The midfielder curled home a superb effort with 34 minutes played, before Jack Butland saved a Mykola Kukharevych penalty late in the first-half to deny the Edinburgh side an equaliser.
From the midweek victory over Malmo in the UEFA Europa League, there were four changes to the starting XI as Nico Raskin and Hamza Igamane were handed their first starts of the season. Jefte returned from suspension, while Ross McCausland, who came off the bench to score in Sweden, earned himself a spot from the start this afternoon.
That meant Rangers started with Butland in goal behind a back four of captain James Tavernier, John Souttar, Robin Propper and Jefte. Connor Barron was joined in midfield by Nico Raskin and Tom Lawrence, while Vaclav Cerny and Ross McCausland provided the support for striker Hamza Igamane.
It was Rangers who got the action underway at a packed Ibrox as Clement’s men looked to continue their fine recent form with a strong performance in the Scottish Premiership.
Despite the early possession from the home side, it was Hibs who had the first sight of goal as Chris Cadden whipped a ball in from the right which was pushed away by Butland. The rebound landed for Junior Hoilett however, he was unable to keep his shot down as it drifted high over the bar.
At the other end, Lawrence saw a shot from distance deflected out for Rangers’ first corner of the match with seven minutes on the clock. It was played short by James Tavernier to Vaclav Cerny, who found the captain again and his delivery was headed towards goal by Ross McCausland, but it was just over the target.
Rangers were continuing to dominate, but struggling to break down the Hibs defence, as Jefte did well down the left to get the better of Lewis Miller and deliver the ball into the box, but Cerny’s effort was dealt with by the visitors.
Kwon flashed a shot just wide of Butland’s left-hand post as both sides searched for the crucial breakthrough with half an hour played.
It was Rangers who found that opening goal, and it was a spectacular strike from Tom Lawrence. The midfielder was played through by McCausland before he cut inside onto his right foot and curled a perfect shot into the top corner beyond Josef Bursik. Celebrations were halted as the linesman raised his flag for offside, but after a lengthy check the Welshman’s strike stood for his third league goal of the season.
Igamane came close to adding a second before half-time as he released a powerful strike towards goal from just inside the box, but it was just over from the Moroccan. Kwon struck just wide for Hibs in the final minutes of the first-half, with the visitors awarded a late corner.
From the corner, there was another VAR check for a handball in the box as Mykola Kukharevych looked to send the ball goalwards, with it coming off the arm of John Souttar.
After reviewing the footage, referee Nick Walsh pointed to the spot and awarded Hibs a penalty. It was Kukharevych himself who stepped up to the spot, but Butland went the right way and gathered the penalty to ensure Rangers went in with the lead at the break.
Manager Philippe Clement made two changes to his side at half time, as Kieran Dowell and Nedim Bajrami came on to replace Nico Raskin and Ross McCausland, before Dessers came on for Hamza Igamane with 10 minutes of the second-half played.
Kwon curled a shot over the bar from a Junior Hoilett cross as Hibs continued to search for an equaliser at Ibrox. Lawrence tested Josef Bursik again as he tried another effort from distance after good hold-up play from Cyriel Dessers, but the Hibs goalkeeper was able to gather the effort.
It was almost 2-0 to Rangers with 81 minutes on the clock, but Hibs were kept in the game by a fantastic save from Bursik. Jefte delivered the ball in from the left, and Dessers had space to get a close-range header towards goal, but the Hibs goalkeeper managed to scoop it wide.
At the other end, Dwight Gayle headed just inches wide of the left-hand post, as he got on the end of a Chris Cadden cross. Goalscorer Tom Lawrence was replaced with just over five minutes remaining, as Neraysho Kasanwirjo came on in his place.
Robin Propper headed over from a Jefte free-kick as Rangers continued to search for a second goal at Ibrox but it was over the bar. Despite some late pressure from Hibs, the Light Blues defended well to secure the victory and now turn their attentions to Lyon in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening.
RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Barron, Raskin (Dowell, 46), Lawrence (Kasanwirjo, 85), Cerny (Sterling, 68), McCausland (Bajrami, 46), Igamane (Dessers, 55)
Subs not used: Kelly, Balogun, Fraser, McKinnon.
Hibernian: Bursik, Miller, Ekpiteta, O’Hara, Cadden, Kwon (Levitt, 77), Obita, Hoilett (Youan, 68), Triantis (Welsh, 80), Campbell (McKirdy, 77), Kukharevych (68).
Subs not used: Smith, Iredale, Bushiri, Molontnikov.