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Introduction
Land Rover LR2 – 2008 Review: We’ve all heard the sayings before: “Things can only get better.” “We’re past the worst of it.” The point is always the same – sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to turn things around.
It may be harsh, but we considered the late Freelander to be an accurate representation of Land Rover’s darkest days, with the eventual turnaround coming in the form of the 2008 LR2. Replacing the miserable Freelander, the new little Rover enters the market with less exaggerated styling, an invigorated powertrain, and a comfortable interior. If only it lived up to the Land Rover off-road heritage.
What We Drove
Painted in Stornoway (a.k.a. charcoal) gray, our 2008 Land Rover LR2 tester arrived with a window sticker reading $40,050. Added onto the base price of $33,985 was a $715 destination charge, $700 for a cold climate package, $100 for California emissions, and two popular equipment packages. The Lighting Package, coming in at $1,050, tacked on bi-xenon headlights, approach lights, and a memory function for the mirrors and driver’s seat. Priced at $3,500, the Technology Package packed in a navigation system, a surround sound system with Sirius satellite radio, rear seat audio controls, and Bluetooth connectivity. We put about 700 miles on our temporary ride, covering much of southern California.
Performance
With 230 horses on tap, the 2008 Land Rover LR2 comes up a bit short compared to many of today’s crossovers and small SUVs, and when nailing the go pedal drivers will likely wish for a bit more power. However, the little Rover provides sufficient gusto for merging into speedy highway traffic, delivers well-modulated throttle response, and utilizes a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. Besides less than overwhelming power, the LR2’s powertrain makes for enjoying commuting, though engine refinement could be bumped up a notch or two at high revs, and the 17-mpg average fuel economy we recorded was hardly impressive.
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