You’ve got to love Land Rover. Before Toyota Land Cruisers became posh and the well-to-do set had discovered SUVs, Land Rover was contentedly pushing out its own brand of luxury four-wheel drives with plush interiors, impeccable off-road credentials and on-road refinement. Then suddenly SUVs became the must-haves and every other manufacturer jumped on the bandwagon with gay abandon trying to make a quick buck. Meanwhile Land Rover stayed pretty much the same, plodding along with the same quality and performance as ever, indifferent to all the hype. Now the SUV era seems to be winding down, and Land Rover is still doing what they do… making their own brand of timeless SUVs for the well-heeled set. This year’s LR3 (once named Discovery) has cut back the choices to one model with two optional trim levels, and have tweaked the styling a little in anticipation of a major upgrade in another year or two.
2009 Land Rover LR3 Performance
There is just one engine for the 2009 LR3 and that is the 4.4-liter V8 that generates 300hp and 315lb-ft of torque and is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine may not look powerful on paper, but for both on-road and off-road it excels with abundant power. The automatic transmission is not quite as much of a success, with ill-timed gear shifts particularly when downshifting and the resultant acceleration is by no means quick off the mark.
The 2009 LR3 may look good in the Wal-Mart parking lot and dropping the kids at hockey, but it is first and foremost an off-road vehicle, despite the fact that most will never even get a whiff of the great outdoors. It comes standard with all-wheel drive with a low-range gear for serious 4WD conditions, has an exceptionally solid platform, locking center and rear differentials, and adjustable Terrain Response settings for normal driving, sand, mud and other low-range conditions. The ride height is adjustable in four different settings and automatic load leveling is included to round off this off-roading package with genuine 4WD credentials.
On the road the mid-sized LR3 is a big and heavy vehicle, yet manages to handle with impressive responsiveness and a tight turning circle, making city maneuvering not quite car-like, but admirable. While the tires grip nicely, this very upright vehicle does have a tendency to lean significantly into corners because of the high center of gravity. Brakes are strong and fast with good stopping power.
The biggest strike against the LR3’s name is its extraordinarily poor fuel economy that ranges between 12/15mpg in city/ highway conditions. This has no doubt resulted in a serious decline in sales over the last year of crazy fuel prices, however with prices back to normal again, the die-hard Land Rover fans should return with force. Towing capacity is a mighty 7716lb, which competes favorably with everything else in the class.
2009 Land Rover LR3 Interior and Features
This year there are two optional trim levels, the HSE and HSE LUX, which have seen a few upgrades this year with a new style of 19-inch alloy wheels, painted bumpers and wheel arches which used to be black, and high-grade wood trim now standard. The interior is luxury in an understated kind of way, clearly designed for the outdoorsy upper class.
There is seating for five in the first and second rows, and there is an optional third row of seating to fit seven passengers. All of the seats are comfortable and well-cushioned, and even the third row provides enough leg and headroom for most to sit without their knees tucked up under their chin. Access is the real issue, as with most third rows, but left to the kids it is fine. Cargo space is plentiful without the third row at 44.5 cubic feet, but with those extra seats in place there is just enough room for the groceries and not much more.
Standard features on the HSE include premium Harman Kardon stereo system, leather seating, sunroof, Bluetooth, Sirius satellite radio, power adjustable front seats, front obstacle detection and navigation system. The HSE LUX package adds adaptive bi-xenon headlights, as well as a middle set that features a fold-down table and a refrigerated cooler built into the center console and upgraded leather upholstery.
2009 Land Rover LR3 Safety
The 2009 Land Rover LR3 is fully equipped with safety features that include Dynamic Stability Control, ABS brakes, Active Roll Mitigation, Emergency Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. These all work together to maintain optimum control of the vehicle in emergency situations. Hill Descent control works for off-roading to allow smooth and slow hill descents, and the optional Adaptive Headlights aim the beam in the direction that the wheels are turned for greatly enhanced visibility.
Safety features:
- Dynamic stability control, ABS, Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control, Brakeforce Distribution
- Hill Descent control
- Adaptive headlights
- Dual front, front side and side curtain airbags
Overall the 2009 Land Rover LR3 is an old-style heavy-based four-wheel drive vehicle that combines the best of serious all-wheel driving with luxury appointment and a well-mannered ride on-road. While not having the over-the-top luxury of Range Rover or the superior city handling skills of the Lexus RX or Acura MDX, the Land Rover LR3 is the real deal and is likely to still be around when many of the others have fallen by the wayside in favour of the new flavor-of-the-month.