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You Are What You Drive - A Bottom Line Review
By Tony Leopardo - The Car Guy © AutoWire.Net
What is an SE? The SE is the entry equipment level trim for the flagship full size luxury Range Rover SUV. The 2026 SE is built at the Solihull, West Midlands, England assembly plant, and sold worldwide by Land Rover. Range Rover is owned by the Indian multinational automotive company Tata Motors, and through its subsidiary of Jaguar Land Rover JLR, it is sold globally through authorized Land Rover dealerships.
Here are some of the specs and performance numbers for a 2026 SE 400PS Range Rover.
Starting Price: The base window sticker price is $113,300.
Body Styles: Available in a standard short wheel base SWB model with 5 seats, or the longer wheelbase LWB configuration with 7 seats.
Engine Options: The SE is unique as it is the only trim offering all 3 powertrain choices.
P400: 3.0L liter turbocharged inline 6 cylinder mild hybrid gas engine with 395 HP.
P550e: 3.0L liter PHEV plug in hybrid 6 cylinder gas engine with 543 HP.
P530: 4.4L liter twin turbocharged V8 gas engine with 523 HP.
Transmission: Has an 8 speed automatic transmission as standard equipment.
Drivetrain: All models have AWD all wheel drive.
Suspension: Has an electronic air suspension system for a smooth ride, and an adjustable body height to add extra ground clearance for when going off road or around obstacles.
Infotainment: Has a 13.1" inch Pivi Pro center stack touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.
Comfort & Tech: Premium leather seating, electronic climate controls, and an all terrain response system for superior off road capability.
The 2026 Range Rover SE 400PS SWB, often labeled as the P400 Edition, is the luxury SUV configuration powered by a mild hybrid engine, and the 400PS designation refers to the metric horsepower rating of 400 Pferdestärke, which equals to about 395 mechanical horsepower in USA specs.
Hybrid: Has a 48 volt mild hybrid electric vehicle MHEV system.
Power Output: 395 HP horsepower with 406 lb-ft of torque.
Trim Level: The SE 400PS SWB is the standard SE short wheelbase model with the entry level powertrain option.
Seating: Standard 5 seat configuration.
Amenities: Adaptive air suspension, Windsor leather seats, a Pivi Pro touchscreen digital infotainment system, and a Meridian premium audio system.
To promote this SWB model this week Land Rover sent me a 2026 Range Rover SE to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this P400 Edition is $113,300. The list of 15 options starts with the premium upgrade interior pack for $1,930, the Meridian 3D surround sound system for $1,200, the 23" gloss black alloy wheels for $3,600, the head-up display for $1,400, the Pixel LED headlights with signature DRL's for $600, the cold climate pack for $350, the Shadow exterior pack for $1,000, the black contrast painted roof for $1,000, the natural Black Birch veneer interior trim for $1,300, the ebony headlining for $400, the rear seat convenience pack for $280, the emergency pack for $85, the interior protection pack for $760, the wheel protection pack for $235, and the Range Rover Handover pack for $75. The total manufacturer's suggested retail price, MSRP, including the $2,450 delivery charge is: $129,965.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your driveway total purchase price came to $146,211. At just 211 bucks over $146 Grand you get Range Rovers 2026 SE SWB flagship full size luxury SUV that gets 19 MPG in city driving, 24 MPG on the highway, and 21 MPG in combined everyday driving.
Not bad for a full size luxury SUV that set's it self apart from all the mundane everyday SUV's that want to act like a luxury vehicle, when all they really are is just a gussied up pickup truck with some extra doors and seats.
The 400PS appeal: The 395 HP horsepower 3.0L liter inline 6 cylinder mild hybrid MHEV engine offers plenty of acceleration, going from 0 to 60 mph in only 5.5 seconds, and has reasonable fuel efficiency at 21 MPG in combined daily driving, without the higher cost and the big thirst of the twin turbo V8 mills.
The real buyers for a 2026 Range Rover SE 400PS P400 Short Wheelbase SWB SUV represent a very specific niche of affluent consumers. While the ultra wealthy often gravitate toward the higher end Autobiography or SV trims with big V8 gas engines, the P400 SE SWB model is the sweet spot for buyers looking for understated luxury and daily drivability.
Who they are: With a starting window sticker price of $113,000 before options, the core demographic profiles for this exact model are high income urban and suburban professionals who are daily drivers, and corporate executives, tech founders, private practice doctors, attorneys, and successful real estate brokers that have a household income exceeding $300,000 to half a million dollars annually.
Why this specific model: The short wheel base SWB model measuring around 199" inches is highly prioritized because it is much easier to park, fits into residential garages, and maneuvers through tight urban and suburban spaces, much easier than the long wheel base LWB edition.
Who they are: They are the quiet luxury adherents who are well established, and wealthy households who value discretion over flashiness.
Why this specific model: Range Rover's marketing heavily focuses on minimalist visuals and quiet confidence. The SE Edition is the entry equipment level trim, and buyers of this model want the world class prestige, standard electronic air suspension, and the iconic silhouette of a full size Range Rover, but they intentionally avoid the louder flashier trim, and the higher price tags of the $200,000 SV Editions.
Who they are: Affluent multi car families with small households, and parents with one or two older children, or affluent empty nesters.
Why this specific model: This exact configuration is a 5 seater. Buyers who need a third row family hauler are forced to buy the long wheel base LWB model, as the SWB buyer does not want a 7 seat vehicle. They want maximum second row passenger comfort and a larger cargo area for everyday tasks.
Who they are: Luxury lease enthusiasts who prefer to refresh their vehicles every 36 months to stay under the factory warranty safety net.
Why this specific model: Historically Land Rover dealerships heavily target their promotional lease specials precisely at the P400 SE SWB models. As well qualified lessees are looking for a corporate tax write off, or an easy luxury transition, they frequently pick this exact model to avoid dealing with long term out of warranty maintenance costs.
A summary of the real buyer and lease's motivations:
Attributes |
Why it attracts real buyers and luxury lessees |
SE Trim $113,000 |
Delivers full size elite prestige without paying for the extreme customization markup. |
400PS P400 MHEV |
Strikes the best balance between effortless daily power and optimal fuel efficiency. |
Short Wheel Base SWB |
Preferred by people who drive themselves, rather than being chauffeured, and value agility, parking, and garage friendly sizing. |
If this is you, then call, click or visit your local Land Rover dealer for a test drive, and a bottom line price review, on the 2026 Range Rover SE 400PS SWB SUV. And remember that the base price for a new SE starts at only $111,300. The official tagline for the entire 2026 Range Rover brand lineup is - Lead by Example - and they do.
The key to life is to learn something new every day, and by reading my Bottom Line review, I hope you did just that, learned about something new and exciting. So, be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Drive safely, have a great day, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright - Tony the Car Guy.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment send it to and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net
Name: The 2026 Range Rover SE 400PS SWB SUV
Topic: The 2026 Range Rover SE 400PS SWB SUV
Word Count: 1,369
Pic Cap: The 2026 Range Rover SE 400PS SWB SUV
Photo Credits: Range Rover Internet Media
Series number: 2026 - 34
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