Smooth Operator: The 2027 Range Rover Electric Does This One Thing Very Well
Pretty good for a first try.
Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Long after other luxury brands made their mark in the EV space, the 2027 Range Rover Electric is finally here, and we can confirm it’s quite good. During our time with the $140,450 super-luxury EV, one trait struck us as particularly well-engineered: the one-pedal driving tuning.
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This is Range Rover’s first EV, and more are on the way. So it’s a good sign that the brand’s first effort is a solid one. After 2027 Range Rover Electrics start arriving in an Erewhon near you, an electric Range Rover Sport will follow likely for the 2028 model year, with an electric Range Rover GT stretching what the brand stands for after that.
What we like about the Range Rover Electric’s one-pedal system is its smoothness all the way to a standstill as it executes a “chauffeur stop,” which is coming to a stop without even a faint jerk as the car ceases moving. (This is way more difficult than it sounds to do yourself; try with your own car.)
We recognize that not everyone uses one-pedal driving in EVs, and perhaps that’s why brands like Porsche and Toyota don’t offer systems that can bring the car to a stop by simply lifting off the accelerator. We like the idea of having the choice, and that fits perfectly with the Range Rover, an SUV now offered with five different powertrains in the U.S.
Beyond the light and standard regenerative braking modes is a separate one-pedal mode activated by nudging the stubby gear shift stalk back. On days when you don’t feel like having the adaptive cruise control do the work for you in traffic, one-pedal driving can keep your mind busy and help you feel a connection to the car in a new way. In cars that can come to a complete stop using this feature, you may never have to touch the brake pedal all the way home.
None of this is revolutionary stuff. But it’s not every day a brand new to EVs gets it this right on its first try. The key detail here is the smoothness with which the big SUV rolls to a stop.
One drawback: There’s only one mode that brings it to a stop. Some might prefer a more aggressive, second setting. Even so, we found it a good middle ground for driving at a subdued pace. Our expectation for a Range Rover already includes comfort and smoothness, and this fits with that theme.
For drivers especially prone to motion sickness, it’s a version of one-pedal you might actually be able to use. In our early time with the SUV, we’re fans of this version of the tech.
