V8 engine delivers strong performance
Although the base LR3 engine in Canada is 4.0-litre 216 horsepower V6, my tester benefited from the extra hostility imparted by a 300 horsepower 4.4-litre V8, bragging a maximum torque output of 315 pound-feet at 4,000 rpm.
This silky-smooth mill is adhered to a 6-speed automatic transmission, which offers plenty of flexibility when it comes to spinning the proper gear at the proper time. And because the LR3 is a "true" Land Rover, a low-range transfer case ensures that no hill or quagmire is sufficiently arduous to impede progress.
On the road, the V8-powered LR3 quite easily manages its significant mass when pulling away from a stop sign or domineering the passing lane; mountain roads hold little challenge for the V8 powerplant as well, which is as smooth and quiet as they come.
Comfy ride leads to sluggish handling
The LR3 delivers a remarkably smooth ride for a rugged vehicle bearing a 'Land Rover' label. In fact I would describe its ability to quash the harshness of broken pavement and ugly potholes as notably pleasurable for a 4X4 however the price for such comfort is paid for in the corners.
The LR3 is not unwieldy by any definition but it's also not as athletic in the curves as some competitors. But guess what? I don't care. I doubt that buyers of LR3s are looking for pavement-searing handling thresholds. As far as I'm concerned, Land Rover succeeded in properly balancing ride quality with handling ability when engineering the LR3's underpinnings.
Ruggedness has never been so un-rugged
It's not necessary to cross the Kalahari Desert or climb the Rocky Mountains to verify the LR3's ruggedness; the credibility is in its genes. What a ride though an urbanized jungle does substantiate is the tremendous luxury and comfort imparted by this premium traveler.
I was quite taken with the ease in which the LR3 can be piloted through heavily congested streets. It's a simple rig to administer. Sight lines are broad and unimpeded thanks to huge expanses of glass and a high seating position, which is typical of Land Rover.
Although the base LR3 engine in Canada is 4.0-litre 216 horsepower V6, my tester benefited from the extra hostility imparted by a 300 horsepower 4.4-litre V8, bragging a maximum torque output of 315 pound-feet at 4,000 rpm.
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| Mountain roads hold little challenge for the V8 powerplant as well, which is as smooth and quiet as they come. |
This silky-smooth mill is adhered to a 6-speed automatic transmission, which offers plenty of flexibility when it comes to spinning the proper gear at the proper time. And because the LR3 is a "true" Land Rover, a low-range transfer case ensures that no hill or quagmire is sufficiently arduous to impede progress.
On the road, the V8-powered LR3 quite easily manages its significant mass when pulling away from a stop sign or domineering the passing lane; mountain roads hold little challenge for the V8 powerplant as well, which is as smooth and quiet as they come.
Comfy ride leads to sluggish handling
The LR3 delivers a remarkably smooth ride for a rugged vehicle bearing a 'Land Rover' label. In fact I would describe its ability to quash the harshness of broken pavement and ugly potholes as notably pleasurable for a 4X4 however the price for such comfort is paid for in the corners.
The LR3 is not unwieldy by any definition but it's also not as athletic in the curves as some competitors. But guess what? I don't care. I doubt that buyers of LR3s are looking for pavement-searing handling thresholds. As far as I'm concerned, Land Rover succeeded in properly balancing ride quality with handling ability when engineering the LR3's underpinnings.
Ruggedness has never been so un-rugged
It's not necessary to cross the Kalahari Desert or climb the Rocky Mountains to verify the LR3's ruggedness; the credibility is in its genes. What a ride though an urbanized jungle does substantiate is the tremendous luxury and comfort imparted by this premium traveler.
I was quite taken with the ease in which the LR3 can be piloted through heavily congested streets. It's a simple rig to administer. Sight lines are broad and unimpeded thanks to huge expanses of glass and a high seating position, which is typical of Land Rover.
 |
| What a ride though an urbanized jungle does substantiate is the tremendous luxury and comfort imparted by this premium traveler. |