Introduction
Slotted between the smaller LR2 and the more cosmopolitan Range Rover, the Land Rover LR4 blends off-roading SUV versatility with luxury-grade refinement. Aside from a few color and trim updates, the LR4 is unchanged for 2013.
Exterior Features
The 2013 Land Rover LR4 is distinctively styled with a tiered roofline and tall rear windows, as well as a horizontally split tailgate. In its base form, the SUV also features heated power-adjustable outside mirrors, LED taillights, 19-inch alloy wheels, front and rear fog lights, and rain-sensing wipers. In addition, the LR4 includes automatic headlights with washers, rear glass roof panel, and a front power tilt/slide moonroof.
LED headlight accents are all that differentiate the mid-level HSE from the base model, but the top-of-the-line 2013 LR4 HSE Lux is distinguished by HID headlights and power-folding mirrors.
Interior Features
Looking inside, buyers of the base LR4 will find standard push-button start, power front seats with 8-way adjustment, leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with integrated audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity, 65/35 split-folding rear seat, and a 380-watt 11-speaker sound system. The LR4 HSE adds a rearview camera, rear climate controls, two third-row fold-flat seats, proximity keyless entry, and a navigation system that includes off-road routing.
Land Rover offers a broader variety of creature comforts in the LR4 HSE Lux. Among the standard amenities are an 825-watt 17-speaker audio system, 7-inch touch-screen display, center console cooler, heated power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, heated front and second-row seats, memory settings for the driver, and a 10-disc virtual CD changer.
Optional Features
A new Black Design package is one of the LR4's few changes for 2013, and dresses the exterior with black 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels and black trim. Land Rover also offers a Heavy Duty package consisting of an active locking rear differential and full-size spare tire, and a Climate Comfort package that upgrades base and HSE models with the heated steering wheel and heated seats.
For those who want extra passenger capacity without moving up to the pricier HSE or HSE Lux variants, a 7 Seat Comfort package fits the base LR4 with the third-row folding seats, as well as rear climate control. Not available on the entry-level trim level is a Vision Assist package that includes HID headlights with automatic high beams and a surround-view camera system.
Finally, an available rear-seat entertainment system equips the HSE Lux with wireless headphones and dual 8-inch screens mounted on the back of the front head restraints.
Under the Hood
Land Rover has equipped the 2013 LR4 with a direct-injection, 5.0-liter V-8 engine that delivers 375 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque via a permanent 4WD system. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard and features normal, sport, and manual modes.
The LR4 has a maximum towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 2013 Land Rover LR4 are 12/17/14 mpg (city/highway/combined).
Like all models in the brand's lineup, the LR4 is built to travel off-road with assistance from a variety of technologies. In the LR4's case, these include an electronic load-leveling air suspension with off-road and extended height settings, and Land Rover's Terrain Response system offering grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, sand, and rock crawl modes. A 2-speed transfer case with a locking center differential is also standard.
Safety
The 2013 Land Rover LR4's standard safety features include 6 air bags, hill-start assist, trailer sway control, cornering brake control, traction control, hill-hold control, front and rear park-assist sensors, and 4-wheel anti-lock ventilated disc brakes featuring electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.
As this preview is written, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has rated the crashworthiness of the 2013 Land Rover LR4.
Technology
The LR4 HSE Lux's virtual CD changer allows users to load up to 10 CDs worth of music to the navigation system's hard drive.
