Mother Proof's view

The 2010 Land Rover LR4 has some characteristics that are definitely not from around here. While many full-size American-made SUVs tend to be wide, the LR4 feels tall, not unlike a lovely London row house. It’s stately and civilized like a well-dressed London businessman, but it also has the functionality and flexibility of said businessman in a pair of wellies.

The 2010 LR4, which is replacing the 2009 LR3, has a powerful engine, flexible seating, and fabulous materials and finish, but some of the creature comforts you might be expecting are absent in this luxury SUV. A power tailgate and easy-to-stow seating noticeably absent, but this is a Land Rover and it’s got to be hardcore somewhere. Its off-roading capabilities help make the LR4 even more hardcore (wellies), while its grocery-getting and carpooling abilities are accomplished in a well-heeled manner (businessman).

This seven-seater is actually fun to drive, and its turning radius is fantastically small. As I mentioned before, it’s very tall at 74.1 inches, and yes, it actually is pretty wide, too. It took a while to get the hang of parking it, but we meshed.

I enjoyed its V-8 engine that offers 375 horsepower and tons of oomph when you put the pedal to the metal. However, the result of such behavior puts the LR4 in the fuel-economy basement with an EPA-estimated 12/17 mpg city/highway.

The LR4 has a Terrain Response system that changes the SUV’s characteristics to accommodate your driving conditions. Have no fear because this SUV can handle pavement, mud, sand and even rock climbing.

Exterior

The 2010 LR4 looks pretty much the same as the 2009 LR3. This isn’t a bad thing; you’ll never confuse the 2010 LR4 for anything other than a Land Rover, and most Land Rover lovers would never want it any other way. Part of owning a Land Rover is that it’s a standout among other SUVs in the style department. Like a tailored suit that a London businessman would wear.

There’s a new grille on the LR4, which has a honeycomb grate as opposed to the horizontal slats from the LR3. I liked this look much more than the plain slats.

My test car came with a backup camera, which was helpful, but the HSE Lux Plus Package ($11,115) offers a Surround Camera System. This system includes five cameras, one in the rear, two under the front bumper and one under each side mirror and offers a nearly 360-degree view around the SUV. It’s supposed to assist in low-speed maneuvering, but I’d use it to help me get out of my messy garage. Like wellies, I tell you.

The LR4 doesn’t come with a power liftgate and it’s not available either. I don’t know how it would work with the LR4’s split liftgate anyway, and I really wouldn’t want to sacrifice the tailgate on the LR4. It’s fun!

Here’s a problem, though: My kids are 5 and 7 (almost 6 and 8 they’d want you to know) and they had real problems with the LR4’s doors. The handles are placed so high that my kids couldn’t reach them easily. Once inside, they struggled to close the doors. Granted, it was nice to have doors that opened so wide, but mostly it was a challenge for the kids.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Excellent (for older kids)

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Groove-On

Interior

My favorite update on the LR4 has to be the center stack. Gone is the crazy, button-laden freak out from the days of old. A new clean, concise set of knobs and buttons replaces the system that used to tease, “Touch! No, don’t touch! No, touch, but first get a computing degree!” Thank you for fixing this, Land Rover.

And thank you, Land Rover, for making that cool asymmetrical rear window, which dips down so I have more visibility out the back. Unfortunately, the kids only rode in the third row, so I never really got used to it. With the third row up, it’s really hard to see out the back, so checking and double-checking all blind spots is imperative as well as backing out of parking spots extra slowly. Yes, there’s a backup camera, but it’s best to go slow and be safe.

I’d also like to thank the automaker for the beautiful interior touches. The center stack has gorgeous wood trim. There’s also a brushed metal-looking trim that looks like the real thing. Leather abounds, and at night, there’s ambient lighting, and I could even adjust its brightness. Lovely.

What’s still on my favorites’ list from 2009? The three sunroofs, comfortable seats, all-weather floormats, flat floor in the second row, massive cargo area, dual glove box and ample storage in the front, and the quality of materials. What’s new to my favorites’ list for 2010? The easy-to-use multimedia system and touch-screen, heated steering wheel and the location of the auxiliary and USB jacks just above the handy shelf in the center console that houses your devices. Neat and tidy!

What’s still on my LR4 wish list? Seats that are easy to fold. They don’t have to be power-folding seats, but it does need to be easier. I’m not tall enough to get the leverage needed to smoothly fold down the third row. The second row is easier to fold than the third row, but it still takes several steps.

I loved the 30-35-30 split second row, which is an available feature. Younger kids might find it difficult to buckle up by themselves. The seat belt receptors are nestled into the seat, which is just the thing that can frustrate kids who are new to buckling up.

I also liked the deep footwells in the third row that allow a grown-up to sit back there in relative comfort. Granted, if you’re carrying seven people no one’s bringing anything along because using the third row eliminates all cargo space – unless all you’re bringing along is three boxes of Kleenex.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore

Safety

While I liked the LR4’s off-roading capabilities, I was really impressed by its safety features. The 2010 LR4 comes standard with front- and side-impact airbags for the front row and side curtain airbags for the first and second row. Side curtain airbags for the third row are available, but I’m disappointed that they’re not part of the standard safety features.

The LR4 also has standard antilock brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control, hill descent control and a permanent four-wheel-drive traction control system.

There are two sets of Latch connectors in the second row, but none in the third row. The Latch connectors sit out in the open, surrounded by plastic housings. The tether anchors are in the center of the seatbacks, so they’re not too difficult to reach.

There’s plenty of room for a rear-facing child-safety seat in the second row. It’s also wide enough that it can easily hold three booster seats, but I wish they’d put a third set of Latch connectors in the center position. Then we’d be in business.

FAMILY LIFESTAGE

In Diapers: There’s lots of room for child-safety seats, but the cargo area shrinks to nothing when the third row is in use.

In School: Lots of legroom will keep kids happy.

Teens: Your teen should be so lucky as to drive this SUV. If they are, there’s lots of great safety features.