Range Rover PHEV (2018-2022) running costs, insurance, warranty & tax

The Range Rover isn’t a cheap car, and the hybrid isn’t the cheapest version, either. However, although prices for the PHEV start at the best part of £90,000 and top out at almost double that, this plug-in hybrid isn’t outrageously expensive by Range Rover standards. In fact, it’s only about £6,000 dearer than the diesel-engined TDV6 model.

Ultimately, there are two ways to look at the PHEV. It’s very luxurious when you compare it to the likes of the Volvo XC90, so you may think that justifies the extra outlay. But, on the other hand, if you just want a low-emissions prestige SUV, the Volvo is around £30,000 cheaper.

In the Range Rover PHEV's favour, it has CO2 emissions as low as 78g/km and combined fuel economy of up to 85mpg, which translate into lower running costs than on any other Range Rover. However, when you compare them to those of the BMW X5 or Volvo XC90, they look much higher.

Range Rover PHEV insurance group

You may baulk at an insurance group rating of 50 – the highest possible – but by Range Rover standards, that’s nothing too exorbitant. Every Range Rover sits in at least group 45, and the cost to insure this PHEV will be no worse than several other Range Rovers. However, things don’t look so rosy when you compare it to other prestige-badged plug-in hybrid SUVs, such as the Volvo XC90, which starts in insurance group 44.

Warranty

As with any Land Rover vehicle, the PHEV is covered by a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty. However, under the usual terms, it doesn’t cover wear and tear and will be void if you don’t service your car according to the proper schedules.

If you want to, when the new-car warranty runs out, you can buy an extended warranty, which will cover the car up to 10 years old or 100,000 miles, whichever is sooner. Overall, that level of cover is very much on a par with what you will find on any of the car’s most obvious rivals.

Servicing

How often a service is needed on a Range Rover is dictated by how you drive the car. On a diet on lots of short journeys, you can expect to be sent to your local dealer more frequently than if you spend more time at a steady cruise on the motorway.

With most Range Rover and Land Rover models, you can pay a one-off fee up front to cover up to five years’ servicing, but this isn’t available on the Range Rover.

Road tax

If you’re hoping that the money-saving possibilities on the PHEV will include lower rates of road tax, you’ll be disappointed. Only zero-emission cars qualify for exemption from road tax, which means that the Range Rover will cost £145 each year. But, because the list price of every model is in excess of £40,000, you also have to pay a £335 annual surcharge the first five times you tax it, for a total of £480 a year.