It’s difficult to remain true to your go-anywhere image and reputation as a producer of serious off-road SUVs as you watch competitors rack up tens of thousands of sales with cutesy, car-based crossovers.
Just ask Jeep.
So when it became time to finally fill the entry-level void created with the discontinuation of the Freelander, Land Rover couldn’t resist softening some of its sharper edges to create a kinder, gentler — well, dare we say it? — crossover.
The LR2 looks like a Land Rover inside and out, but doesn’t quite measure up to the rest of the product line’s survivalist’s aptitude when the pavement runs out. But for those shopping crossovers, the LR2 is one of the more off-road capable out there.
In all fairness, the Freelander wasn’t a rough-and-tumble off-roader in the strictest sense either.
While more capable off road than most in its class, it didn”t offer low-range gearing for those really tough slogs through the wilderness.
With its independent suspension and carlike unibody design, the LR2 drops all pretense of serious off-roading. As with most of its all-wheel-drive crossover competitors, the LR2 is sufficiently prepared for foul weather and even dirt trails, but will be relegated to watching over the base camp when other Land Rovers take to boulder crawling.
Having explained what the LR2 isn’t, what exactly is it? It is Land Rover’s take on what a luxury crossover should be. The SE is the only trim level. At $34,700, it is a bit pricey, but for that investment, you get to enjoy the Land Rover cachet as well as drive a wonderfully road-capable compact SUV.
Those who bemoaned the lackluster acceleration of the 174 horsepower Freelander will appreciate the 230 ponies cranked out by the LR2’s 230 horsepower 3.2-liter V-6.
Rather than the Freelander”s five-speed automatic transmission, the LR2 shuffles power to all four wheels by way of a six-speed automatic with normal, sport and manual shift modes.
Land Rover attempts to compensate for the lack of a four-wheel low gear with what it calls Terrain Response.
When not on dry pavement, the driver may select one of three modes designed to handle specific surface conditions. The engine and transmission work in very precise ways to deal with sand, grass, gravel, snow, mud or ruts.
A recent trip from southern Florida to South Carolina provided an exceptional sampling of the LR2’s over-the-road prowess.
It accelerates with passion and cruises effortlessly at interstate speeds.
It’s comfortable and inspires a feeling of relative safety. The four-wheel independent suspension soaks up pavement imperfections and very little outside noise breaches the sound-insulation defenses.
Averaging 70 mph, the LR2 posted a decent 22 mpg for the 685-mile jaunt.
The Environmental Protection Agency rates the LR2”s fuel economy at 16 mpg in city driving and 23 mpg on the highway.
The four-wheel anti-lock brake system includes a number of other safety features such as stability control, roll stability control, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist, cornering brake control and hill descent control.
Fronting the disk brakes are 18-inch alloy wheels.
Offering a fair amount of interior space, the LR2 can accommodate four adults comfortably. Folding the split rear seat down adds gobs of cargo room for those pesky weekend chores.
If you have spent any time in a Land Rover recently, the LR2 cabin should seem very familiar. Sharp angles and slab surfaces let you know this is a Land Rover.
At first glance, the center stack appears rather daunting, but even tossing the $3,500 Technology Package into the mix with its surround sound audio system and DVD-based navigation system doesn”t make changing the radio station or resetting the climate control temperature a topic for a doctoral thesis in electrical engineering. The nav system is quite transparent and remarkably up to date.
Most of the luxury bells and whistles are present. Leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power accessories, dual-panel sunroof and a driver’s information center are all standard. An auxiliary input jack for a personal music device is standard even with the basic nine-speaker audio system, as is a six-disc in-dash CD changer.
Land Rover has festooned the LR2 cabin with seven air bags, including a driver”s knee air bag and side-curtain air bags protecting front- and rear-seat occupants.
Although it’s a smaller SUV than its Land Rover brethren, it still feels somewhat substantial. Its dimensions, however, are appreciated when trying to shoehorn into a parking spot on a busy city street. It’s neither the quickest nor the best-handling small SUV out there, but it maneuvers through traffic without drama and will handle less aggressive off-roading adventures better than other AWD crossover competitors. With more get-up-and-go than the last entry-level Land Rover, it’s more fun to drive on the pavement, too.
In this day of softer, friendlier SUVs, there’s nothing wrong with being more at home on the pavement, even if you are a Land Rover.
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