The now-departed Freelander was a big hit for Land Rover in Europe, but proved too small and idiosyncratic for North American tastes.
Land Rover is taking another crack at the premium-compact-SUV niche, and with the LR2 its chances are looking a lot better.
To begin, the LR2 is a lot roomier than Freelander, even though it's only 50 mm longer on the outside (about the size of a Ford Escape). Cargo space with the rear seats up increases 38 percent. While Europeans can have a diesel, we'll only get the gasoline engine, at least for now. The new Volvo-engineered 3.2-litre transversely-mounted inline six produces about 230 hp, 55 more than the old 2.5-litre V6. The factory claims 0-100 km/h acceleration in 8.9 seconds.
A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is "intelligent" full-time all-wheel drive with a Haldex coupling, working in concert with a full complement of electronic stability and traction assists. Ground clearance is claimed to be an impressive 220 mm (8.7 in.)
Also standard is Land Rover's proprietary Terrain Response System. This lets the driver choose between five settings that tailor powertrain and chassis responses to suit the particular driving conditions, from dry pavement, through snow, mud and sand, to extreme rock-crawling (as if ....).
LR2 is due here mid-2007.
Luxurious and hard-core at the same time
Pricey for its size