One of Britain’s most recognisable luxury cars has officially entered the electric era, with the first fully electric Range Rover now revealed.
For a model so closely associated with powerful engines, luxury and serious off road capability, the move to electric is a significant one. But rather than completely reinventing the Range Rover for the EV age, the manufacturer has taken a deliberately familiar approach.
At first glance, there is very little to distinguish the new Range Rover Electric from the petrol, diesel and plug in hybrid versions already on the road. There are some subtle changes designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency, including revisions to the grille, wheels and underbody, but it remains unmistakably a Range Rover.
That is very much the point. Range Rover has focused on creating a vehicle that still looks, feels and performs like its flagship SUV, just with an entirely different powertrain underneath.
The Range Rover Electric uses two electric motors producing a combined 550PS and 850Nm of torque, powered by a large 118.5kWh battery. Officially, it can travel up to 372 miles on a full charge, while Range Rover estimates a real world range of up to 333 miles.
For drivers still concerned about whether an electric car can comfortably handle longer journeys, those figures are significant. A potential real world range comfortably above 300 miles puts the Range Rover firmly into long distance EV territory and demonstrates just how far battery technology has moved on.
Charging performance is equally important and the new Range Rover uses an 800 volt electrical system designed to support high speed DC charging. Range Rover says the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in around 22 minutes when connected to a suitable rapid charger, while up to 137 miles of range can potentially be added in just 10 minutes.
As with any EV, actual charging times will depend on several factors, including the charger being used, battery temperature, weather conditions and the vehicle’s existing state of charge. Even so, the figures show how manufacturers are increasingly tackling two of the biggest concerns surrounding electric cars at the same time, driving range and charging time.
Going electric has not meant sacrificing the performance expected from a Range Rover either.
Despite its size and substantial battery, the Range Rover Electric can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in just 4.3 seconds. Its two electric motors provide the sort of immediate performance traditionally associated with powerful V8 engines, but without the engine noise.
Range Rover describes the electric version as quieter and more responsive, with more torque than any previous Range Rover. For a car that has always placed comfort, refinement and effortless performance at the heart of its appeal, electric power could actually prove to be a very natural fit.
It has not forgotten about its off road credentials either.
The new model can wade through water up to 900mm deep and features a new electric traction management system designed to respond much more quickly than the system used in a combustion powered model. It also offers single pedal driving that can be used when tackling steep slopes.
Admittedly, relatively few owners may choose to take a luxury electric SUV costing more than £150,000 through deep water or up a muddy hillside, but maintaining that capability is important to the Range Rover identity.
And the price certainly places it at the very top end of the electric car market.
The Range Rover Electric starts from £154,070 in the UK for the EV550 Autobiography in standard wheelbase form. The First Edition starts from £157,610, while higher specification SV and long wheelbase versions can take the price beyond £200,000.
That clearly means it will not be an electric car for everyone, but its importance goes beyond the number of people likely to buy or lease one.
The arrival of a fully electric Range Rover is another indication of just how much the EV market has changed.
Electric cars were once largely associated with smaller hatchbacks designed for shorter journeys. Today, drivers can choose from electric city cars, family hatchbacks, SUVs, executive saloons, performance cars and vans, with some of the world’s best known luxury vehicles now joining the list.
For anyone considering an electric car lease, that increasing choice matters.
Moving to an EV no longer necessarily means changing the type of car you want to drive. Manufacturers are increasingly electrifying familiar and established models rather than asking customers to compromise on size, luxury, performance or practicality.
The Range Rover Electric is perhaps one of the clearest examples yet.
From the outside, surprisingly little has changed. Underneath, almost everything has.
UK order books are now open following the model’s official launch on 2 September 2026, with availability expected to develop as vehicles begin entering the UK market.
And if a £154,000 Range Rover is slightly beyond the monthly budget, the wider point is much more relevant.
There has never been a greater variety of electric cars to choose from, ranging from affordable everyday EVs to long range family SUVs and luxury models capable of travelling hundreds of miles between charges.
With new electric cars continuing to arrive, the question for many drivers is becoming less about whether an EV can meet their needs and more about which one suits them best.
