The plug-in hybrid version of the Range Rover Sport boasts one of the longest official electric ranges among PHEVs in Canada, claiming up to 82 kilometres on electricity alone. Only the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e surpasses it, with an additional five kilometres.
Battery and Efficiency
The Range Rover Sport PHEV features a massive 38.2-kilowatt-hour battery paired with an electric motor and a six-cylinder engine. This battery is twice the size of the original all-electric Nissan Leaf's battery and just shy of the 40-kWh unit in last year's basic Leaf, which could travel up to 240 kilometres on a single charge. This highlights the inefficiency of the heavier Range Rover Sport. For comparison, the Toyota RAV4 PHEV has an 18.1-kWh battery—less than half the size—yet can travel 68 kilometres on electricity alone.
During a test in February, the Range Rover Sport's instrumentation estimated an all-electric range of 84 kilometres. Driving on Highway 401 at about 110 km/h in -8°C conditions, the battery ran dry after 72 kilometres. Cold temperatures and higher speeds significantly affect battery efficiency.
Fuel Consumption in Different Modes
After the battery drained, the powertrain was locked to the gasoline engine, which also recharged the battery. Over 60 kilometres on the highway, fuel consumption was 13.9 L/100 km, while generating enough charge for an additional 15 kilometres of electric driving. When driving with an empty battery in hybrid mode for a few hundred kilometres, consumption dropped to 11.3 L/100 km—typical if the vehicle is not plugged in regularly.
Hybrid mode, where the computer optimally blends electricity and gasoline, is recommended for most drivers. The electric motor enhances torque and smoothness, providing instant torque at low speeds and a refined gasoline engine at higher speeds.
Trim Levels and Performance
Non-PHEV Range Rover Sport trims start at just over $100,000 and can exceed double that with options. The plug-in hybrid powertrain is available in P460e and P550e variants, both sharing the same battery and 141-horsepower electric motor. The P460e starts at around $134,000, while the P550e in Autobiography trim offers more power, accelerating a half-second faster.
In all-electric mode, the 2,812-kilogram SUV (with 363 kilograms from the battery and motor) reaches 100 km/h in about 12 seconds. Using only the gas engine, it does so in 5.5 seconds, and in hybrid mode, it shaves off an additional half-second. The transmission's Sport mode engages hybrid automatically but is less efficient for city driving.
Capability vs. Efficiency
The Range Rover Sport PHEV is extraordinarily capable but not particularly efficient. It can tow 3,000 kilograms and fast-charge at Level 3 chargers, but its heavy battery and resource-heavy approach draw criticism from engineers at Tesla and Lucid, who advocate for lighter, more effective batteries rather than simply adding more weight and cost.
Tech Specs
- 2026 Range Rover Sport P550e PHEV
- Base price/as tested: $158,000/$188,865 including freight, PDI, and luxury tax, plus taxes
- Engine: Three-litre inline six, with 160-kilowatt motor
- Horsepower/torque (lb-ft): P460e: 454/457; P550e: 543/590
- Transmission/drive: Eight-speed automatic/All-wheel drive
- Fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres): 11.3 (observed)
- Electric range: 82 kilometres (claimed)
- Alternatives: Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e, BMW X5 50e, Volvo XC90 PHEV
