2013 Land Rover LR2 HSE review notes

July 30, 2013

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: “Shoemaker, stick to thy last,” said no one in 70 years. But the sentiment is apropos: Focus on what you do well.

For Land Rover, that would be the construction and marketing of large, overbuilt, pseudo-rugged luxury SUVs. Whether a Range Rover swaddled in leather or a Defender bounding across the Outback, Land Rover is good at big, tough and expensive (yes, the Evoque is an exception, but we'll get to that).

The LR2 (or Freelander 2 for much of the rest of the world), on the other hand, is a soft-roader in the same vein as the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. “But it's almost $45,000!” you cry. “It's in the same class as the Volvo XC60 and Mercedes-Benz GLK.” No, it's in the same price class, but those vehicles are far superior to the LR2 in almost every respect, as are the Audi Q5, BMW X1/X3…hell, even the RAV4 and CR-V are better if you don't mind giving up some power.

If we're not mincing words, the LR2 is a turd. The interior materials are surpassed by the average Hyundai, the steering is 1960s Buick vague at low speeds and the otherwise excellent Ford EcoBoost engine has somehow had appalling turbo lag engineered in by the folks in Great Britain. The seats are too narrow (and I'm not a bulky guy, so for me to say that is damning), the doors feel flimsy and the styling looks two generations old, particularly against the current Escape and Hyundai Santa Fe.

It's not entirely bad: Once moving, the turbo 2.0-liter pushes the LR2 along in a hurry, and it's easy to find yourself cruising along well over the speed limit without fully realizing it; credit decent soundproofing and good chassis stability at-speed. Ironically, the steering is much more direct over 50 mph.

But really, that's about all there is good to say about the LR2. So what's a potential customer to do? If you must drive a Land Rover and you're unable to make the leap into one of the big dogs, at least choose an Evoque. Materials quality and design are several notches above that found in the LR2. And while the styling may not scream “Land Rover,” at least it makes a design statement.

The only statement you're making behind the wheel of an LR2 is summarized by another dated parable: “A fool and his money are soon parted.”

ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: Well, Andy did a pretty good job ripping this thing. I guess the biggest thing that struck me -- and I know that there is someone out there who will disagree with this vehemently -- was that this vehicle has no real reason to exist.

Range Rover makes big, comfortable and truly luxurious vehicles that make a statement while retaining a degree of off-road capability. It also makes the Evoque, a fashionable “lifestyle” crossover/soft roader thing that makes an entirely different sort of statement -- one that has nothing to do with a presumed ability to take on the muddy two-tracks of your family estate.

Where does the LR2 sit? It doesn't look particularly rugged. From the moment you step inside, it doesn't feel particularly rugged, either; nor does it feel luxurious, like a big Range Rover. It would be neat if Land Rover decided to make a Jeep Wrangler-esque vehicle at the LR2's price point that was focused on capability while turning down the luxury. But the LR2 is not that vehicle.

No, the LR2 lets people buy into the luxury reputation that Land Rover/Range Rover has spent decades cultivating without ponying up the cash. The saying that you get what you pay for definitely rings true here, though; in this case, $44,200 buys you a mediocre vehicle and a $20,000 set of Land Rover emblems that you can admire.

The car (that's what it is -- it shares a platform with the old Ford Mondeo and a bunch of Volvos) doesn't come into its own on the road, either. The engine was laggy, steering was loose at all speeds, and the vehicle did not feel particularly well planted on the expressway.

I did find some pictures of dusty LR2/Freelanders tackling some slightly rough terrain, so it's probably possible to attack moderately washed-out gravel roads with confidence. Then again, I also found pictures of the Jeep Compass in similar situations.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I didn't even know Land Rover made the LR2 anymore. I guess I thought the Evoque replaced it. Why is Land Rover bothering with this? I get the impression that the company might feel it needs a small SUV to fight in that Audi Q5/Mercedes-Benz GLK realm, but isn't that what the Evoque does?

Not sure if I would go so far to call the LR2 a turd as it's been called above. I think it's just old. I guess that could make it a turd. Yes, as improved as it is from the old LR2, the interior still isn't up to snuff (the seats are indeed pretty bad) and yes, and there's some turbo four lag. And boy does the exterior ever look dated even with the newish headlamps and grille.

But there's some good here, too. Other than the initial lag I thought the turbo four worked fine in this car -- midrange poke is downright spritely and as long as you keep the revs above 2,500 it moves along better than normally aspirated small utes. Additionally, it's quiet on the road and the ride felt smooth and well planted to me -- Not jittery like some in this class can feel.

It's been summed up well above. If you simply must get a Land Rover this could be a decent starting point, I suppose. I'm just not sure why Land Rover makes this and the Evoque.

2013 Land Rover LR2 HSE

Base Price: $37,250

As-Tested Price: $44,200



Curb Weight: 3,880 lb


AW Observed Fuel Economy: 17.5 mpg

Options: HSE package including HomeLink approach lamps, xenon headlights with auto leveling, memory driver's seat and side mirrors, LED signature lighting, rear camera, map front reading lamps ($2,500); hard disc drive satellite navigation including intuitive voice control and virtual CD player ($1,750); climate comfort pack including heated windshield, front seats, washer jets, and steering wheel ($1,000); special paint charge ($950); Sirius satellite radio including HD radio with three-month Sirius trial subscription ($750)

By Autoweek editors