Friday Fleet Notes: 9.27.07

As I prepare to drive home in a Corvette Z06 — pity me, really — I get a chance to reflect on how varied our revolving fleet of vehicles truly is. This week, Kelsey Mays and I take a look at the all-new Land Rover LR2 and the Chrysler Town & Country. They’re two distinctly different vehicles, and both needed a reworking. Now, where is that Z06 key fob… 

2008 Land Rover LR2

Land Rover fans will love the brand’s latest baby. It has the flavor of its larger siblings — the window switches sit right up on the window sill, the center controls employ lots of scalloped dials, and there’s enough off-road equipment to get you to the Yucatan. Those looking for a regular SUV might take issue with some of the smaller details: Our LR2 SE had an uncovered tray in place of a real center console (the pricier HSE adds one) and it’s too easy to confuse the temperature dial for the stereo volume. As senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder noted in his review, folding the rear seats down requires first flipping the cushions forward. That’s old-school.

The LR2 isn’t as sprightly as the BMW X3 or Acura RDX, but neither does it suffer the X3’s hiccup-prone automatic. The entry-luxury SUV segment is about to explode – the Infiniti EX35 has broken press, and the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 are all but confirmed – and it will be interesting to see how this little Land Rover fares.  — Kelsey Mays, Cars.com reviewer

2008 Chrysler Town & Country

In 2006, I drove the 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan to Soldier Field for a special on tailgating features. It was an early morning hike before the sun came up and I was alone on the highway, minus any semis or normal commute traffic. It was a shaky ride that reminded me just how outdated some “new” cars really are.

Exactly a year later I drew the short straw, bringing the all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country to Soldier Field for an update on tailgating features. This time I was really impressed with the new van’s heavy dose of tech features and surprisingly good handling. I still think the ride is abnormally rough for a vehicle meant to haul children, and there’s no way I can imagine myself ever driving one, even if I have a large family. — David Thomas, KickingTires editor

Related
2008 Land Rover LR2 Expert Review (Cars.com)
The Urban DINK: 2008 Land Rover LR2 (KickingTires)
2008 Chrysler Town & Country Expert Review (Cars.com)