2009 Land Rover LR3 Hephzibah GA

December 7, 2009   By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor



2009 Land Rover LR3
DriverSide Overview
Built initially as a one-off vehicle in 1948, the Land Rover brand is now internationally recognized by its boxy body design and exceptional off-roading capabilities. Pop culture has embraced its vehicles too; we’ve seen them in their originally intended roles in unforgettable movies like The Gods Must Be Crazy and less demanding circumstances in the movie She’s All That. Unlike the Land Rovers that trawl through the rainforests, the mainstream U.S. versions are more likely to stay on solid, paved ground during their lifetimes. Which is why, in recent years, their SUVs have begun toeing the luxury line pretty closely, delivering more comfort features than ever before. This means with the 2009 Land Rover LR3 you have options like a navigation system or panorama roof if you want them. However, a bare bones LR3 still offers creature comforts too, leaving every buyer satisfied. A choice of a Land Rover does lend itself to a sense of roughing it, helped by its rubber floor mats, deliberately easy-to-clean surfaces and off-road suspension choices. The engineers seem to know all too well that we’d rather pretend the supermarket parking lot is actually a remote region of Nepal. We can dream, can’t we?








What's to Like
Its classic body shape makes it easily recognizable as a Land Rover. An optional third row of seats stows neatly below the floor, allowing for full access to cargo space. Like most Land Rovers, the off-roading ability of the LR3 is nearly unbeatable. And to help new buyers, the first scheduled maintenance at 7,500 miles is free.

What's Not to Like
A fussy interface for the, frankly, lackluster instrument panel is unintuitive and confusing at times. The optional navigation system is lacking in functionality and is slow to correct for wrong turns.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
The LR3 feels like a real-deal Land Rover, the kind you expect to be prowling the outback or trekking through swamps in Africa. But there is a finished quality about the ride too. The independent, double-wishbone suspension, able to accommodate a variety of terrains – from smooth highway to mud and sand – does a brilliant job of making the LR3 a competent vehicle for any occasion. Steering is responsive and the turning radius is impressively tight. The high roofline and large windows mean visibility is excellent. It’s not quick – it hits 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds – nor is the horsepower exceptional for the class, but it pulls its own mass well enough. In off-road mode, the LR3 rises to allow for 9.5 inches of ground clearance and a 28-inch wading maximum.

Engine and Drivetrain
The LR3’s 4.4-liter V-8 engine delivers 300 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. It has a six-speed, electronically controlled automatic transmission, with a low gear ratio of ...

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