 less. The Range Rover Electric will be available in short- and long-wheelbases, and you can expect that SV Ultra trim to start at around $275,000. 

The Range Rover Electric (and other JLR electrics) need to do well. That $5 billion investment in electric propulsion could prove to be an expensive boondoggle if it doesn't, and we'll soon know how many of those 80,000 people expressing interest carry through with a down payment. It's unlikely that you'll be seeing them coming and going everywhere — it's still an expensive SUV after all — but the price hike isn't unreasonable, and Range Rover is very good at justifying its upper-level prices. My hunch is that it's going to be a compelling choice for the right customer.