Land Rover, the venerable British SUV builder has been enjoying a renaissance in recent years. And the recently-introduced compact LR2 is a perfect illustration of the reasons why.
Power for this littlest Land Rover comes from a 230-horsepower, 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that’s quiet, smooth, and even reasonably fuel-efficient. In everyday driving, the LR2’s suspension provides a car-like ride and surprisingly good handling.
Unlike its siblings, the LR2 wasn’t designed to tackle hardcore off-road challenges. But while its car-like unibody construction and lack of a low-range transfer case limit its ability on the trail, its sophisticated all wheel-drive system and unique “Terrain Response” feature that allows the driver to easily dial in the optimal settings for snow, sand, or mud still make it among the most off-road capable of all small SUVs.
Inside, the LR2’s cabin feels both spacious and luxurious. And even though this is the least expensive model in the Land Rover line-up, it comes loaded with a long list of standard features you’d probably expect to pay extra for including a 320-watt Alpine audio system and dual sunroofs.
In short, the LR2’s combination of lively handling, respectable off-road capability, and upscale amenities make it one of the best compact luxury crossovers on the market.
Strengths:
Classy styling inside and out
Long list of standard luxury features
Good performance and decent fuel economy
A hefty 4,000-pound towing capacity
Weaknesses:
Instrument-panel displays difficult to read in bright sunlight
Sunroof’s retractable don’t block out intense sun
Lacks other Land Rover models’ hardcore off-road capabilities
Bottom Line:
Above-average pavement performance and respectable off-road capability in a stylish package.
Bi-xenon HID adaptive headlights|DVD-based GPS navigation system|Memory settings for driver's seat/outside mirrors|Heated windshield/windshield washer jets|Heated front seats|Bluetooth cell phone compatibility|Premium surround sound audio system with 14 speakers|Sirius satellite radio|Rear-seat audio controls
Safety features
/*Antilock Brakes:*/|Standard|/*Electronic Stability Control:*/|Standard|/*Traction Control:*/|Standard|/*Multi-Stage front airbags:*/|Standard|/*Side-Impact Airbags:*/|Standard|/*Side-Curtain Airbags:*/|Standard|/*Active Front Head Restraints:*/|Not Available|/*Tire Pressure Monitor:*/|Standard
Standard features
/*HSE:*/|Halogen headlights with auto-on/off|Front fog lights|Underbody skid plates|Terrain Response selectable off-road driving modes|Hill descent control|Rain-sensing windshield wipers|Rear window washer/wiper|Rear window defogger|Power-adjustable outside mirrors|Ultrasonic rear parking assist|Panoramic sunroof/rear skylight with sunshades|Deep-tinted rear privacy glass|Dual-zone automatic climate control with filter|Leather upholstery|Power-adjustable front seats|60/40 split-folding rear bench seat|Keyless entry|Cruise control|Trip computer|Auto-dimming rearview mirror|Power windows|Power door locks|Leather-wrapped steering wheel|Tilt/telescoping adjustable steering column|Carpet/Vinyl reversible cargo floor cover|Steering wheel-mounted audio controls|Alpine AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with 9 speakers|Six-disc, in-dash CD changer
