2011 Land Rover LR4 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Land Rover LR4 overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 LR4, and includes Land Rover LR4 safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The 2011 Land Rover LR4 is a large and luxurious sport-utility vehicle that has earned a reputation for its go-anywhere, do-anything capability. This is a legitimate off-roading machine, one that happens to be available with the latest technology and can coddle up to seven passengers.

Since it debuted just last year, the 2011 Land Rover LR4 hits dealers’ lots with relatively minor updates. Among them are changes to HSE and HSE LUX packages, the addition of a new Vision Assist option, standard Bluetooth connectivity for every LR4, and a revised Terrain Response system.

Land Rover offers its capable 2011 LR4 model in one base trim that’s equipped with leather upholstery, power seats for the driver and front passenger, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a dual-zone climate control system. Also included are a 240-watt premium audio unit, a power tilt-and-slide moonroof, fixed rear glass roof panels, a universal garage door opener, 19-inch alloy wheels, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Buyers who want to venture into the land of options will find two major packages: HSE and HSE LUX. The former is comprised of a third-row seat that increases passenger capacity to seven, a touch-screen navigation unit, iPod integration, HD radio, a rearview camera, front parking sensors, and unique alloy wheels. Move up to the HSE LUX and you’ll be treated to upscale items like upgraded leather upholstery, heated seats, HID headlights, a 480-watt Harman/Kardon surround sound system, memory settings for the driver, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, and a center console that doubles as a cooler.

In addition to the HSE packages, the 2011 LR4 is available with 20-inch alloy wheels, a limited-slip rear differential, and a new Vision Assist package. Here, Land Rover has bundled together adaptive HID headlights, a surround camera system, a tow package, and power-folding mirrors. This year’s model can also be fitted with one of two Metropolis Limited Edition packages that decorate the vehicle with light or dark paint and trim, unique 20-inch alloy wheels, contrast stitching in the cabin, and more.

Despite being on the market for well over a year, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published crash-test results for the LR4 as this review is being written. However, we can enlighten you about the safety-related features built into every 2011 Land Rover LR4. That list includes six airbags (eight for seven-passenger models), all-terrain antilock brakes and electronic stability control systems, hill descent control, and a host of other technologies including electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and cornering brake control.

Big SUVs are not typically known for performance, but the 2011 Land Rover LR4 is not your typical SUV. Thanks to its 5.0-liter V8, and the 375 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque it generates, drivers can go from 0-60 mph in less than eight seconds. That’s not the kind of swiftness that will humiliate a Ferrari owner, though it’s definitely quick for a vehicle that tips the scales at upwards of three tons. Unfortunately, that combination of muscle and heft contributes to EPA estimates of 12 mpg around town and 17 mpg on the highway. Clearly, the LR4 will not win any type of Vehicle of the Year Award from the Sierra Club or Greenpeace.

Mated to the potent V8 is a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift feature and a sport mode. Power is distributed through a full-time four-wheel-drive system, while an advanced air suspension allows the driver to adjust the LR4’s height for different on- or off-road conditions.

Despite being on the market for well over a year, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published crash-test results for the LR4 as this review is being written. However, we can enlighten you about the safety-related features built into every 2011 Land Rover LR4. That list includes six airbags (eight for seven-passenger models), all-terrain antilock brakes and electronic stability control systems, hill descent control, and a host of other technologies including electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and cornering brake control.

Reliability information is a bit easier to find. Consumer Reports hasn’t released any data (yet), but J.D. Power and Associates predicts slightly below average dependability from the new LR4. While that isn’t exactly high praise, it is an improvement compared to last year’s rating. If and when problems do arise, Land Rover backs its go-anywhere SUV with basic and powertrain warranties spanning four years or 50,000 miles. The company also covers the expense of the first scheduled maintenance visit, which comes at 15,000 miles.

For this evaluation, which took place in Maine, Land Rover supplied us with a 2011 LR4 HSE equipped with the Vision Assist package. The sticker price came to about $54,000.

That’s a hefty chunk of change, and more than the typical New Englander pays for a vehicle that is expected to get its owner to work regardless of how much snow is on the ground, to the ski slopes despite icy road conditions, and, in some instances, deep enough into the woods to haul out a 10-point buck. Since we tested the LR4 in the midst of one of the hottest summers on record, none of those scenarios applied, so we did the next best thing: drove it, like most buyers will, as a daily commuter, and searched for the gnarliest local trails we could find.

From a behind-the-wheel perspective, the LR4 proved to be immensely impressive. Our five-foot-eight-inch-tall writer had to scoot up into the vehicle, even when the suspension was lowered for street duty, yet once inside that bit of hassle was overwhelmed by the cabin’s rich feel, soft surfaces and vault-like aura. There’s no published data that shows this Land Rover to be a crash-test superstar, but there is a definite sense of safety and security that comes with the elevated driving position, the solid and substantial feel of the doors, and a long, flat hood that suggests you’re sufficiently isolated from harmful front-end impacts.

While the LR4’s safety remains in question, there are no doubts about the SUV’s comfort. Up front are spacious and supportive buckets with multiple power adjustments and separate center armrests for the driver and passenger. Those soft-touch surfaces abound, making their way to the door panels, dashboard, and instrument panel. Adding to the upscale experience is soft leather on the seats, steering wheel and shift knob. Second-row passengers are pampered just as much, surrounded by quality materials and afforded plenty of overall room. Folks relegated to the available third row, on the other hand, will find one of the most overdesigned fold-away seats on the market. A multi-step process is required to raise or lower the two-person split bench, and accommodations are tight.

Thankfully, the primary controls are relatively simple and intuitive, which should make drivers very happy. Our LR4’s touch-screen navigation system was easy to master, and the iPod interface served us well as an iPhone charger. Also earning praise are clearly labeled climate controls with basic buttons and dials, and secondary controls (Terrain Response, hill descent control, adjustable air suspension) with markings that can be quickly deciphered.

With the exception of the optional third-row seat, the 2011 Land Rover LR4’s is largely without fault. The same can be said of its powertrain. Introduced with last year’s model, the 5.0-liter V8’s generous power provides for authoritative acceleration, with an aggressive yet refined bark from the exhaust. Shifts from the six-speed automatic transmission are smooth in regular mode, but we preferred the quicker throttle response offered up by the sport mode. If you’re sensing we had fun exploiting the LR4’s mechanical muscle, you’d be correct. As a result, we averaged about 14 mpg. Filling the tank with premium almost brought tears to our eyes.

Of course, thoughts of horrible fuel economy and that torturous third-row seat disappeared once we hit the trails. The muddy, rocky, ruddy, overgrown trails. In most cases, the LR4 overcame obstacles without any necessary adjustments to the air suspension or Terrain Response system. When mud was exceptionally deep, a switch to the mud and ruts mode provided an extra bit of assurance. Traveling up a narrow, boulder-strewn path presented no problems, especially with low range engaged for more technical maneuvers. After all was said and done, our 2011 LR4 had tackled everything in its path, and aside from some mud and scratched skid plates, was no worse for wear.

There are four-wheel-drive SUVs, and there are Land Rovers. The difference lies in the genuine luxury treatment coupled with outstanding off-road capability. Others may be strong in one of the two areas, but you’ll be hard pressed to find an alternative that delivers it all so well. Granted, the fuel economy will give your credit card a heart attack and the third-row seat is frustrating, but the real issues lay in the lack of crash-test scores and the unimpressive reliability predictions. As much as we like the 2011 Land Rover LR4, we can’t confidently recommend it without first seeing positive data from the NHTSA and the IIHS, and then seeing that long-term dependability is improving.

By Thom Blackett