February 2019 Issue #26 February 2019 Issue #26

Available only in HSE trim, the $79,295 USD P400e is more expensive than sim- ilarly specified diesel or V-6 models. Putting a premium on performance makes sense, on paper. But is the Range Rover Sport HSE P400e really worth $3,950 USD more than the 254-hp Sport HSE Td6 and $5,950 USD more than the 340- hp V-6-powered Sport HSE? After more than 600 miles behind the wheel of a P400e, this much is clear: The answer to that question depends very much on how and where you drive it. The hybrid powertrain mixes and matches electric and internal combustion power to meet load demands. Lift off the gas, and the little four-banger under the hood promptly shuts down, activating mild regen while coasting that increases with braking. When a destination is entered into the nav system, the P400e’s elec- tronic neural network factors in traffic conditions, the gradient of the route, and whether it’s operating in a rural or urban environment, to deliver the most efficient combination of power modes. Flick the transmission into sport mode, and the engine opportunistically pumps additional charge into the battery to ensure the e-motor is always ready to deliver extra power and torque and boost performance. The Save mode, selected via the central touchscreen, preserves the battery’s charge level to allow the P400e to operate in pure EV mode—selected via a button on the center console—or drive for extended periods on the e-motor under light throttle loads. There’s a lot going on, a bogglingly complex interplay of data and energy flows, under the skin of the P400e, but you’re barely aware of it behind the wheel. What you do notice is that the PHEV powertrain feels more responsive than the 3.0-li- ter diesel engine, especially with the transmission in Sport mode, and general- ly smoother than the supercharged V-6. The one thing the Range Rover Sport P400e doesn’t feel like: A 5448-pound (2,471-kg) SUV with a four-cylinder engine under the hood. The P400e’s party trick, of course, is its ability to waft down the road under smooth, silent electric power. Maximum range, according to Land Rover, is 31 miles (50 km), but as in a gasoline-powered car, your mileage may vary. A peak- hour crosstown drive to and from Motor Trend’s London office that started with a full gas tank and a fully charged battery saw the internal combustion engine be- gin to fire up consistently after just 18 miles (28 km) in brutal stop-and-go traffic. The ultra-slow speed of travel—barely 7 mph (11 km) average on the outward leg—inhibited the powertrain’s ability to plough energy back into the battery by way of regen, so it was an extreme test. Even so, the P400e used barely four- tenths of a gallon (U.S.) over the 30-mile (48-km) round trip, effectively returning 75 mpg (3.1 L/100km). 64

February 2019 Issue #26 February 2019 Issue #26 | Page 64