2014 Land Rover LR4

The Land Rover LR4 receives a mild makeover for 2014, getting a new eight-speed automatic, stop/start, revised front bumper, and new wheel designs. The big change is under the hood, where a supercharged 340 hp 3.0L V6 replaces the 5.0L naturally aspirated V8. The three-row LR4 is what was long ago called the Discovery and it's a very capable, very luxurious SUV. It's not as fancy as the Range Rover, but it's not as pricey either. It's more utilitarian, we called it "a boot, but it’s Kate Middleton’s boot" in our test drive. It competes with top trim Jeep Grand Cherokees, but is nicer inside, and alongside the BMW X5 and Mercedes ML, but it's more capable off-road than either of that pair.

The LR4 is available in base LR4, HSE, and HSE Lux trims, all sharing the V6 and eight-speed auto. All have air suspension with adjustable ride height, locking center differential, hill descent control, and hill ascent control. Four-wheel drive is standard across the range, and a low-range transfer case is optional on all models. LR4 has 19-inch wheels, power adjustable leather seats, rear-view camera, and an 11-speaker Meridian audio system. Rear climate control and satellite radio are optional. HSE adds power folding mirrors, three-way split-folding middle row seats, front parking aid, adaptive xenon headlights, and Navigation with 4x4 mode.

Top trim HSE Lux has body-colour wheel arch trim, bumpers, and door handles, premium leather and carpets, power adjustable steering column, and a 17-speaker Meridian stereo. Heated front and rear seats and steering wheel are also standard. The Land Rover LR4 is rated at 16.3 L/100 km city and 12.4 L/100 km highway.