2012 Land Rover LR4 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Land Rover LR4 review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 LR4, and includes Land Rover LR4 safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

Like all Land Rovers, the LR4 is a sport/utility vehicle capable of traveling far off the road. This model carries up to seven passengers in a midsize package, and has a single direct competitor in the form of the Toyota Land Cruiser. However, consumers might want to also consider the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, and Volkswagen Touareg.

Land Rover installs new audio, information and entertainment technology into the 2012 LR4, including a new seven-inch color touchscreen, revised voice-controlled navigation system, and traffic messaging. A new 380-watt, 14-speaker Harmon/Kardon sound system with DVD playback capability is standard for 2012, an 825-watt H/K audio system with 17 speakers is available, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system now features WhiteFire wireless control and larger individual screens. The LR4’s smart key fob is smaller than before to make it easier to tuck into a pocket or purse, the steering wheel stalks are revised for easier use and higher-quality look and feel, and Land Rover installs redesigned wheels while adding new paint color choices.

Land Rover sells three different versions of the 2012 Land Rover LR4: the LR4 V8, the LR4 HSE, and the LR4 HSE LUX. Standard equipment includes the amenities expected on a luxury SUV, such as leather, power everything and the basic roster of conveniences. Additionally, the LR4 V8 comes with dual-zone automatic climate control, a premium Harmon/Kardon premium sound system with dual USB ports, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, a power sunroof, heated power side mirrors, automatic headlight control, and rain-sensing wipers. The cabin can be trimmed in a choice between genuine wood and lacquer panels, and the LR4’s Alpine roof design include glass rear panels with sun blinds. The LR4 rides on an air suspension and 19-inch aluminum wheels, and includes front and rear Park Distance Control sensors.

The mid-level LR4 model carries the HSE designation. It comes with LED running lights and unique split-spoke design 19-inch alloy wheels, and includes seating for seven passengers. Power folding side mirrors, a reversing camera system, and a hard-drive navigation system with a Virtual CD Changer are also standard on the HSE.

At the top of the lineup is the LR4 HSE LUX. It swaps the standard leather out for premium hides, upgrades the audio system to an 825-watt Harmon/Kardon setup with 17 speakers, and installs heated front and second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, heated washer jets, and a heated windshield. Rear climate control and a center console cooler box are also included on the HSE LUX, along with LED cabin mood lighting, a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and premium leather wrapped around the steering wheel, the shifter knob, and the center console lid. Xenon high-intensity discharge headlights illuminate the path forward, and the HSE LUX rides on 10-spoke aluminum wheels.

Options are dependent on the trim level selected. All LR4’s can be equipped with satellite radio, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a Heavy Duty Package that prepares the LR4 for serious towing. A Climate Comfort Package is optional on the V8 and HSE models, and includes heated front and second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, a heated windshield, heated washer jets, and rear climate control. The HSE and HSE LUX can be equipped with the rear-seat entertainment system and with a Vision Assist Package that adds Xenon HID headlights (standard HSE LUX), and Adaptive Front Lighting System, Automatic High Beam Assist, and a Surround Camera System.

Hope you like the LR4’s direct-injected 5.0-liter V8 engine, six-speed CommandShift automatic transmission, and full-time four-wheel-drive system because this is the only powertrain available. The V8 makes 375 horsepower at 6,500 and 375 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm, and requires premium fuel. Gas mileage is terrible. The EPA says the LR4 will get 12 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway, or 14 mpg in combined driving.

The CommandShift transmission features Normal, Sport and Manual modes. Terrain Response is also included with the full-time 4WD, optimizing power delivery based on the following settings: General Driving, Grass/Grave/Snow, Sand, Mud/Ruts, Rock Crawl. Terrain Response also includes Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control technologies, and the LR4’s 4WD system has a two-speed transfer case and locking front and rear differentials.

There’s no shortage of safety features for the Land Rover LR4. In addition to a curb weight that approaches three tons, the LR4 is equipped with six airbags (including side curtains for all three rows of seats), traction and stability control with active roll mitigation technology, Trailer Stability Assist, and an all-terrain four-wheel ventilated-disc antilock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and cornering brake control. Front and rear Park Distance Control is also standard, while the HSE and HSE LUX are equipped with a reversing camera. A Vision Assist Package for the HSE and HSE LUX includes a Surround View Camera and an Adaptive Front Lighting System.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have not performed crash tests on the Land Rover LR4. Similarly, Consumer Reports is making no predictions about how reliable the LR4 might be. The only rating we can share is from the most recent round of reliability predictions made by J.D. Power and Associates, which indicates that the LR4’s long-term dependability is expected to be slightly below average.

When it comes to sport/utility vehicles, the 2012 Land Rover LR4 is the real deal. It is designed for serious off-roading, equipped with an engine that has a deep oil pan to ensure delivery of lubrication on the steepest grades and angles, and even waterproofing for specific underhood components.

With the LR4’s air suspension in normal mode, ground clearance measures 7.3 inches. Raise it in off-road mode, and ground clearance is 9.4 inches. Maximum front wheel travel measures 10 inches, while rear wheel travel is 13 inches. Maximum water fording depth is 27.6 inches.

The LR4’s 5.0-liter V8 is also rated to tow up to 7,716 pounds, can accelerate the heavy SUV to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds, can help the LR4 achieve a top speed of 121 mph, and goes 15,000 miles between service stops thanks to its semi-synthetic oil. Land Rover also pays for your LR4’s first service stop as long as it is performed during the first year of ownership.

With 42.1 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats and a maximum of 90.3 cu-ft behind the front seats, the Land Rover LR4 can swallow plenty of cargo. Use the third-row seats, however, and you’re left with just 9.9 cu-ft of space.

Because the Land Rover LR4’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is more than 6,000 pounds, it qualifies for an accelerated tax depreciation schedule, which is important to buyers who plan to use the LR4 for business purposes more than half the time.

If we have concerns about the 2012 Land Rover LR4, they’re related to reliability and fuel economy. The LR4’s four-year/50,000-mile standard warranty is likely to cover problems during a lease, but if you own beyond that time and mileage limit, this SUV could get expensive to fix. Speaking of leasing, you may be enticed by a payment that fits your budget, but keep that 14-mpg combined fuel economy rating in mind, and remember that the LR4 requires premium fuel. Otherwise, this is a pretty cool SUV, especially if you actually spend time off the pavement.

By Christian Wardlaw