The Range Rover Sport has gone fully electric, bringing 542bhp, four-wheel drive and a claimed 374 miles of range to one of Land Rover’s most recognisable SUVs.
Priced from £109,810 in the UK, the new Range Rover Sport Electric is available to order now, with deliveries due to begin next year. The first version uses a dual-motor setup and develops 627lb ft of torque, giving it a claimed 0-62mph time of 4.3 seconds.
That makes this a serious performance EV as well as a luxury SUV. The headline figures put it close to the pace of the petrol-powered Range Rover Sport SV, although the electric model has a very different character on paper.
Range Rover Sport Electric price and specs
The Range Rover Sport Electric starts at £109,810, with the initial range centred on the Dynamic SE trim. Autocar reports that Autobiography and limited-run First Edition versions will also join the line-up.
Power comes from two electric motors, producing 542bhp and 627lb ft of torque. Range Rover claims 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds, while the 118.5kWh usable battery is said to provide up to 374 miles on the WLTP cycle.
Those numbers make the Sport Electric a sizeable proposition in the luxury electric SUV market. Its closest alternatives include cars such as the Porsche Macan Electric, although the Range Rover brings a much stronger focus on off-road capability and towing.
Range Rover Sport Electric charging and range
The battery uses an 800V electrical architecture and can accept DC charging at up to 350kW, according to Range Rover. That puts the Sport Electric among the faster-charging large EVs on paper, although the maximum rate will depend on the charger and battery conditions.
The large battery also gives the electric Sport a lower centre of gravity than its combustion-engined counterparts. Range Rover has fitted active roll control, adaptive suspension and rear-wheel steering, all intended to sharpen the SUV's handling.
Range Rover also says the battery pack is fully sealed, allowing the Sport Electric to retain the brand's off-road credentials and drive through deep water. Those are important details for a model whose appeal has always extended beyond the school run.
Range Rover Sport Electric design and interior
Visually, the electric Sport stays close to the existing Range Rover Sport. The main changes are concentrated around the front grille and the wheels, so you won't immediately mistake it for an entirely new model.
That familiar approach makes sense. The Sport Electric still needs to look like a Range Rover, and the bigger change is underneath the body.
Inside, the focus remains on the same luxury-SUV formula as the rest of the Sport range. The electric powertrain should also bring the quieter running associated with battery power, something Range Rover itself highlights across its electric range.
Range Rover Sport Electric verdict
The interesting thing about the Range Rover Sport Electric is how little it gives away in the numbers. With 542bhp, 627lb ft and a claimed 374-mile range, it has the performance and battery capacity expected of a £100,000-plus electric SUV.
The £109,810 starting price is hefty, but that is hardly a surprise in this part of the market. What matters will be whether the Sport Electric can combine its impressive figures with the quietness, comfort and all-terrain ability buyers expect from a Range Rover.
For now, the specification makes a strong case for the electric Sport as a genuine alternative to the petrol versions. The big question will be how those impressive figures translate to real-world range, charging and driving once independent road tests arrive.