New Range Rover Evoque P300e 2021 detailed: BMW X5 rival adds plug-in hybrid

Range Rover has debuted a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of its Evoque mid-size SUV, and it is scheduled to go on sale in Australia in the second quarter of next year.

Dubbed P300e, the powertrain option pairs Range Rover’s new 147kW 1.5-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder engine with an 80kW synchronous permanent magnet electric motor integrated into the rear axle, for combined outputs of 227kW of power and 540Nm of torque.

Fuel consumption on the WLTP combined cycle test is 1.4 litres per 100 kilometres, while claimed carbon dioxide emissions are 32 grams per kilometre.

Critically, electric-only driving range is 66km due to the P300e’s 15kWh lithium-ion battery, which is positioned below its rear seats and can be topped up from zero to 80 per cent in as little as 30 minutes when using a 32kW DC fast charger.

Three drive modes are on hand, with Hybrid making use of petrol and electric power, while EV uses electric power exclusively, and Save uses petrol power for the most part to keep the battery’s state of charge at a selected level.

The P300e has an electric-only driving range of 66km.

While the P300e might be environmentally conscious, it doesn’t go without a performance edge, with the zero-to-100km/h dash finished in a hot-hatch-esque 6.4 seconds. Electric-only top speed is 135km/h.

Unlike other Evoque versions, the P300e is mated to a new eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, meaning it has one less ratio to shuffle between. However, the BMW X3 rival does have all-wheel drive.