The 2013 Land Rover LR2 stands tall as the entry-level SUV for the upscale truck builder. The Land Rover LR2 might not offer the same amount of performance or style as models like the Range Rover or Evoque, but it does provide families with comfort, class, and prestige that is concomitant with the Land Rover brand. It's also a way for buyers to step outside of the traditional German luxury suv landscape and drive something a bit different than what their friends and colleagues are taking to work in the mornings.
Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2013 Land Rover LR2.
The 2013 Land Rover LR2 maintains the same box-like shape that has long defined the compact sport-utility vehicle, but fans of the British brand will notice that a number of small changes have been made to its looks. The headlights have been given the once-over, with new details helping the HID units pop, and LED tail lights are a nice modern touch. More chrome up front is also in order, adding further intricacies to the Land Rover LR2's front fascia, and the vehicle is also available in three new paint colors. Fresh 18-inch wheels round out the changes made to the LR2's exterior package.
02. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 Provides Small SUV Practicality
The 2013 Land Rover LR2 features seating for up to five passengers, and this is done across two rows of accommodations that make the most of the vehicle's interior volume. From a cargo-carrying perspective, the Land Rover LR2 does a good job even with the back seatback in place, as it offers 26.7 cubic feet of space between the hatch and the rear passengers. Folding that seatback forward opens up a total of 58.9 cubic feet of room to haul oversized items, bags of hockey gear, or even bicycles, helmets, and coolers.
03. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 Features A Brand New Engine
The biggest change made to the 2013 Land Rover LR2 is the elimination of its older six-cylinder engine in favor of a new turbocharged unit. Gone is the 3.2-liter six and in its place is a new 2.0-liter, four-cylinder whose turbo gives it 240 horses and 250 lb-ft of twist. This is 10 horsepower more than the larger mill was able to offer, and it comes paired to a six-speed automatic transmission that offers manual control over gear changes, a useful feature for those who tow or who take the Land Rover LR2 off-road.
04. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 Improves Its Fuel Economy
The 2013 Land Rover LR2 was previously known as one of the less impressive performers on the market when it came to fuel consumption. The previous engine offered by the Land Rover LR2 was rated at 15-mpg in stop and go driving and 22-mpg on the highway, which are figures more often associated with much larger trucks. Although official figures have yet to be released, there is no doubt that the new turbocharged four-cylinder engine sported by the crossover will improve on these ratings. For proof, one has to look no farther than the Land Rover Evoque, another small SUV that shares its drivetrain with the LR2. The Evoque provides 18-mpg in city driving and 28-mpg on the highway - figures that the updated Land Rover LR2 should have little trouble coming very close to.
05. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 Comes With Off-Road Capability
The 2013 Land Rover LR2 isn't just designed for suburban duty - it's also a capable off-road rig in keeping with Land Rover's tradition of building ultra-capable, all-conquering SUVs. The Land Rover LR2 provides 8.3-inches of ground clearance and comes standard with full-time four-wheel drive, which is connected to the automaker's advanced Terrain Response system. Terrain Response allows drivers to enter in the type of ground that the vehicle is covering in order to better manage traction control, engine response, the transmission and the all-wheel drive system for the conditions at hand. Settings include General Driving, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud & Ruts, and Sand.
06. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 Offers New Interior Features
The 2013 Land Rover LR2 gains a few new features lifted straight from the Evoque / Range Rover playbook. A fresh seven-inch touchscreen dominates the vehicle's center stack, and it works together with a voice command system. The larger display is joined by a five-inch LCD screen that offers the driver vehicle information including exterior temperature, the selected gear, and the amount of gasoline left in the tank. Instead of a dial for the Land Rover LR2's Terrain Response feature, the vehicle now offers a set of buttons that help clean up the dash, and a push button start that no longer requires drivers to stuff the key in a dock is also new for 2013.
07. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 Is Sold In Three Trim Levels
The base 2013 Land Rover LR2 offers features such as a pair of sunroofs, rain-sensitive windshield wipers, leather seats, dual automatic climate control, and a Meridian stereo system that is matched with 11 speakers and offers 380 watts of sound. Upgrading to the Land Rover LR2 HSE adds features such as HID headlights, while the HSE LUX installs an 825 watt Meridian surround sound system that offers a hard drive for storing digital music files as well as upgraded leather upholstery front and rear. Further details on what, exactly, will be offered with which trim level of the LR2 will be released as the vehicle gets closer to its 2013 on-sale date.
08. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 Can Be Had With Optional Goodies
Like most luxury SUVs, the 2013 Land Rover LR2 can be further customized via the selection of options packages and standalone features. So far, Land Rover has revealed that the 2013 Land Rover LR2 can benefit from a Cold Climate package, which provides heaters for the front seats, a heated steering wheel, a heater for the windshield as well as washer jets that blast heated fluid to keep it clean. The LR2 is also offered with a navigation system (sold independently of the voice-command and seven-inch touchscreen) which is capable of plotting the most eco-friendly route from point A to point B as well as offering real-time traffic alerts.
09. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 Is A Safe SUV
The 2013 Land Rover LR2 comes with the full complement of safety gear that most would expect from a premium SUV. The Land Rover LR2 offers forward airbags, side impact airbags mounted to the front seats, and side curtain airbags that deploy along both sides of the vehicle's interior. It also comes with a driver's knee airbag as well as thorax airbags for front and rear occupants. Electronic stability control is standard with the L2, as is traction control, and it also offers hill descent control and roll stability control features in order to help keep the SUV shiny side up at all times.
10. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 Is The Most Affordable Land Rover
The 2013 Land Rover LR2 slots in as the least expensive vehicle manufactured by the brand. The Land Rover LR2 starts at an MSRP of $37,250 and tops out at $42,350 for the HSE LUX model. This makes the vehicle somewhat cheaper than the Land Rover Evoque - its in-house competition - as well as a better deal than the BMW X3 and only slightly more expensive than the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class. Even though the LR2 and the Evoque are close in price and offer an identical drivetrain, from a styling standpoint they are miles apart, with the LR2 positioned to attract more traditional SUV customers compared to its avant-garde sibling.