Acceleration

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
6	6	6

V6 version not yet made available for testing. V8 delivers good, not great, scoot in this weighty SUV. Land Rover says 8 sec 0-60 mph, which is midpack for this class. LR3 has ready power in highway passing, but transmission slow to downshift on hills. Throttle response changes with transfer-case setting, is less sensitive in low range for better off-road control.

Fuel Economy

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
2	2	3.3

Test SE averaged 12.8-14.1 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Test HSE averaged 15.5 mpg in exclusively freeway travel. Land Rover recommends premium-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
6	6	5.3

Rear-seat passengers notice some hop on rough roads, but LR3 is comfortably absorbent over bumps big and small overall. Dips, wavy surfaces induce some residual bobbing.

Steering/Handling/Braking

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
4	4	5.4

Steering nicely weighted, tires grippy, but LR3 feels a bit top heavy on twisty roads and in fast lane changes. Tight turning circle means good parking lot maneuverability. Brakes easy to modulate and have impressive stopping power. Over hills, mud, and rocks, the LR3 is a billy goat, and Terrain Response System takes guesswork out of most off-road driving.

Quietness

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
7	7	6.2

Some highway-speed wind noise is the only demerit of note.

Controls

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
6	5	6.3

Small print makes gauges difficult to read at a glance. Controls a somewhat confusing jumble of switches, knobs, buttons. Radio, navigation, climate systems hard to decipher. Off-road settings trigger graphic display of front-wheel angle--a useful feature. Interior materials of high quality, but lack of wood, fancy trim leans to upscale outdoorsy rather than uptown opulent.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
7	7	7.6

Commanding driving position. Comfortable, upright seats. Ample head, leg room. Excellent visibility aided by rear obstacle detection on HSE. Step-in SUV-acceptable when vehicle set to lowest suspension setting; difficult at highest setting.

Room/Comfort (rear)

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
7	7	6.3

Second, 3rd-row seats unusually comfortable, with ample head, leg room. Three adults fit in 2nd row, but we wouldn't recommend it on long drives. Climbing to 3rd row complicated by tall step-in, narrow pass-through.

Cargo Room

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
8	8	7.5

Tall cargo hold has ample volume with five seats, reasonably good load space with seven. Both rear rows fold flat to create spacious load floor, but are awkward to fold/unfold. Clamshell-style tailgate open to debate: some testers say it complicates loading/unloading, others praise its versatility. Numerous useful bins, cubbies in cabin, but glovebox difficult to open if passenger seat occupied.

Value within Class

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
4	3	5.9

In a class trending toward ever-more-carlike SUVs, the tall, off-road-oriented LR3 aims to satisfy the traditional tastes of the landed gentry. In reality, it's used exactly the way its more-carlike competition is, and in that capacity, delivers good passenger and cargo room and unexpected comfort. Ultimately, it's compromised by old-school-SUV handling and ergonomics. Fuel economy is subpar, too, and so is Land Rover resale value.

Total Score

SE	HSE w/Rear Seat Pkg.	Class Average
57	55	59.8

Scores for all Premium Midsize Sport-utility Vehicles

Low Score		36
Average Score		59
High Score		70