Key highlights
- Range Rover Electric starts at $317,718 before on-road costs in Australia.
- The EV550 produces 404kW and 850Nm from a 118.5kWh battery.
- It can travel up to 535km on the WLTP cycle and tow up to 2500kg.
Range Rover has finally gone electric, and Australians can now put their name down on one. The Range Rover Electric has officially launched locally, arriving as a single EV550 dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant priced from $317,718 plus on-road costs.
That price positions it right in the middle of the existing line-up. It undercuts the petrol V8 grades, but sits above the six-cylinder diesel and plug-in hybrid variants. For buyers who’ve always wanted a Range Rover but couldn’t quite stomach the V8’s running costs, this might be the sweet spot.
For now, it’s available exclusively in standard wheelbase form, spread across HSE, Autobiography and SV specification levels, with the range-topping SV commanding $417,418 before on-roads. Custom-order Bespoke configurations are also on the table for those wanting something more tailored.
Read more: VW’s electric California camper is here, but is it coming to Australia?
What’s under the skin?
The Range Rover Electric shares its MLX-Flex architecture with the rest of the range, but the electric bits are all new. There’s a 118.5kWh battery running through an 800-volt electrical system, paired with 260kW electric motors front and rear. Combined, they produce 404kW and 850Nm, enough to send this two-and-a-half-tonne luxury barge from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.5 seconds.
That’s proper sports sedan pace in a vehicle designed to cross rivers and tow horse floats. On the WLTP cycle, Range Rover claims a “real-world” driving range of 535 kilometres, which should be enough for most weekly driving without turning your life into a charging-app scavenger hunt. When you do need to plug in, the Range Rover Electric can accept up to 350kW of DC fast charging, which is genuinely quick for a vehicle this size.
Practicality trade-offs
Going electric hasn’t cost the Range Rover its off-road credentials. It retains the same 900mm wading depth as the petrol and diesel versions, so stream crossings and flooded driveways remain within its comfort zone. There is one notable compromise, though. Braked towing capacity drops to 2500kg, down from 3500kg on the diesel and petrol models, and 3000kg on the plug-in hybrid. If you’re regularly towing a decent-sized caravan or boat, that’s worth factoring in before you sign anything.
On the plus side, Range Rover says the EV550 sits with a lower centre of gravity than its combustion siblings, and it gets twin-chamber air suspension along with an aerodynamically optimised grille, wheels and underbody. The brand also claims its heat management system adds around 25 miles (roughly 40km) of extra range and cuts heating energy use by 40 per cent, useful for anyone driving through a chilly Melbourne or Canberra winter.
Charging perks for Australian buyers
Local buyers get a nice sweetener: one year or 500kWh of complimentary Chargefox public charging, whichever comes first. Range Rover estimates that’s worth around $325, based on an average public charging price of 65 cents per kWh, and equates to roughly four full battery charges.
It’s not a huge amount in the scheme of a $300,000-plus purchase, but it’s a helpful way to get comfortable with public charging before you settle into a routine, whether that’s home charging overnight or relying on the public network for longer trips.
Why does it matter for Australian buyers?
This is a big moment for Range Rover in Australia. It’s the brand’s first fully electric model here, and it arrives without asking buyers to compromise on the things that make a Range Rover a Range Rover; off-road ability, air suspension comfort and genuine luxury presentation.
Pricing it between the diesel and V8 petrol grades is a smart move too. It gives buyers already considering a Range Rover electric a clear, tangible reason to go electric, rather than positioning the EV as some halo flagship priced beyond reach.
So, what’s next?
The Range Rover Electric is on sale in Australia now, with customer deliveries expected to begin next year. It won’t be flying solo for long either, Land Rover has already confirmed a smaller Range Rover Sport Electric is coming, meaning this won’t be the only fully electric Range Rover Australians can choose from for much longer.
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