SUVs offer masses of space for families and, in some cases, will be capable enough of getting you out of the village fate carpark after a sudden downpour. The only problem is their size makes them a quite thirsty and dirty.
However, Land Rover is looking to change that by releasing plug-in hybrid versions of its cars to clean up its line-up. The latest addition to the PHEV range is the Discovery Sport P300e, and it’ll be making its debut in the metal at the Beijing Motor Show on the 26th September.
The P300e is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that’s mated to an electric motor mounted to the rear axle for a combined power output of a not insignificant 305bhp and 540Nm of torque. As you’d expect from a top-tier Land Rover, the P300e sends power to all-four wheels and can complete a 0-62mph sprint in 6.6 seconds.
But the number we’re most interested in is the range. Being a plug-in hybrid, you can charge up your P300e at home or at a public charger for some electric-only driving. On battery power alone, the P300e can travel for up to 38 miles on a single charge, according to WLTP.
Of course, you can always use the P300e’s electric power in tandem with the engine to help eke out more fuel and reduce your carbon footprint. The PHEV puts out just 36g/km of CO2 and has a claimed fuel economy of 175.5mpg. Whether you’ll achieve that in the real world is up for debate, but, nevertheless, you probably won’t be spending nearly as much time at the pumps.
We’ll see the P300e in Beijing in the coming days, but if you’re already sold on the idea then you’re in luck. The Disco Sport PHEV is available to order now, with prices starting at £47,000.
Keyword: Land Rover Discovery Sport P300e 2020: battery range, specs and pricing