Land Rover LR2 HSE LUX: rejuvenated, not reborn

A turbo engine breathes new life into this aging compact off-roader

When the Range Rover Evoque hit the scene two years ago, I thought the LR2 was a goner. Between a wildly stylish and posh SUV and one that was designed with a T-square, I was wondering who would still choose the latter.

Yet the LR2 is still going strong, so to speak. To make it feel younger than it is – introduced back in 2007 – Land Rover redesigned its interior, freshened up its exterior appearance and gave it a new engine. That’s good, because the BMW X3, the Mercedes-Benz GLK, the Acura RDX and the Cadillac SRX are pretty competent machines to do battle with.

Actually, it received the Evoque’s turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder that develops 240 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque, although it keeps its six-speed automatic transmission. Compared to the old 3.2L inline-six, the new engine adds 10 hp and much more low-rpm torque, so straight-line performance has improved noticeably. The LR2 is also rated for towing up to 4,400 lbs., well above average among compact SUVs.

Fuel economy is also better, as city/highway ratings dropped from 14.1/9.1 L/100km to 12.0/8.4. Over the course of our snowy test week, we averaged 10.9 L/100km, which isn’t bad at all.

Land Rover’s Terrain Response fourwheel-drive system is featured in the LR2, which adapts itself to road conditions selected by the driver. It features modes for snow/grass/gravel, mud and ruts as well as sand, or you can just leave it in normal mode over less extreme terrain. Simply put, the 2014 Land Rover LR2 is a very capable SUV, and the winter climate didn’t faze it one bit.

Those looking for the aura of a luxury brand badge will get it, as long as they keep the vehicle’s sub-$40K base price in mind. Step inside, and you’ll notice that the cockpit obviously isn’t as lavish as the one in the flagship Range Rover. While fit and finish is what you’d expect, and much-improved compared to earlier LR2 models, there isn’t much flash here, although our tester was admittedly equipped with an all-black interior, including the lacquer dash trim that can be replaced with contrasting silver or wood accents, while the optional Windsor leather upholstery is available in four colour choices.

The centre stack houses straightforward climate and audio controls, as rotary dials for setting temperature and fan speed are most effective. The five-inch touchscreen is a little small by today’s standards, but works well nonetheless. An 11-speaker Meridian sound system with a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity are standard across the board, and its output is quite good; a 17-speaker system is also available. The 2014 Land Rover LR2 in HSE trim also gets heated front seats, driver’s seat position memory, a heated steering wheel and a rearview camera.

This is a compact SUV, but front space is more than adequate. However, the LR2’s stubby proportions and short wheelbase are more noticeable when you hop onto the back seat and realize that legroom isn’t very generous. Also, there are no rear ventilation controls, but at least the dual-pane glass roof adds some airiness for back-seat passengers. Cargo space is rated at 760 litres with the rear seatback in place and up to 1,670 litres when the latter is folded down, which is slightly better than in the X3 and the GLK, yet not as big as in the SRX or the RDX. However, you must take off the rear headrests to fold the seatbacks flat, which is somewhat of a hassle.

Despite the recent facelift that included a more modern looking front grille, the 2014 Land Rover LR2’s shape is seriously starting to show its age, especially since newer products like the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport are indicating where the brand is heading stylistically.