New 2010 Land Rover LR2 Invoice And Features Review

Along with its comfortable ride and spacious cabin, the 2010 Land Rover LR2 stands out for its exemplary off-road abilities, which are especially impressive for a car-based SUV.

The LR2 is Land Rover's entry-level model for those on a tighter budget, but who also value the brand's status, luxury features and off-road athleticism. And true to Land Rover's heritage, the 2010 LR2 offers standard all-wheel-drive, 8.3 inches of ground clearance and lots of tough-terrain technology for weekend warriors.

Originally, the LR2 was a leader in its class. However, in recent years, rivals have entered worthy choices as well. Those shopping in this segment may also want to consider solid contenders such as the Acura RDX, the Audi Q5, the BMW X3 and the Volvo XC60.

Trims, Standard Features And Options:

The 2010 Land Rover LR2 is a small luxury crossover SUV offered in a single trim: HSE. Standard features on this well-equipped vehicle include full power accessories, perforated leather upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, power front seats, a dual-panel sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, 19-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, foglights, automatic xenon headlights, a rear spoiler, a trip computer and a 9-speaker Alpine audio system with a 6-disc CD/MP3 changer and an auxiliary audio jack.

There are also several optional packages available. The HSE Plus package includes Bluetooth, HD and satellite radio, adaptive headlights, heated exterior mirrors and driver memory functions. The HSE LUX package includes all of the above plus navigation and a 13-speaker surround-sound system with a rear seat headphone module.

There's also the Style pack, which includes a number of exterior enhancements, as well as the Climate Control package which features heated front seats, heated washer jets and a heated windshield. 18-inch wheels are also offered as a stand-alone option.

Engines, Powertrain And Gas Mileage:

Powering the 2010 Land Rover LR2 is a 3.2-liter inline-6 that's good for 230 horsepower and 234 pound-feet of torque. It's coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.

The EPA-estimated gas mileage for the 2010 LR2 stands at 15 mpg city and 22 mpg on the highway.

Safety:

Standard safety features on the Land Rover LR2 include stability control, traction control, antilock brakes (ABS) with brake assist, hill descent control, roll stability control, front-seat side airbags, a driver's knee airbag and full-length side curtain airbags.

Interior:

The LR2's cabin features an attractive design, high quality leather and rich wood trim. However, there are some competitor's interiors that now surpass the LR2 by offering some feature materials of a higher quality. The LR2's interior is satisfactory for a luxury SUV, but there are better.

The seating is comfortable and supportive. There's ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, however, the low rear bench seat may be uncomfortable for some passengers. Cargo space is adequate but a little below average for the segment, coming in at 27 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59 cubic feet when the seats are folded.

Drive:

The 2010 Land Rover LR2 shines brightest when off the pavement, clearly better than the competition. It's long suspension travel, good ground clearance and electronic gadgetry allow it to go where most luxury SUVs find too inhospitable.

City driving is fine but less exemplary. While the LR2 provides the usual Land Rover smooth and plush ride, its heavy weight (over 2 tons) hampers acceleration. And its overall handling on the pavement gets sacrificed to some extent due to its off-road design orientation.

Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower LR2 Prices:

Auto sales have been weak for months, evidence of a continuing poor economy and an especially weak car buying trend.

Land Rover dealers have recently made some progress in offsetting at least some of the market weakness through strong incentives and easier-to-get discounts. The bottom line? The current combination of a soft market along with intense dealer competition has created the perfect opportunity for nailing down some great deals.

Car dealers will "wheel and deal" bigtime right now if you know how to push their buttons.

How To Buy A New LR2 At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for the 2010 Land Rover LR2, here's the best way to get the lowest price, especially given the current slow car market.

Prices:

2010 Land Rover LR2:

HSE, AWD: list price: $35,500, invoice price: $32,305

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New 2010 Land Rover LR2 Features and Pricing