Test Range Rover Sport P550e (2024) – With more electric juice

Range Rover or Range Rover Sport with electric assist, not new. In previous lives, both still existed as the P400e, a plug-in hybrid that wasn’t the immediate sales success JLR had hoped for due to its limited battery capacity (13.1 kWh) and inline-four.

But, you can learn from your mistakes. Whatever the British did. Almost a year ago, in the fall of 2023, we drove the Range Rover P510e for the first time. This time with a 3-liter six-cylinder under the hood. With 38.2 kWh of electrical capacity. It probably goes without saying that it wiped the floor with its predecessor in terms of performance and efficiency.

Hurray, hurry, you can imagine. Although that is not included in Gaydon. Apparently the dots aren’t fully connected yet, as evidenced by this Model Year 2024 Range Rover Sport P550e. What else had to change, you ask?

Concept Range Rover Sport P550e

Simple, electric motor. The P510e parallel mill produced 145 hp. Certainly not bad, but not enough to match the 2.7 tons that this Range Rover Sport-with-plug weighs. wave get. Although that is an important part of the Range Rover experience. So the eight-speed automatic transmission now gets a copy that produces 218 hp. In addition to the combined high power – and the associated sprint to 100 km / h in 5.4 seconds – the increase in the electric vehicle also provides more convenience when traveling. Unlike the P510e, you now feel that you have more power.

An additional benefit: the electric radius now goes from 113 km to 121 km. That’s the theory, because as before, Land Rover itself modifies it a little. Where – which is still not bad – 90 km is a more realistic goal in practice.

It is still changed, although a little for the better: the different climate controls were modified. From now on you will also need to adjust the temperature or set your heated/cooled seat on the central 13.1-inch touchscreen. Fortunately, the response of the display is fast and accurate, so the loss of ergonomics is not too bad. Although we still prefer round buttons.

Driving behavior Range Rover Sport P550e

JLR recently presented the Range Rover Sport SV, a megalomaniac model that goes so fast that it threatens to crash through the sound barrier. The Range Rover Sport version that crossed my mind repeatedly during the test week. Always with the accompanying question would that SV be worth the extra premium compared to this P550e?

Certainly not in terms of performance. With 5.4 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h, the plug-in hybrid is also more than fast enough for us. Vitesse, which he continues to build linearly to more than 200 kilometers per hour. We’ve seen firsthand how impressive that is on the German Autobahn. Anyone who doesn’t think they can do that should be looking for issues within themselves.

Furthermore, the plug-in hybrid achieves those speeds without losing its coolness. The P550e always remains a gentleman who will suppress the roar of the six inside – albeit powerful and smooth – as much as possible. Unless you explicitly ban this from the Range Rover Sport via the Dynamic driving program.

A sporter setting that we would also recommend if you want to give the athlete a proper translation in the bend. In the Comfort and Automatic, active stabilizer bars allow more body roll to be effective at higher speeds. A ‘problem’ that no longer exists in the hardest Dynamic mode.

Be careful though, it won’t be as active as on the SV. However, you may wonder if the corner should be the main focus of such a mastodon? No, I prefer deafening silence. Both in EV mode and in Comfort (at least if you keep the accelerator pedal). Because the petrol engine is also inaudible. Although the double glazing and noise canceling speakers in the headrests probably deserve a special mention.

Which finally brings us to the added value of the fast charging function. In addition to the 7.4 kW that you fuel with alternating current, you can also connect the P550e to a fast charger. With a maximum of 50 kW reaching, you will have 80 percent of your battery capacity again after half an hour. It may seem small, but over long distances (in the Hybrid setting) the extra charge reduces consumption significantly. In our case, that went from 9.8 to 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers.

Decision Range Rover Sport P550e

Have we found him? Is the Range Rover Sport the best? The P550e certainly won’t be far away. After all, it is very comfortable, luxurious, spacious and quiet. Thanks to the useful electric radius, it can also be quite economical. Or repeat, depending on where you prefer to invest your electricity at that time.

Unless you play with driving applications, this plug-in hybrid can be semi-sporty. Without denying his past life on the field. And with 3 tons you can still pull quite a load. In short, this Range Rover Sport P550e is a jack of all trades.