Suburban Dad: 2008 Land Rover LR2
Talk about your perfect test drive: I was handed the keys to Land Rover’s slightly-larger-than-midsize SUV just a day before the region was hit with a mild (3-5 inches) snowstorm. The LR2 took the test and handily passed it.
As much as my wife and kids hated the last car I wrote about (the Audi Q7), they enjoyed the LR2. My wife thought the size was right, and was impressed both with the navigation system, which offered us three choices for our route, and with the amenities in the front seat (the heated seats being the best find on a cold and wintry night).
“I like it quite a bit,” she said. “I like the look of it; I liked the way it rode. I could see us in it.”
For regular readers, you’ll note that that is high praise from my wife, especially without any negatives thrown in. She has a pretty discriminating eye and ear for cars, and there haven’t been a lot that I’ve brought home that have won her over.
From my vantage point, the LR2’s steady grip in less-than-ideal driving circumstances won me over. I’d driven one before, in a nasty rainstorm, but the Grass, Gravel and Snow traction setting on the LR2 held the road great as I drove through driving snow. There’s a dial for these settings on the center console, and it turns easily, with a light indicating which setting you’ve chosen. There were no noises to suggest that something mechanical was happening, and driving on cold, wet streets without using that setting went without a hitch as well, so I don’t know if the LR2’s relatively low center of gravity was the hero here or if it really was the Snow setting. Either way, I felt very confident in the blowing snow and ice.
One small feature of note: The jack for the MP3 player is located near the back edge of the center console, just behind the driver’s right elbow. This placement was pretty smart, since it lets drivers keep their iPod or other player close at hand for handling; I’d be a little worried about drivers losing their concentration while trying to skip a song or find a new playlist or album, but assuming that drivers only make those changes at stop signs or red lights, the location was helpful.
I didn’t manage to get all three kids into the LR2 at once, but they liked the leather seats in the second row, though my 14-year-old thought legroom was a little cramped back there.
I wasn’t a fan of Land Rover’s LR3, but the LR2 was pretty impressive. I didn’t get a chance to work out the gas mileage, but it seemed like a pretty hefty gas user (it’s estimated to get 16/23). On the flip side, it had plenty of starting and passing power, yet I wasn’t inundated with either engine or road noise. It’s a really refined SUV, and at around $35K, it’s a decent value.
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$35,000 for a Ford Escape? Keep it.
Greg,
35k is cheap. And have you ever been in a ford escape. this is neither based on it, nor does it really look like one- in or out.
It does look like a "pimped out" Ford Escape. With equal, if not better realibility, I would take the Escape, Mariner, or Tribute over this.
My God even my eight year old said it looks like Aunt Claire's Escape. I would need to see a $5,000 rebate before I would even remotely consider this vehicle. Nothing impressive about this vehicle at all, in fact I would gladly take Dave's Outback and the difference in cash!
The LR2 and the Ford Escape ARE NOT RELATED!!
The Escape and the Mazda Tribute are the same.
The LR2 (Freelander) is a completely different design and has a different platform altogether.
Roy.
Roy is right here. It is completely different. The boxy shape does lend to Escape comparisons but there isn't really much to that. The interior of the LR2 is quite nice, the ride is very comfortable and it can handle the tough weather pretty well. Priced between the Acura RDX and BMW X3 I think I would take the LR2 if I wasn't worried about reliability.