When you go to the Land Rover webpage you come across a slogan for the company: “Why get a car when you can own a Land Rover?” It’s an alluring slogan and depending on the consumer’s needs and desires – it could really hit its target. 

Land Rover has always been about off-roading, but over the past decade they’ve been successful in attracting a wealthy urban population that love the luxury and sophistication that comes with owning one. All Land Rover and upper-tier Range Rover models still come equipped with their four modes ready to tackle any terrain through water, sand, mountain or valley. Unfortunately, many of their new clientele never attempt to see what these off-roading boxes can do, but does it matter to them? Not at all – they’re driving a Landy and really that’s all that matters. 

For this review we look at the 2013 Land Rover LR2. The LR2 made its first appearance on the market in 1997 labelled the Freelander, which it still is called today in Europe. It’s still in its second-generation that began in 2006, but Land Rover felt it was in need of a refresh. 

In late 2011, Land Rover launched the Range Rover Evoque that adopted a modern and sleek style coupled with a cheaper price tag that could bring in more consumers at that entry-level. The question was going to be what would become of the LR2 – Land Rover’s entry-level vehicle?

The LR2 was given the Evoque’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from Ford that cranks 240 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque. The decision to go with the 2.0-litre engine was easy as it gained 10 more horsepower and 16 more lb.-ft. of torque from the outgoing 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine. The LR2 is fitted with a six-speed automatic transmission and comes in all-wheel drive allowing for driving flexibility depending on the terrain. 

I decided to test the refreshed LR2 HSE out similar to the typical Land Rover driver. It went through the streets of Toronto and on some minor excursions to Oakville and Burlington – as I wanted it to feel at home. I chose to start in the optional Sport Mode and the LR2 really showed some pep in its step as it jetted off quickly utilizing its turbo engine. After an initial boost you settle into a quiet and smooth comfortable ride with only a little body roll which is expected.

The LR2’s steering was impressive. Just grab on to its thick black steering wheel and the LR2 will precisely place you in the direction you wish. The steering feel and weight seemed perfect which allowed for total handling control around tight corners without any oversteer or understeer. 

The LR2 and the Range Rover Evoque might share the same engine and chassis (the EUCD chassis produced by Volvo and Ford), but they absolutely differ in appearance. As the Evoque has a sleek and curvaceous look, the LR2 stays traditional with its tall, boxy and rugged appearance. While sitting in the LR2, the elevation of your seat allows for great visibility, but still the comforting driving feel of a typical SUV. A two-piece panoramic moonroof invites in some sunlight and satisfyingly boosts the driving experience. 

A lot of the more noticeable refreshed tweaks can be found in the exterior. Similar to most luxury manufacturers, Land Rover has added LEDs to their headlights and taillights. The headlights have been improved with the latest Xenon headlamps and LED technology; while the taillights are very striking as dual lights take the very cool shape of the number eight. These enhancements work well with the famous grille that’s always the showpiece for Land Rover and Range Rover models.

More improvements can be seen in the interior starting with a modernized push start/stop button, an electronic parking brake and a Meridian Sound System that features a 380-watt amplifier with 11 loudspeakers. One of the nicer additions is a standard 7-inch colour touchscreen for all of your radio, phone, and navigational needs (navigation is optional). It also doubles as a rear-view camera, which can be found in most luxury vehicles nowadays – another option, but I had it in this HSE model. An interesting addition to the backup camera called “Hitch Assist” might confuse you off the bat. As the LR2 reverses you see an imaginary hitch in the middle of the vehicle that assists in the process of guiding the vehicle to the trailer tow hitch. If you’re interested in towing, the LR2 can tow up to 3,500 pounds – no change from the outgoing model.

Even with all the updates made to the interior – the LR2 still had the feel of an entry-level vehicle. I understand that the feeling is accurate, but it shouldn’t convey that. The simple knobs and buttons below the touchscreen made it easy to manage, but simultaneously provided a non-luxury feel. All-in-all the interior lacked interesting technology for the non-towing Land Rover drivers that could be found in its BMW and Audi competitors.

The LR2’s biggest change is clearly in the new engine, but another attention grabber is the new price. You can now purchase a LR2 for the paltry starting price of $41,885 compared to the $46,220 price tag in 2012. The HSE version with its bells and whistles comes in at $48.885. If you always wanted a Land Rover, but couldn’t justify the price – now might be the time to jump on board.

The LR2’s fuel economy is rated at 12.0 L/100 km in the city and 8.4 L/100 km on the highway compared to 14.1 L/100 km and 9.1 L/100 km respective ratings from the previous year’s model. Now these numbers you always have to take with a grain of salt as they’re tested under controlled conditions in a laboratory simulating the driving environment. I was able to achieve a combined 15.0L/100 km mostly through city driving. Perhaps if I drove the 2012 model it would have been closer to 17.0? Who knows?

The combination of a better price and better fuel economy for a refreshed model is always a good start for any new vehicle buyer. Land Rover has addressed many shortcomings in the LR2 and enhanced its look inside and out. The question is whether that’s enough for buyers to choose it over the Mercedes-Benz GLK, the BMW X3, the Volvo XC60, or the Audi Q5? Yes the LR2 has off-road capabilities and if you’re into that – the LR2 is the best in its class. Between the towing capability, terrain choices and 8.3 inches of ground clearance you would get the full Range Rover experience in the LR2 for a much cheaper price.

However, if you’re choosing based on style and fuel economy – it might be hard to push the LR2. With plenty of emphasis on fuel economy nowadays almost all of the LR2’s competitors except the Volvo XC60 rate better in fuel economy. Furthermore, all of them have seven or eight-speed transmissions, as well as possessing more power with the exception of the Q5. What it comes down to, which it usually does is personal preference. Find out what characteristics you like best and if elevation, prestige and off-road capabilities are important to you than that would be enough to sway some to the Land Rover side.