Skip to main content

Land Rover’s flagship Range Rover gets greener, smarter for 2019

In almost 50 years of production, Land Rover’s Range Rover has evolved from a barely civilized truck into a luxury status symbol to rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. That evolution continues at a gradual pace for the 2019 model year, as Land Rover makes some small tweaks to its flagship.

Recommended Videos

The biggest news for the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover is the addition of a P400e plug-in hybrid model to the lineup. Announced last year, the P400e is part of Land Rover and sibling brand Jaguar’s plan to offer a hybrid or all-electric powertrain in every model they sell.

The Range Rover powertrain combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and electric motor, powered by a 13.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack mounted beneath the trunk floor. Total system output is 398 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. Land Rover estimates a respectable 0 to 60 mph time of 6.4 seconds, top speed of 137 mph, and range of 31 miles on electric power. The automaker even claims the electric motor’s instantly available torque comes in handy off road.

The rest of the Range Rover powertrain lineup is unchanged. Land Rover continues to offer a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 in 340 hp or 380 hp configurations, a 3.0-liter, 254-hp turbodiesel V6, and a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 producing 518 hp. The V8 can propel short-wheelbase versions of the Range Rover from 0 to 60 mph in a sports-car-quick 5.1 seconds, according to Land Rover.

Land Rover also added a Wade Sensing system that provides water-depth readings to the driver in real time, using sensors on the undersides of the exterior mirrors. It can warn the driver if the Range Rover is exceeding its maximum wading depth (35.4 inches, in case you were wondering), end estimate whether water is getting deeper or shallower. We’re not sure how many people regularly dunk their Range Rovers, but it’s nice to know this SUV can handle it.

The 2019 Range Rover also gets a new optional Driver Assist Pack with adaptive cruise control and steering assist, features already available on a number of other vehicles. Other carryover driver aids include autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, a driver condition monitor, and a suite of park-assist features, including a 360-degree camera system.

The Range Rover continues to use Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, introduced for the 2018 model year. It uses a pair of 10.0-inch touchscreens in the center console, plus a 12.3-inch display screen for the driver, and an optional head-up display. Buyers can spec a 10.0-inch screen for rear-seat passengers as well. Including USB, 12-volt, and HDMI, the Range Rover is available with no less than 17 ports, according to Land Rover. A built-in Wi-Fi hot spot can support up to eight devices.

Pricing for the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover starts at $88,860 for a base model with the 340-hp gasoline V6, and climbs to $207,900 for a range-topping SVAutobiography long-wheelbase model. The new-for-2019 P400e plug-in hybrid sits somewhere in the middle, at $95,150. To celebrate its 70th anniversary, Land Rover will also build 999 Range Rover SV Coupe two-doors, priced at $295,000, with a handful designated for U.S. customers.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Toyota unveils 2026 bZ: A smarter, longer-range electric SUV
toyota bz improved bz4x 2026 0007 1500x1125

Toyota is back in the electric SUV game with the 2026 bZ, a major refresh of its bZ4X that finally delivers on two of the biggest demands from EV drivers: more range and faster charging.
The headline news is the improved driving range. Toyota now estimates up to 314 miles on a single charge for the front-wheel-drive model with the larger 74.7-kWh battery—about 60 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X. All-wheel-drive variants also get a boost, with up to 288 miles of range depending on trim.
Charging speeds haven’t increased in terms of raw kilowatts (still capped at 150 kW for DC fast charging), but Toyota has significantly improved how long peak speeds are sustained. With preconditioning enabled—especially helpful in colder weather—the new bZ can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Also new: Plug and Charge support for automatic payment at compatible stations and full adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning access to Tesla Superchargers will be standard by 2026.
Under the hood, or rather the floor, Toyota has swapped in higher-performance silicon carbide components to improve efficiency and power delivery. The AWD version now produces up to 338 horsepower and sprints from 0–60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.
Toyota didn’t stop at just the powertrain. The exterior has been cleaned up, with body-colored wheel arches replacing the black cladding, and a sleeker front fascia. Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen now houses climate controls, giving the dash a more refined and less cluttered appearance. There’s also more usable storage thanks to a redesigned center console.
With the 2026 bZ, Toyota seems to be responding directly to critiques of the bZ4X. It’s faster, more efficient, and more driver-friendly—finally bringing Toyota’s EV efforts up to speed.

Read more
Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Read more
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more