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Acceleration
"No opportunity to test V6 version. V8 delivers good, not great, scoot in this
weighty SUV. Land Rover says 8 sec 0-60 mph, which is midpack for this class.
LR3 has ready power in highway passing, but transmission slow to downshift on
hills. Throttle response changes with transfer-case setting, is less sensitive
in low range for better off-road control. "
Value
"In a class trending toward ever-more-carlike SUVs, the tall, off-road-oriented
LR3 seems anachronistic. In reality, it's used exactly the way its more-carlike
competition is, and in that capacity, delivers good passenger and cargo room
and unexpected comfort. Ultimately, it's compromised by old-school-SUV handling
and ergonomics. Fuel economy is subpar, too, and so is Land Rover resale value. "
Ride
"Rear-seat passengers notice some hop on rough roads, but LR3 is comfortably
absorbent over bumps big and small overall. Dips, wavy surfaces induce some residual
bobbing. "
Economy
Test SE averaged 12.8-14.1 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Test HSE averaged 15.5 mpg in exclusively freeway travel. Land Rover recommends premium-grade fuel.
Noise
Some highway-speed wind noise is the only demerit of note.
Comfort - Front
"Commanding driving position. Comfortable, upright seats. Ample head, leg room.
Excellent visibility aided by front and rear obstacle detection on HSE. Step-in
SUV-acceptable when vehicle set to lowest suspension setting; difficult at highest
setting."
Comfort - Rear
"Second, 3rd-row seats unusually comfortable, with ample head, leg room. Three
adults fit in 2nd row, but we wouldn't recommend it on long drives. Climbing
to 3rd row complicated by tall step-in, narrow pass-through."
Controls
"Small print makes gauges difficult to read at a glance. Controls a somewhat
confusing jumble of switches, knobs, buttons. Radio, navigation, climate systems
hard to decipher. Off-road settings trigger graphic display of front-wheel angle--a
useful feature. Interior materials of high quality, but lack of wood, fancy trim
leans to upscale outdoorsy rather than uptown opulent."
Cargo Room
"Tall cargo hold has ample volume with five seats, reasonably good load space
with seven. Both rear rows fold flat to create spacious load floor, but are awkward
to fold/unfold. Clamshell-style tailgate open to debate: some testers say it
complicates loading/unloading, others praise its versatility. Numerous useful
bins, cubbies in cabin, but glovebox difficult to open if passenger seat occupied."
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