The adjustable air suspension rounds off the corners of even the nastiest potholes and does its best to keep the body fairly level during cornering. The engine has fine responses, and the superb shifting from the eight-speed automatic transmission means the LR4 driver always has power at the ready, which is just what we expect from a premium vehicle. All that heft makes the LR4 feel very planted and secure, but it also makes the supercharged V6 work hard to get it going. This is a heavy vehicle and it drives that way. The LR4's electronically controlled air suspension also helps in this regard, with settings ranging from a lowered height that enables easy entry and exit to a fully raised position that maximizes ground clearance on particularly gnarly stretches of trail. Models equipped with the two-speed transfer case also get a fifth Rock Crawl setting.Įach of these modes alters engine, transmission and suspension calibrations to allow the LR4 to tackle a wide variety of terrain. For those who plan to partake in particularly challenging off-road driving, the LR4's traditional two-speed transfer case, which offers low-range gearing and a locking rear differential, is still available as part of the Heavy Duty option package.īoth AWD systems are governed by Land Rover's Terrain Response system that helps optimize performance via a center-console-mounted knob that allows you to toggle among four standard settings (General, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Sand and Mud/Ruts). (Bear in mind that the LR4 uses premium fuel.) Properly equipped, the LR4 can tow a healthy 7,700 pounds.įull-time four-wheel drive with a single-speed transfer case is standard for all LR4s. This figure is a little lower than average for this class, although it's comparable to competitors' V8 models with similar horsepower. The EPA estimates fuel economy for the 2015 LR4 at just 16 mpg combined (15 city/19 highway). In Edmunds testing, the LR4 accelerated to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, which is an average time for its class. Also standard is an auto stop-start function that shuts down the engine to conserve fuel when you're stopped in traffic. It's paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. But if what you really need is a spacious high-lux SUV that can crawl through terrain that it would be difficult to walk over - and really, who isn't looking for that? - then the Land Rover LR4 is the real deal.Įvery 2016 Land Rover LR4 is powered by a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that produces 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. If off-road chops are what you really need, the Lexus GX 460 and Land Rover's own Range Rover Sport are good alternatives, though they are more cramped inside. They have less interior room but boast a significantly lower price. One should also consider the Acura MDX and the Infiniti QX60. The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is the first to spring to mind, though it is more expensive. There are plenty of three-row SUVs that are just as posh and less ponderous. The LR4 weighs nearly 3 tons, a good thousand pounds more than a seven-seat Ford Explorer, and despite the valiant efforts of the supercharged V6 engine (which is more fuel-efficient than the V8 formerly found under the LR4's hood), that heft takes a toll on gas mileage, acceleration and on-pavement maneuverability. The LR4's off-road ability comes courtesy of hard-core hardware, and all that equipment adds up to some serious heft. While we find the LR4 incredibly appealing, potential buyers should ask themselves if they really need the back-country capability. And while Land Rover's Range Rover line may occupy a higher price bracket, the LR4 gives away nothing in terms of amenities, with a high-end interior swathed in rich materials. The LR4 (known as the Discovery in other markets) continues to be a key player for the brand, with seating for up to seven adults and a powerful supercharged V6 engine. To this day, Land Rovers give their occupants the ability to traverse third-world terrain in first-world comfort. While it may not have been up to the modern-day LR4's standards (the heater was considered a luxury add-on), the die was cast. Land Rover created its first SUV in 1948, the jungle-bashing Series I, and just a year later it created a leather-lined version. Authenticity is sought out these days, and few luxury SUVs are more authentic than the Land Rover LR4.
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