After years of tantalising teasers and rumors, the all-electric Range Rover has finally emerged, and its debut drive at the Goodwood Motor Circuit puts an exclamation mark on Land Rover’s ambitions. At first glance, this electric Range Rover looks nearly identical to its combustion siblings, and that’s entirely intentional. The design is understated, with only subtle cues like dual charging ports, unique wheels, and a modified grille hinting at the cutting-edge tech beneath the surface. True to form, there’s no flashy EV badge—owners already know what they’re getting.
Underneath, though, it’s a complete revolution. The EV prototype packs a massive 118kWh double-stacked battery, feeding two electric motors (one at each axle) for a combined punch of 542bhp and 627 lb-ft of torque. Built on an 800-volt architecture, charging is ultra-rapid: a compatible charger brings the battery from 10% to 80% in about 20 minutes. There’s also smart AC charging on both sides of the car, designed for ultimate convenience on city streets full of lamppost chargers.
The expected range is upward of 300 miles on a full charge, though the production car’s official figures will tell the real story. One smart touch is that if you find a slower 400V rapid charger, the car can split its battery architecture so both halves fill up at once, Porsche-style. Vehicle-to-Load and bidirectional charging, perfect for powering tools or even your home, are likely features—final confirmation is just pending.
Land Rover’s engineers have spent considerable time perfecting this car’s thermal management. Range Rover drivers won’t want to deal with sluggish charging or performance dips in extreme heat or cold, so this model uses a heat pump standard, drawing energy efficiently even down to -15°C. The result? JLR says this is 40% more efficient than any previous model.
Despite the big battery and all the plush, tech-laden equipment you’d expect, the new electric Range Rover reportedly weighs just a little more than the current plug-in hybrid model. Land Rover is promising that off-road capability hasn’t suffered: approach, departure, and fording depth match or surpass the petrol models.
And what’s it like to drive? The debut at Goodwood focused on a man-made off-road obstacle course, not track blasts, emphasising what makes a Range Rover unique. The instant torque of electric motors means tricky climbs are effortless and controllable—no gear changes, no engine lag, just smooth, silent, drama-free progress, even on the toughest surfaces. It handles descents with seamless precision thanks to strong regenerative braking and clever software, giving a new level of one-pedal control, especially off-road.
JLR claims the electric system’s traction management reacts 100 times faster than the internal combustion versions, delivering supreme control and composure in all conditions. And, yes, the cabin is eerily quiet—a surreal experience for anyone used to a throaty V8.
The performance figures put the electric Range Rover right up with the SUV elite, rivaling the likes of the BMW iX, Volvo EX90, and Kia EV9—though, as ever, Range Rover sits in a class of its own, with pricing starting north of £130,000.
The verdict after this first drive at Goodwood? The electric Range Rover offers classic capability and refinement, now with silent, instant electric thrust. There are still big questions about real-world range and efficiency, but for tech, comfort, and sheer presence, Range Rover’s first electric offering looks every bit a future flagship. There’s plenty more to come as the production version nears its 2026 launch, but for now, Range Rover has proved this all-electric first step is worth the wait.
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