Introduction:
Land Rover has been building some of the finest off- and on-road vehicles in the world since 1948. After some bumps in the road during the 1970s, Land Rover emerged as an iconic luxury vehicle in the 1990s, with an expanded lineup taking the brand into the new century. A series of ownership changes, from Rover Group to BMW to Ford, culminated with Tata Motors of India purchasing a controlling interest in 2008. Here's a brief rundown on the Land Rover SUV lineup, along with links to some reviews on About.com:
LRX
Land Rover announced in September of 2009 that it will build a version of its LRX concept car. The smallest, lightest Land Rover yet is scheduled to join the 2011 Land Rover lineup.
LR2
LR2 debuted as a 1997 model, then named "Freelander." It has evolved into a five-passenger crossover, with the current generation arriving as a 2007 model. LR2 is designed to compete with the Lexus RX, the Infiniti EX35, the Acura RDX and the BMW X3. Equipped with four-wheel drive and Land Rover's Terrain Response System, the Land Rover LR2 comes with a 3.2 liter inline six-cylinder engine that's rated for 230 hp/235 lb-ft of torque and a six-speed automatic transmission. EPA estimates 15 city/22 highway. Prices start at $36,350, plus options. LR2 rides on a 104.7" wheelbase, is 177.1" long, 75.1" wide (w/mirrors folded) and 68.5" tall with 8.3" of ground clearance.
2009 Land Rover LR2 Test Drive and Review
2009 Land Rover LR2 Photo Gallery
LR4
LR4 is the latest evolution of Land Rover's iconic Discovery series, and probably the most capable off-road vehicle in the lineup. Freshly revised for the 2010 model year, the Land Rover LR4 takes over from the LR3. LR4 is a seven-passenger SUV designed to compete with the Mercedes-Benz G-class, the HUMMER H2, the Infiniti QX56 and the Toyota Land Cruiser. The Land Rover LR4 carries a 5.0 liter V8 that pumps 375 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive with Land Rover's Terrain Response System is standard. LR4 rides on a 113.6" wheelbase, and is 190.1" long, 79.6" wide (w/mirrors folded) and 72.1" tall with 9.5" of ground clearance in off-road mode. EPA fuel economy estimates are 12 mpg city/17 mpg highway. Base prices start at $48,100, plus options.
2010 Land Rover LR4 Test Drive and Review
2010 Land Rover LR4 Photo Gallery
2007 Land Rover LR3 Test Drive and Review
2007 Land Rover LR3 Photo Gallery
Range Rover Sport
Range Rover Sport is available in two models: the HSE (starting at $60,495) and the Supercharged (starting at $74,195), each with its own special trim and engine packages. The HSE comes with the same naturally-aspirated 5.0 liter V8 that's in the LR4, cranking out 375 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. The Supercharged adds a supercharger to the 5.0 liter V8, and bumps the output to 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. Yowza. Each engine gets a six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive with Terrain Response. The EPA estimates 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway for the HSE, 12 city/17 highway for the Supercharged. Competitors for the Range Rover Sport include the Mercedes-Benz GLK-class, the Lexus GX 470, the Cadillac Escalade and Audi Q7. Range Rover Sport has a 108" wheelbase, is 188" long, 78.8" wide (w/mirrors folded) and 70.4" tall with 8.9" of ground clearance in off-road mode.
Range Rover
Range Rover is available in four trim levels: the HSE (starting at $79,275); the HSE LUX (starting at $84,225); the Supercharged (starting at $95,125); and the Autobiography (starting at $109,625). The HSE and HSE LUX come with the same naturally-aspirated 5.0 liter V8 that's in the LR4, cranking out 375 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. The Supercharged and Autobiography add a supercharger to the 5.0 liter V8, and bumps the output to 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. Each engine gets a six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive with Terrain Response. The EPA estimates 12 mpg city/18 mpg highway for both supercharged and naturally-aspirated. Competitors for the Range Rover Sport include the Mercedes-Benz GL-class, the Lexus LX 570, and the Porsche Cayenne. Range Rover has a 133.4" wheelbase, is 195.8" long, 80.1" wide (w/mirrors folded) and 73.9" tall with 11.1" of ground clearance in off-road mode.
2009 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged Test Drive and Review
2009 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged Photo Gallery
2008 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged Test Drive and Review
