2014 Land Rover LR2: City Mouse, Country Mouse

Tradition can sometimes be a tough box to fight your way out of.  In the case of the 2014 Land Rover LR2, it took some ingenuity on the British brand's part to build an entry-level compact SUV that was comfortable to drive during the daily commute but still capable of the gut-busting, kidney-rattling off-roading that has become such an intrinsic aspect of the Land Rover identity.  Unlike luxury soft-roaders from BMW (the X3) and Audi (the Q5), the LR2 pulls it off, combining stream-fording and rock-climbing prowess with a respectable level of quotidian practicality.  There are definitely some old-fashioned aspects to the Land Rover's execution, but overall the LR2 has managed to stay relevant for so long by refusing to dilute its core identity, a strategy that highlights more strengths than weaknesses for the compact 'ute.

One Box To Rule Them All

One of the 2014 Land Rover LR2's most obvious anachronisms is its shape, a traditional box-like design that makes heavy use of right angles to convey strength and utility despite its modest size.  The styling works for those seeking a conservative-looking ride, with Land Rover offering up the flashier, yet platform-sharing Range Rover Evoque for anyone who wants something a little more risqué.  One upside of the LR2's tall roof is decent interior space: rear passengers have nothing to complain about, and with the back seats folded forward there's just under 1700 litres of useful hauling room inside the vehicle.

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There's no escaping the fact, however, that the Land Rover LR2 is one of the longest-running models in the SUV-builder's line-up, which means that its switchgear and feature set are simpler than those of newer, and pricier options like the Range Rover Sport.  Most of the gear that you can find in competitive rigs is also on offer inside the LR2, including a decent navigation/infotainment system and of course niceties such as heated leather seats, but there's a notable absence of active safety equipment.  With no blind spot monitoring system or lane departure warning system on the options sheet, some shoppers are going to look to European or Japanese premium competitors to get their fill of these advanced technologies.

Don't Say EcoBoost

The 2014 Land Rover LR2 is motivated by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine borrowed from former corporate partner Ford's parts bin, which means LR2 buyers get to enjoy EcoBoost-like performance paired with relatively healthy fuel consumption.  The 2.0-liter mill is good for 240 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque and is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission.  While the Land Rover's acceleration isn't exactly thunderous it's well within keeping for a luxury SUV at its price point, with only a slight hesitation off of the line clouding the horizon when the pedal is mashed to the floor.

Where the LR2 shines is in providing riders with a mobile comfort zone that cruises over rough roads and down highway vistas with similar smoothness.  More planted than athletic, the compact Land Rover's handling is confident despite its tall ride height and substantial ground clearance, making it a solid choice for urban warriors on the go.  Of course, as I alluded to in the introduction there's an extra dimension to the LR2's driving personality that simply isn't represented by any of its peers: its unstoppable off-road attitude.  Featuring a standard four-wheel drive system that's paired with Land Rover's excellent Terrain Response system that reconfigures throttle, transmission, and electronic traction management systems to deal with various surfaces at the touch of a console-mounted button, there are very few obstacles Mother Nature can place in the path of the LR2 that could halt its forward progress.  After having climbed rock piles and submerged this little SUV in mud and water that would have paralyzed 90 percent of crossovers on the market, it's clear that Land Rover pays more than just lip-service to the concept of a go-anywhere hauler.

Town And Country

It's a bit of a cliché to describe a Land Rover as being fit for both 'town and country,' but it's precisely that extra-urban demographic that the 2014 Land Rover LR2 is seeking out.  While it's true that only a small percentage of LR2 owners will ever explore the full limits of its all-terrain competency, the fact that it's there lurking under the SUV's civilized skin is a strong selling point for buyers bouncing down a poorly-kept country lane on their way to the cottage for the weekend.  Once you're back on terra firma Monday morning, you can simply take a hose, rinse off the ruggedness, and park it in your mid-level executive slot at Megacorp without anyone being the wiser.  Versatility with the veneer of respectability wrapped in tradition is what you're getting with this compact SUV, and very few of its competitors can make a similar claim.