Performance 

The P400e uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 296bhp mated to a 114bhp electric motor and the combined 398bhp is fed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. That’s an impressive total and it’s a quick car – 0-60mph takes 6.3 seconds, which means it’s not only faster than the SDV6 diesel but also the big 4.4-litre SDV8 diesel Range Rover Sport, too. However, the P400e only really feels quick from a standing start – pin the throttle at 60mph to overtake a slower car on the motorway and the gearbox hesitates and it all feels a bit sluggish. And once all the electric range is used up, you’re left with a 2.0-litre petrol engine that has to haul along a 2.5-tonne SUV – it’s up to the job but it doesn’t half make a racket.     

Drive

This is where the Range Rover Sport P400e really delivers. Drive one back-to-back with a Sport powered by the SDV6 diesel, and you may detect a little more body roll but it’s so slight we’d bet you’d never notice. For outright thrills a Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid is a better option, but no other plug-in hybrid SUV offers such a great blend of driver involvement and comfort like the P400e. It’s super quiet in EV mode, has a more majestic driving position and feels slightly more special than its rivals. It also comes with air suspension as standard and it’s blissfully smooth on the road. The P400e may take a hit when it comes to towing (it can ‘only’ tow a 2,500kg braked trailer as opposed to a 3,500kg trailer of other Range Rover Sports), but it does boast the full arsenal of class-leading off-road tech and a wading depth of 850mm – yes, you can drive a plug-in hybrid through a lake.