P550e 5000-Mile Report

[paulh2602601]

Our 550e surpassed 5000 kilometres only a few days ago, and I have already accumulated impressions from a variety of driving conditions. The vehicle was delivered in mid-November and has undergone one extensive road trip, many local excursions, and frequent everyday use.

Vehicle: 550e SE, Belgravia Green, equipped with almost all options except back seat monitors. After 5000 miles, I found most options valuable, save for the heated windscreen. The intricate interwoven mesh serves as a distraction, contingent upon the angle of light striking the windscreen. I subsequently had the OEM tow bar fitted post-delivery.

Positive feedback:

    Exceptionally pleasant journey. I mostly maintain the car in comfort mode. This necessitates a reduction in speed on bends, but aligns with the overarching idea of leisurely driving for which this vehicle excels.
    Agile. The four-wheel steering facilitates effortless parking.
    Excellent electric vehicle range—sufficient for my everyday commuting needs. I only refuel when I am travelling out of town.
    Exceptional fuel efficiency with a completely depleted battery - I get 28-30 MPG at typical speeds of 65-70, contingent on the terrain.
    Adore the P400 engine. Fluid and abundant in power.
    The interior components, including the SV leather and enhanced carpets, are of high quality.
    The front seats are equipped with an impressive array of massaging features.
    The automatic headlamp and high/low beam function well.
    PiviPro is excellent after a brief learning curve. The screen is an appropriate size—sufficiently enough to be functional but not too large to overshadow the dashboard. The program is very user-friendly.
    The iRemote application offers valuable information and functionalities.

Indifferent:

    A restricted array of knobs and buttons would be preferable. I believe that 2023 achieved an optimal balance between screen and tactile controls. Merely having the capability to activate or deactivate seat heating and cooling would suffice.
    The Meridian 3D has amazing sound quality with some songs, but other material is quite uninspiring. In my opinion, the sound processing is quite rudimentary, which may be seen as either advantageous or disadvantageous depending on one's perspective.
    The seat cushion does not stretch enough while I am in the passenger seat and want to rest. I am of average height and have not had this issue in our prior vehicles.
    The door lock and unlock buttons might be positioned at a greater elevation.
    The mobile charging pad works effectively 70% of the time, exhibiting high sensitivity to the positioning of the phone. The phone's head must be orientated towards the driver, with its long edge aligned against the mat's edge for effective inductive charging. Our phones do not experience overheating, however.
    The auto unlock feature seems to have become rather sluggish, as I sometimes had wait several seconds behind the vehicle before the handles emerge. I have disabled the auto-lock feature.

Diatribes

    The lane-keeping feature is very frustrating, especially on rural roadways. The vehicle is likely to adhere to an exit marker rather than remaining on the roadway. Why not use the turn signal status to determine whether to go straight or depart? This issue may be rectified in the code.
    The radar-based cruise control has shown a delayed response when a vehicle abruptly merges in front, necessitating quick braking.

Proposed enhancements

    Incorporate an additional button on the trunk lid that simultaneously shuts and secures the trunk. Our Cayenne has this feature, which is rather convenient.
    Transitioning CarPlay between two phones requires many steps on the display. A personalised button on the Pivi Home Screen would be advantageous.
    A limited number of tactile buttons for seat adjustment.
    Integrate the seat memory settings, user profile, and key into a cohesive system, ensuring that when Driver A or B utilises their key to unlock the vehicle, all configurations are appropriately established.

I am really pleased with my first Range Rover. It has been some time since I own a vehicle that I eagerly anticipate driving, regardless of the destination.

[vitessear3]

I appreciated the Heated Windscreen on my Defender; it was my favourite feature, and I presently enjoy it on my Range Rover. I saw it far more on the Defender and cannot discern its presence on my RR. Perhaps it is only my perspective.

I reside in the snow belt, making it very convenient to own. Activate it, and within one and a half minutes, all the snow and ice will be eliminated.

If one does not reside in a region susceptible to snowfall, I see why excessive concentration on it while driving may be irritating.

[paulh2602601]

I reside in Texas; maybe its merits will be evident if we go to Colorado during winter.

[alabbasi]

Thank you for expressing your opinions on this exceptional vehicle.

[Doncaster34]

I have accumulated 2300 kilometres on my 2025 550e AB.

I have acclimated to the absence of the knobs. It would be somewhat simpler, but I like the more polished appearance.

I am not seeing the same problems with my iPhone 16 Pro while using an Otterbox cover. It becomes warm but not hot.

The audio system improved somewhat with the latest Pivi upgrade. It much surpasses my 2024 AMG GLS 63, which I disposed of in November. Significantly improved equilibrium and timbre.

Lane keeping works comparably to my GLS and the X5M I previously had.Suboptimal, still acceptable. An intriguing statistical point: the RR we hired in Europe performed far better.I contend that the engineering of roads in the UK and Europe is, in my view, generally superior in terms of signage. I resided in Germany for five years and often travelled to Austria and other destinations. The conclusion is that the RR we leased, along with our X5M and several Audis, performed better in Europe than in the United States.

I have had no difficulties with radar or cruise control when travelling on I-70 from Denver to Breckenridge. I hardly use it due to road conditions and speed regulation, but when I do, it works well.

Last night, I operated it in Dynamic/Sport mode, and it transformed into a radically different car. Not quite at the handling level of my previous X5M, but almost comparable. I like the exquisite ride in the RR over the X5M. In my view, it surpasses the AMG GLS in almost every aspect, save for the exceptional exhaust note of the AMG.

Ultimately, I could have saved $20,000 by avoiding two exchanged automobiles to get this one, had I heeded my wife's advice two years before.However, the refinement between 2022 and 2025 would have been absent. I sometimes miss my 23 D90 V8, but I would choose my Range Rover over it.

[paulh2602601]

A vehicle publication said in its evaluation of the early Mercedes-AMG E55 that it represented 'two cars for the price of two :)' The same wording applies to the RR. I want a chance for modest off-roading, preferably this month in Big Bend National Park.

[Doncaster34]

The RR suspension and all-wheel drive surpass those of the AMG GLS and X5M. The neighbourhood roads are always snow-covered and rutted, which absorbs moisture from the road. The all-wheel drive system excels in traversing various terrains, including 14 inches of snow on an asphalt or slick sloping driveway. The D110 owned by my wife and this RR are the only SUVs/trucks we have own that have never experienced slippage or hesitation in snow. We use appropriate snow tires.