Range Rover 2023 P440e, what convinced us and what didn't | Our proof
Range Rover 2023 P440e
Few cars have marked history like the Range Rover; in fact, its introduction dates back to 1970 with the renowned Range Rover Classic and since then several revisions have followed which led in 2021 to the introduction of the latest - known as the L460 - which manages to perfectly combine elegance, comfort and excellent off-road capability. Despite having many rivals, Range Rover always manages to differentiate itself and appear as the reference car in its segment thanks to modern lines and innovative design solutions such as, for example, the design of the rear lights which disappear when the car is switched off. The success of this car is undisputed and is taken as a reference vehicle by the elite from all over the world. The mammoth dimensions – 5052 mm long, 2047 mm wide with closed mirrors and 1870 mm high – have not denied its popularity in city centres, it will in fact be quite common to see them on the streets of Milan, London or Paris and for this very reason functions aimed at making it more ECO friendly and comfortable to maneuver in traffic have been introduced on the latest version.
Our test was conducted over about 600 km and allowed us to test the various functions of this SUV starting from city driving to a hint of off-roading.
What convinces us
Exquisite builds, yacht-on-wheels design, masterful soundproofing and unrivaled road presence define the Range Rover experience. As soon as we enter the passenger compartment of this HSE version we find excellent quality leather – not at the levels of the even more opulent Autobiography version tested a little while ago on the Range Rover Sport – which can be customized in an almost infinite way managing to meet the various tastes and consumer requests.The exterior design is totally new and has managed to make a car that was already the spearhead of refinement even more elegant. Few but well-studied lines manage to make the sides sinuous and smooth just like a luxury yacht, the retractable handles combine with the lack of window frames to make the complex even more refined. Up front we find the various sensors totally hidden in the lower part of the grille so as not to annoy the design while at the rear – my favorite part – we find an innovative design of the lights that disappear when the car is off, almost turning them into black moldings like those present on the tailgate, there is nothing else to say except that it is a masterpiece.
The infotainment system is quick and functional also thanks to the introduction of haptic feedback to confirm pressure . Through the screen it is also possible to access the various cameras present which allow you to move with peace of mind even in tight spaces. On the motorway, the perception is that of floating above the roughness of the road, this sensation is amplified by the 22 - and not 23 - rims which therefore allow for a higher shoulder and to cushion the uneven surfaces even more markedly. Furthermore, the four-wheel steering system allows almost incredible maneuvers in traffic, managing to make U-turns in just 10.95 metres, a record figure which translates into surprising agility in any situation. One of the main characteristics that has always distinguished the Range Rover is its unrivaled off-road capability that has earned it its fame over the years; with the fifth version of the British off-road vehicle, its off-road qualities have done nothing but improve from a technological point of view by introducing the Terrain Response 2 and managing to guarantee targeted calibrations for the various types of surface through the air suspension decidedly aggressive angles of attack without forgetting that meanwhile, the occupants can be comfortably massaged while listening to a very high quality track via the Meridian audio system.
The load capacity is almost infinite thanks to the huge rear trunk and this makes it practical for every type of requirement.
What doesn't convince us
There are few criticisms leveled at this new generation of Range Rover, first of all it can be the excessive roll which, although corrected by the active anti-roll bars, is still annoying especially on sudden changes of direction. On the motorway, external noise is reduced to a minimum and for this reason we have found that the wind noise from the mirrors can be excessively accentuated.How to drive
The sensation of grandeur on the road is certainly unique, in the version we tested the engine was the p440e or a 3.0 V6 Plug-in Hybrid with 440 hp and 620 Nm of torque, all managed by an 8-speed automatic gearbox.The 0-100 it is covered in just 6.0 seconds and the maximum speed reached is 225 km/h; although these numbers can be connected to a fast and agile car, the Range Rover philosophy and the way in which the car is calibrated does not make the driver want to push the accelerator pedal excessively. In fact, it is the extreme silence and the comfort that is perceived by the occupants that reign supreme in this plug-in Hybrid version which, thanks to the 38.2 kWh battery, is capable of traveling up to 111 km in full electric mode.
This data is what the English company declared in optimal conditions, while in our test we managed to reach a real range of 80 km in mixed use conditions.
The recharging takes place via the CCS2 socket and can be done in just 30 minutes from 0 to 80% in optimal conditions. Weight is certainly an important factor, like the recently tested sister Range Rover Sport, there is a significant increase in empty weight between the Plug-In versions and the traditional versions, going over 3000 kg in running order for the former.
As far as consumption is concerned, we have found an enormous difference between the various driving modes, if you prefer to save the battery for future use using the SAVE mode, you will obtain an average lower than 8 km/l on the motorway while if you go to use the HYBRID mode the consumption will be able to amaze you at around 13-14 km/l. In sloping conditions it will not be difficult to observe a net increase in consumption and it will even reach 4 km/l given the mass. As far as driving assistance is concerned, we find lane maintenance and centering that work effectively on the motorway in many situations except in long bends where we happened to encounter a loss of the lane reference and a consequent deactivation of the centering.
