Used 2015 Land Rover LR4

Land Rover’s LR4 luxury SUV for 2015 is quite an impressive piece of design. From a luxury standpoint the LR4 offers all the nobility of the brand’s best features, from elegant leather and wood interiors to sophisticated infotainment and safety features. Every bit the equal of the Mercedes-Benz GL450 and Infiniti QX60, the LR4 leaves them both at the road’s end (along with a number of the LR4’s competitors). Off-road ability is what made Land Rover famous, and its full-size luxury SUVs have not given up an inch of ability in the quest to move up-market. Then again, if off-road ability isn’t a priority, you can find more luxury, a quieter cabin and much better fuel economy in an Audi Q7 3.0 TDI.

Land Rover’s suspension engineers have done a masterful job infusing the 2015 LR4 luxury SUV with two traits not commonly associated with a tall center of gravity and a rugged body-on-frame design: a comfortable ride and stable handling. Don’t get us wrong, the LR4 is no corner-carver, but under normal driving conditions it does just fine. The LR4 is quite comfortable in around-town maneuvers, too. A tight 37.5-foot turning radius is as equally handy for navigating tight parking lots as it is snaking through twisting dirt trails. The LR4’s 3.0-liter V6 is more than up to the task, with 340 horsepower and a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Get the LR4 off paved roads and its true abilities shine, able to tackle almost any terrain from snow to rocks to loose sand or deep mud, all by merely twisting a dial.

The 2015 Land Rover LR4 SUV’s cabin is as upscale and modern as one might expect, made even more opulent with the HSE LUX trim’s available dual-tone Windsor leather seating. Quality materials abound, and the intuitive and clearly labeled buttons and dials have a visual and tactile heft. An optional third row extends seating from five up to seven, but that optional rearmost seat is best left to kids. Otherwise it’s roomy: There’s good 2nd-row legroom, with more than 40 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row.

Land Rover’s luxury LR4 SUV for 2015 reminds us of the box a sleeker SUV was shipped in. But that’s okay, as the squared-off shape is indicative of its utilitarian, go-anywhere mission. Land Rover has softened the look with a slightly rounded-off front end and bumper, along with new wheels and paint colors. The effect is one of upscale utility, which sounds like an oxymoron until you look at an LR4. It’s easy to see out of thanks to all the windows, and the 2-piece asymmetrical tailgate is both distinctive and useful. The panoramic glass roof? That’s just pure luxury.

4-CORNER AIR SUSPENSION
One of the 2015 Land Rover LR4 SUV’s best features is its adjustable air suspension. With just a push of a button the LR4 can raise itself to clear treacherous obstacles, or lower itself to allow easy entry for passengers and cargo.

HILL DESCENT CONTROL
Both novice drivers and pros alike will appreciate the LR4’s Hill Descent Control. As a supplement to the Terrain Response system, Hill Descent Control automatically holds the LR4 to a slow-and-steady speed so you don’t ever have to touch the brake pedal.

The 2015 Land Rover LR4 comes in Base, HSE and HSE LUX trims. Base models come standard with seating for five and are comprehensively equipped, including the air suspension, start/stop technology, the single-speed transfer gear, a Meridian sound system, and front and rear parking sensors. The HSE and HSE LUX trims come standard with seven seats. The HSE also adds front park-distance control, xenon headlights and a navigation system. The full-boat HSE LUX adds surround sound to the Meridian system, the Windsor Leather package and unique wheels.

A nifty 5-camera system is available that relays a surround view of your LR4, letting you see where your eyes can’t. Other extras include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and adaptive cruise control with collision-mitigation braking. Those who plan to do serious off-roading should consider the Heavy Duty Package that includes a locking rear differential, low range for the transfer case and a full-size spare tire. Seven-passenger seating is optional on base models.

The 2015 LR4 luxury SUV is powered by a potent 3.0-liter supercharged V6. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, this setup provides strong acceleration but somewhat punishing fuel economy. The V6 also features start/stop technology that shuts off the engine at an extended stoplight. A heavy dual-range, off-road-ready transfer case is optional, rather than standard. Towing capacity for the V6 is 7,716 pounds.

3.0-liter supercharged V6
340 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/19 mpg

Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.

We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.

Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.

Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)

We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.