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2005 Land Rover LR3 Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Car Review of the 2005 Land Rover LR3 Mid Size SUV
Base MSRP Range: $38,285 - $49,330
Base Invoice Range: $34,839 - $44,890
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MSRP As Tested: Not Available
Versions: SE, HSE
Vehicle Category: Mid-Size Luxury SUV
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Four-Wheel Drive .
Engine as Tested: 4.4-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 32-valves, V-8, 300-horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 315 lb-ft torque at 4,000 rpm.
Transmission As Tested: Six-speed electronically controlled, intelligent automatic with CommandShift manual control.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 14/18.
Standard Safety Features: Driver and passenger airbags, Side Curtain Airbags , Seat mounted side airbags, Dynamic Stability Control , Antilock Brake System, electronic brake force distribution, Tire pressure monitor, Electronic Brake Force Distribution.
Competition: Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes-Benz M Class, BMW X-5, Jeep Grand Cherokee .
Review
The first motor vehicle, of any type, that two thirds of the world’s population will ever see, is a Land Rover. This is because Land Rovers have always been able to go anywhere: on road, off-road, or on unpaved track. This remains the case with the 2005 Land Rover LR3. Now not only can you go anywhere, at any time, you can go in a completely modern automotive design.
The 2005 Land Rover LR3 replaces the Discovery in the U.S, line up, and it is known as the Discovery 3 in the rest of the world. It is the ninth new vehicle introduced during the 56-year history of the company. And it is the first Land Rover product completely developed under Ford’s ownership.
LR3 comes in two trim levels, the entry level SE and the more upscale HSE. Both are equipped with a modified version of Jaguar’s 4.4 liter, 300-horsepower, V8 engine. A V6 is coming.
It is the first Land Rover to come with a forward facing third row seat. Land Rover felt this was critical for the LR3’s market, as SUVs are family-haulers, and no longer vehicles just for navigating regions of the world without paved roads.
Attempting a hill climb at 8:00 am on a cold morning, after a full night of rain, one truly appreciates the power of a capable off-road vehicle. The Land Rover LR3 is just such a machine, and though it never made it up the grade despite three valiant attempts, it nonetheless proved its off-road prowess.
Testing the 2005 LR3 on the Biltmore Estate near Ashville, North Carolina, gave us the opportunity to learn about the incredible technology now in Land Rovers. It also enabled us to see the backwoods of this glorious area, without concern for streams, ice, or mud bogs.
Exterior
The LR3 is a handsome and unconventional design. It replaces the Discovery name in Land Rover's U.S. line-up. While it doesn't look much like the Land Rovers of yesteryear, it is now a thoroughly modern design for techno-savvy drivers fluent in 21st Century styling.
LR3 is substantially a rectangular form. It has straight lines everywhere. However these lines are not sharp, so much as smooth. The gaps between body panels are tight fitting, giving the vehicle a cohesive, minimalist style. It is a great execution of simplicity.
The grille is split by a single thick bar, and framed by the headlights. On the side there is a cut line running from the top of the headlights, under the hood straight back to the front doors. It resumes behind the rear doors tying the front lights to the rear of the car. The roof line steps up to accommodate stadium seating. The vehicle has a unique silhouette that barely hints at the technology inside.
The rear end retains the window shape of the Discovery. But now it contains a split rear tailgate making possible to put stuff in the cargo area by opening just the window.
