The figures: Range Rover Electric vs Mercedes G-Class vs Rivian R1S vs Yangwang U8
Lucas Cochrane
3 Sep 2026
Introducing the new Range Rover Electric and its competitors, the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, Rivian R1S, and the Yangwang U8. You’d be forgiven for asking why we’ve not gone with the more mainstream examples of the Volvo EX90, BMW iX5 and Porsche Cayenne Electric. Well, the Cayenne and iX5 have already had their own comparisons and the electric Range Rover is nothing if not a global car. It’ll be outside of the UK and Europe that this thing will likely find its biggest fans, so we’ve set up a battle between Great Britain, the United States, Germany, and China.
Unlike the BMW iX5, we’ve also driven all of today’s competitors! So if you want even more info on any of them, you can check out our full written reviews on each. So without any further ado, let the battle begin…
First up is our new challenger, the Range Rover Electric. Range Rover has long been the de facto choice for those looking to get into a big, fancy SUV. In fact, they pretty much created the sector with the original Range Rover all the way back in 1970. Since then, they’ve been the pick for everybody from Hollywood stars to British farmers. And now, they’ve finally made this high-rise aristocrat into an EV.
We were one of the first to drive it, too! Ginny took a prototype on an off-road course at the Goodwood Motor Circuit and she was thoroughly impressed. Now that it’s been revealed, you could say that what stands out most about the new Range Rover is just how little it stands out. Those who already love the standard petrol-powered Range Rover are unlikely to be able to tell the difference without looking under the bonnet. There’s no special funky styling on the outside and the interior is just as comfy, if a little quieter thanks to the lack of engine noise.
As specs go, the Range Rover stands out most in terms of charging. With 350kW of DC rapid charging, it’s got the fastest peak charging rate of the three rivals here (nobody mention how quickly the BMW iX5 and Porsche Cayenne charge…). However, in all other regards, the Range Rover actually falls about middle of the pack for claimed range and - surprisingly - even for towing capacity. Despite being the newest of the bunch!
Ah, the G-Wagon. Okay, G-Class, if we’re being strict with the official name today, but it’ll always be a G-Wagon to us… This is another shape that feels like it’s been around since the dawn of time, even if this time it was only 1979. Mind you, the G-Wagon is the one that does still look like its grandfather, its design has changed in ways that only the trained eye can pick apart. It still has rain rails and those sweet, sweet doors that sound like they belong on a submarine when they shut.
In its current guise, the electric G-Class blends a sleek S-Class grade interior with an exterior appearance resembling a tower block and brute force to pave the way ahead. Historically, that’s been paired with a snarling V8. But today? 587hp of instant torque from four electric motors. If you’ve ever needed to spin on a dime - or do ballet pirouettes in a field, if you’re Nicola… - the G580 can do tank turns too.
This all-terrain electric Merc has interesting specs to talk about, too. It may not be the quickest of the four but it manages to tow up to 3,500kg with a braked trailer. That’s just ahead of the Rivian R1S and the highest of them all. Where the G-Wagon is far and away the worst of the three, is in its efficiency. Mercedes’ latest “redesign” of the G-Wagon may have made things a little more aerodynamic but it’s still a bank vault on wheels. As such, the best you’ll see from it is 2.5m/kWh, and it gets the lowest range here.
Rivian R1S
Price: From £65,137 ($75,900)
Max range: 410 miles
Battery size (usable): 140kWh
Max charging rate: 300kW
Boot capacity: 498 litres
Towing capacity: 3493kg
Holding up the star-spangled banner is the Rivian R1S. Believe it or not, Rivian’s first car and sibling of the R1S, the R1T, is now five years old. While the ones being built today are almost visually indistinguishable from their older counterparts, the R1s are already in their second generation, with more updates coming in 2027. They grow up so fast!
The R1S certainly feels like a mature vehicle too. It may not be quite as plush as some of its competitors today but it still has immensely high build quality and a very friendly design. Its driving characteristics are equally impressive as its air suspension does an excellent job. It’s the quickest of the bunch too, up to 1,102hp propels the R1S from 0-62mph in 2.5s. I don’t think the average Range Rover buyer is likely to be craving that kind of performance, but you’ve got to give it to Rivian for proving a point there.
It’s also the longest range electric SUV on this luxury list, getting up to 420 miles on the American EPA cycle (that would be even higher on WLTP!), although you’ll be paying closer to six figures for that big battery model. Smaller battery variants with 270- or 330 mile EPA range ratings, too. That maximum range gives it an efficiency rating of 2.9m/kWh but again that’s on the harsher EPA cycle and it would probably best the Range Rover on WLTP!
A max charging rate of 300kW places the Rivian second on this list for charging convenience, too.
So which of these swanky SUVs is best?
Well, the Range Rover will almost certainly be the nicest of the three to live with. The folks at JLR have been in this game long enough that they’ve made the Range Rover the default luxury SUV around the globe. And yes, they’ve taken more time than is ideal to get the EV to market, but it’s finally here and - middling range aside - it’s just as good as you’d hope it’d be when you’re driving it.
The electric G-Class has the looks and the bullet-proof build quality to fit the bill for the ultra-stylish but hilariously poor efficiency limits its scope as an EV. Meanwhile the Yangwang U8, while almost as luxurious as a Range Rover and at a much cheaper price to boot, isn’t a real EV and for the time being, can’t be found on the road outside China.
The R1S in its second generation, however, is definitely the best at being an electric car. It’s got power, performance, and poise on the road. It’s also likely to be the most efficient on this list and comes packed full of great tech and intelligent design. However, while its interior is well put-together and definitely comfortable, its minimalistic design does make it feel a little more action-ready than the competition, so it falls a bit short on the sheer luxury stakes. Oh and - as with the YangWang - you can’t buy it in Europe or the UK. Yet.
In objective terms, the Volvo EX90, Porsche Cayenne and BMW iX5 may be more logical considerations for those of us in Europe. But the Range Rover has never been about the numbers, has it? It’s always been about that undefinable sense of one-upmanship and peerless class. Whichever posh electric SUV you’d choose, there’s never been so many brilliant choices. And that’s always a good thing in our books.
