Until then the only sport utility vehicle to offer a diesel engine in North America will be Jeep's updated 2005 Liberty, what was considered a risky decision last year but now as fuel prices continue to climb the charts appears more and more like an intelligent move. Land Rover has a history selling diesels in North America while its core clientele is sophisticated enough to embrace an alternate fuel technology, both key points that make importing the new TDV6 a smart business decision.
 |
| The LR3 is a giant improvement over the outgoing Discovery in every way, with much more interior room and seating. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
With or without the diesel, the new LR3 is expected to arrive later this year. It's a giant improvement over the outgoing Discovery in every way, with much more interior room and seating for up to seven adults. Panel fit is finally top-notch, partly due to its rigid integrated frame and monocoque construction. Interior quality is also greatly improved, but based on a pre-production example still not rising to benchmark levels set by rivals BMW, Lexus, Volkswagen or Volvo. The Land Rover is expected to be less expensive than at least two of the four brands mentioned, however, making this last indiscretion less of a concern. The addition of a diesel would set it apart from all of its direct competitors, which might be exactly what Land Rover needs to improve sales.