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Land Rover LR4 - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Land Rover LR4 ranks 13 out of 16 Luxury Midsize SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 7 published reviews and test drives of the Land Rover LR4, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

For 2010, the Land Rover LR3 receives a number of performance and interior changes and is renamed the LR4. The changes add up to a Land Rover packed with a better on-road ride and more value than ever - but its price is still high in comparison to other luxury SUVs.

This model has changed names many times over the years, starting out as the Discovery, then becoming the Discovery II and then the LR3. Now in its fourth generation, the LR4 comes with a revised 5.0-liter V8 engine from Jaguar, an updated Terrain Response System, a new front end and an all-new interior. The five-seat (seven-seat-optional) cabin's most prominent change is a decrease in the number of buttons -- they've dropped from 50 to 29 -- which makes the LR4's features much easier to operate. However, fuel economy is still relatively low for its class.

The LR4's greatest strength is its off-road capability. But it's unlikely that most buyers would take this upscale SUV too far off the beaten path. If you don't need off-road chops, there may be more comfortable alternatives, such as the Mercedes-Benz M-Class or Audi Q7. For a more efficient vehicle, try the Lexus RX 350 and its hybrid counterpart, the RX 450.

The LR4 comes in one trim with optional HSE and HSE Luxury packages. A 3.0-liter TDI V6 diesel is available overseas, but not in the United States. This review uses research for both the new LR4 and the 2009 LR3 since the two still share many attributes.

• "Overall, the result is a cleaner and less utilitarian look that should resonate well with buyers willing to shell out $48,100 to start for the LR4. And although that price is $1350 more than the 2009 LR3, the sum of the changes has created a quicker, more refined, and less clumsy vehicle that retains its off-road abilities." -- Car and Driver
• "Luxury and off-road capability mix extremely well in a Land Rover, but it's not inexpensive. The LR4 will start near $45,000 [...] Will owners of such luxury vehicles use the full off-road ability? Not likely. But that's not Land Rover's fault." -- Road and Track
• "This new LR has more than 1300 new parts; as Land Rover explains, the engineers did as much as possible without creating an all-new platform. And the changes they made caused the LR4 to be more capable, more powerful, and more fuel-efficient than the LR3." -- Motor Trend
• "Land Rover's most versatile player expands its already wide capabilities with a more potent V8 and sweet new cabin. Now all we need Stateside is the stonkin' twin-turbo diesel." -- Edmunds

 

LR4 Performance - 8.2 (Very Good)

Thanks to good on-road handling and excellent off-road capabilities, the redesigned LR4 shines when it comes to performance. "Driving a 2010 Land Rover LR4 is quite different than driving an LR3," says Automobile Magazine. "The immediate differences are a comparative abundance of power, more confidence-inspiring handling, and slightly improved steering response. Of course the last two points are almost moot when it comes to the nearly-6000 pound SUV's road manners, but any improvement is welcome in this class." However, a downside is still the LR4's poor fuel economy.  Read More

LR4 Exterior - NA

For 2010, the LR4 keeps its traditional Land Rover look, but also gets a few changes to its front end and taillights. Reviewers don't have very strong opinions about the freshened exterior, though they all say it looks even more upscale. "Interior and exterior revisions are aimed at making the LR4 look and feel more expensive . . . hence the black plastic exterior cladding goes body color and the front and rear lighting includes jewellike LEDs," says Motor Trend.  Read More

LR4 Interior - 9.2 (Excellent)

The Land Rover's cabin has always been praised for its roomy and versatile passenger space and plentiful standard features, but it has been criticized for some hard-touch materials and complicated controls. Test drivers are pleased that the 2010 LR4 remedies all that. "Gone is the monochromatic festival of look-alike buttons, hard plastic and flat surfaces," writes Edmunds. "Instead the LR4 has soft textures, gentle curves, a tasteful sprinkling of brushed metal accents and attractive controls. What's more, these controls are now spread out, logically grouped by function and utterly self-explanatory."  Read More

LR4 Safety - NA

The federal government and insurance industry have not crash tested the 2010 LR4 or previous models - which is common for this price point.  Read More

LR4 Reliability - 4.0 (Mediocre)

The 2010 Land Rover LR4 reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The LR4 comes with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty. Read More