2013 Land Rover LR2

Evoque's Older Brother Gets Some Love Brands like Jeep, Land Rover and General Motors' now-defunct Hummer all come from rich military backgrounds, with their forebearers having proven their ability to tackle just about any terrain, from desert to jungle. Each has faced the difficult challenge of evolving from battle-tested off-road vehicles to civilian-ready status symbols. For Land Rover, which is arguably to New York City and Miami what the Toyota Prius is to Los Angeles, this is especially true. Yet even so, the British automaker still relies on rugged capability to sell products ranging from Range Rovers with six-figure price tags right on down to the LR2 shown here. Positioned in a class full of vehicles with nicknames like "cute ute" and "soft roader," the 2013 LR2 – known as Freelander 2 in other markets – stands out even more for its respectable off-road abilities in spite of its car-based underpinnings, so Land Rover has focused its attention on refining its entry-level product as a midcycle refresh for 2013. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 still rides on the proven Ford/Volvo EUCD chassis also shared with the Range Rover Evoque, and rather than killing off the existing model when its sleeker, more street-minded relative arrived, Land Rover has done just the opposite, incorporating most of the technology developed for the Evoque into the 2013 LR2. So how successful has Land Rover been at improving the finer aspects of its gateway model without messing up the off-road ruggedness that defines its brand as a whole? We spent a cold, snowy day near Montreal testing the limits of this baby Land Rover to find out. Our biggest gripe about the LR2 overall might be the seating positions. Now aimed at more traditional buyers who shy away from the avante-garde Evoque, the 2013 LR2 carries an old-school, boxy design broadly similar to the iconic Range Rover. Much like the styling updates made to the LR2 in 2009, the differences incorporated into the 2013 model might only be noticeable to keen eyes. The most obvious elements are fresh headlights with unique new LED running lamps, and taillights with dual light pods that resemble figure-eights when illuminated. A must-have for any midcycle update for new models these days, the LR2 also gets a restyled front fascia and fresh wheel options. Considering this design is going on seven years old, we think Land Rover has done a fine job of preventing the LR2 from looking boring or dated. As much as the boxy exterior can get away with mimicking the classic lines of Range Rovers of yore, the interior is by far the LR2's biggest downfall. We realize Land Rover might be going for a simple yet chic look inside the LR2, but the instrument panel is deeply dated – this even factors in despite all of the changes, including an updated center stack, gauge cluster and center console. Our biggest gripe about the LR2 overall might be the seating position for the front and rear seating. …
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