We waited a while for the latest Range Rover with the old model’s lifespan extending to almost a decade. That shouldn’t be surprising though because in more than 50 years there have only been four generations of the most luxurious Land Rover. The latest Range Rover model has already received a few tweaks for 2023 to keep it ahead of the game.
The fifth-generation car is a significant step for Land Rover. Not least because the British brand’s iconic luxury SUV will be available as a plug-in hybrid and with seven seats for the first time.
The new Range Rover is priced from £103,720, and is the first model on the British brand’s new MLA-Flex platform, which allows for pure combustion-engined powertrains, plug-in hybrid tech and fully electric propulsion – and on that front, a Range Rover EV has been confirmed for 2024.
Range Rover has also announced several new powertrains for 2023, alongside a revised selection of SV Bespoke services, allowing for greater personalisation.
New 2023 Range Rover: engines, power and performance
The arrival of the new Range Rover saw fresh technology feature in its plug-in hybrid options. Two plug-in hybrid models of the new Range Rover were initially available – the P440e and the P510e model, however, these have already been replaced by more powerful versions – the P460e and the P550e.
Both PHEVs use a 3.0-litre straight-six turbocharged petrol engine in tandem with a 217bhp (up from 141bhp in the P440e and P510e) electric motor. The detuned P460e puts out a total of 453bhp and the P550e has 542bhp – up from 503bhp in the P510e. Range Rover claims the 0-62mph time for the P550e stands at five seconds flat – half a second quicker than the P510e.
Both variants will offer up to 75 miles of range on electric power only (with an expect real-word range of 59 miles). CO2 emissions have also been slightly improved for the PHEVs with 16g/km in hybrid drive mode. 50kW DC rapid charging enables a 0-80 per cent recharge of the battery in under an hour.
Alongside fully electric EV mode, there’s a choice of Hybrid mode – the default setting, which combines both power sources and uses predictive energy optimisation tech, as well as geofencing to ensure electric propulsion is available in low emissions zones, for example – and Save mode. This latter setting retains a programmable state of charge for deployment later in the driver’s journey.
Land Rover has also introduced SV versions of the new Range Rover, with the new range-topping specification available in short- or long-wheelbase form. Hybrid power can now be optioned on SV models.
Mild-hybrid tech also features in the engine line-up, with a 394bhp 3.0-litre petrol (0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, 29.7mpg combined and 215g/km of CO2), as well as two diesel options. The 3.0-litre straight-six-engined D300 and D350 model offer 296bhp and 345bhp respectively, with up to 37.2mpg possible and CO2 emissions from 198g/km.
There’s also a new 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol unit which is now mated to a mild-hybrid system to help boost power from 523bhp to 607bhp, with the same 750Nm torque output. With the Dynamic Launch system we expect the range-topping model to sprint from 0-62mph in under 4.6 seconds, while top speed should continue to be limited to 155mph.
All powertrains are mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with low-range capability and Land Rover’s four-wheel drive system with Terrain Response 2 tech that tailors the drivetrain to different surfaces, while the new Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system can decouple the front axle on-road between 21mph and 100mph to improve efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 4g/km.
New 2023 Range Rover: design
With a household name like Range Rover, it makes sense you wouldn’t want to tweak the visual elements too much. It’s certainly a modern evolution of the Range Rover’s styling. At the front, the grille has been refreshed with a new-look pattern, the standard digital LED headlights are sharper, and most of the car’s sensors for its driver assistance systems have been incorporated into a panel lower down in the bumper to give a smoother, cleaner look. This also helps to reduce drag and improve aerodynamic efficiency.
According to Land Rover’s Design Director, Massimo Frascella, the new Range Rover’s design is all about reductionism, reducing the lines and joints in the body to give a new, more understated take on modern luxury.
With this in mind, no Range Rover will wear an engine or trim level boot badge, while alternatives to leather will be offered in the form of Kvadrat technical Ultrafabric to improve sustainability. However, leather will still be offered as standard.
Land Rover’s design reductionism is clear at the rear, where the biggest styling changes for the new car can be seen. The tail-lights and indicators have been incorporated into a solid-looking black panel that is opaque when the lights aren’t on.
In profile, the Range Rover is still defined by three clear horizontal lines. The first below the doors that now sweeps upwards towards the rear, the second runs back from the clamshell bonnet and is sharper and tighter than before, while the third separates the model’s trademark floating roof.
It’s not the only design detail that has been retained, as the new Range Rover still boasts a split tailgate, while the door inserts have evolved to a U-shaped design. Alloy wheels between 20 and 23 inches will be available depending on spec.
Interior, technology and practicality
This fifth-generation Range Rover will be the first that offers seating for seven. The new car comes in five-seat standard wheelbase form, while if you opt for the long wheelbase variant you can specify a third row of seats.
The LWB model adds an extra 200mm between the car’s axles, facilitating the new seating configuration. We tried the third row at the car’s unveiling and, while there’s not as much room as in the brand’s larger Discovery, there’s still enough space for children and adults on shorter journeys.
Improved torsional rigidity (up to 50 per cent) from the new aluminium-intensive platform means Land Rover’s engineers have been able to increase the door aperture size to improve access, which is reasonable.
SWB models can be had with five seats, while if you go for the Executive Class Seating pack, this comes with four seats. The individual chairs in the rear are available on SWB and LWB cars, improving knee room by 44mm; there’s up to one metre of legroom on four-seat LWB models.
This package also adds an eight-inch touchscreen controller in the back to tune the rear cabin environment, while the rear seats recline by up to 25 degrees to add even more comfort and refinement. If you want the seven-seat layout you’re restricted to LWB form, although there are heated seats in all rows, while the rows are also tiered to improve visibility the further back you sit and fold electrically at the touch of a button.
2023 sees the Range Rover adopt Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment system. It still uses the same gently curved 13.1-inch touchscreen on the dash, but ‘Country Road Assist technology’ has been added, along with revised off-road cruise control.
The brand says 90 per cent of tasks are accessible in just two steps from the home screen, while there’s also more connectivity than ever before, with over-the-air software update capability, Amazon Alexa integration, Spotify and, of course, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with wireless connections for both programmes.
There’s a 13.7-inch digital dash panel, while as you’d expect in a luxury car, buyers can opt for a Rear Seat Entertainment package, which adds a pair of 11.4-inch HD touchscreens mounted on the front seatbacks.
There’s 15w wireless phone charging on offer, as well as up to 60w of power to charge devices by USB C; if this isn’t enough there’s also a 230v socket available.
The new MLA-Flex platform is also loaded with clever technology to improve refinement, ride comfort and capability on and off-road.
Along with the six off-road pre-sets for the Terrain Response 2 system there’s also a Wade mode, which raises the body to give a 900mm wading depth, while the next-generation suspension set-up allows for up to 510mm of wheel travel to help boost off-road ability, a Range Rover calling card.
On-road, Land Rover’s Dynamic Response Pro 48v active anti-roll tech helps to keep the car level in corners, improving stability and comfort for passengers, especially at high speed.
There’s active noise cancellation with five times the range of previous systems and electronic air suspension with pre-emptive tech that uses navigation data to set the car up for the road ahead. All-wheel steering is standard, turning the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts by up to seven degrees at low speed to give the more than five-metre-long Range Rover a 10.95-metre turning circle, less than most superminis.
On top of this, cabin storage has been optimised, with lots more clever trays and bins to store items, while boot space stands at 725 litres in both five-seat SWB and LWB form. Go for the seven-seat car and there’s 312 litres with all rows in place, rising to 713 litres with the third row folded down.
There are a maximum 1,841 litres available in the SWB car and 2,601 litres on offer in the LWB model with all seats stowed away.
Range Rover SV models offer more personalisation
Land Rover is revealing the Range Rover SV models alongside the standard car, with this ultra-luxurious option gaining more personalisation potential and different design details.
The luxury SUV maker has also introduced new levels of personalisation for 2023. 391 colourways are offered for the interior, with a specially curated SV Bespoke paint service can replicate any paint requests if the 230 original options aren’t enough. Customers can visit the SV Bespoke Commissioning Suite to help create a more personal Range Rover.
Available in SWB form, as well as four or five-seat LWB configurations, the brand is offering two SV design themes: SV Serenity and SV Intrepid. The former features a metal-plated finish for the grille in Atlas Silver, as well as Corinthian Bronze accents, including the door inserts. The Range Rover lettering is also in Corinthian Bronze with Silver Satin surrounds.
The Serenity them has been designed to showcase the car’s elegance and features mosaic-pattern embroidery inside, as well as lighter two-tone upholstery choices.
On the other hand, the SV Intrepid theme is a sportier, more driver-focused look and features dark Anthracite finishes in place of Serenity’s bronze trim, while inside there’s also a sportier focus to the single or dual-tone leather trim. Of course, buyers can specify their car’s interior in any way they’d like.
All SV models feature ceramic badging outside, including an SV moniker on the tailgate, while inside these cool ceramic details are carried through to the main touchpoints, including the gear selector, Terrain Response dial and the volume knob.
For ultimate luxury buyers can opt for the SV Signature Suite, which only comes in four-seat configuration and adds a raised centre console that flows through to the rear of the car. This houses a retractable table in the centre, as well as a fridge for drinks and two crystal champagne glasses in between the rear seats.
New 2023 Range Rover: specs
From launch the new Range Rover was available in SE, HSE, Autobiography and SV trim levels, as well as a First Edition model that will be on sale for the first year of production.
Prices did start from £94,400 for the D300 SE car, but have now risen to £103,720. Above this sits the HSE, which starts from £110,050. Both the SE and HSE can be had with D350 and P400 powertrains. The P460e kicks off the plug-in hybrid range, with the P550e sitting above it.
There’s no word yet on pricing for the fully-electric Range Rover, but we expect it to be one of the more expensive versions you can buy.
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