ROAD TEST ~ 2010 LAND ROVER LR4

It was one of those days you wait all winter for.
Rolling along under sunny skies, windows cracked open, acoustic blues pulsing lightly from the radio, the wheels rumbling along the highway with a kind of endless cadence that makes you want to just keep going on and on.
We were on the way home from the antique market and we hadn't bought a single thing.
Which was fine.
A narrow escape can be almost as satisfying as a successful hunt. And it's a lot easier on the wallet.
My wife glanced over as we rolled along and we both grinned at the unspoken recognition of a very good day.
It's always nice to see how the other half lives. And some of them live very well in vehicles like the Land Rover LR4.
The LR4 (still known as the Discovery 4 outside of North America) stems from the original ancestor of the brand, tracing its roots back to the first post-war Land Rover that laid its foundations on an old Jeep chassis from the only brand name to rival Land Rover when it comes to a history of offroad tradition and ability.
This 2010 LR4 version is all new for 2010. It improves on last year's LR3 with revised V8 power mated to a new transmission, smoother on-road performance due to chassis revisions, an updated TerrainResponse system for more off-road capability and extensive exterior and interior refreshments to compliment new levels of tech and luxury content.
"The outgoing LR3 has well over 100 international awards to its name. But for the new LR4 we've found ways to improve virtually every aspect of the vehicle's design and engineering - some subtle, some major," said Phil Popham, Land Rover Managing Director.
Let's start under the hood where the new direct-injection, naturally aspirated 5.O-litre V8 engine makes 375 hp and 375 lb/ft of torque. 
That works out to 25 per cent more power and 19 per cent more torque than the previous 4.4-litre motor. The new engine is similar to the AJ-V8 Gen III Jaguar version, launched in the Jaguar XF, but it adds component waterproofing and other tweaks and adjustments for off-road use.
The LR4 5.0-litre V8 meets ULEV2 regulations and attains the same fuel economy rating as the previous engine, 17/12L/100km (city/hwy), but expect a realistic fuel economy average of around 16L/100km. Premium gas is recommended but the owner's manual gives regular 87-octane gas the okay.
This motor will move the LR4 from 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, which is pretty impressive when you consider its curb weight, this year up to 2,646 kg (5,833 lb).
It's a good thing the power rating has increased because so has its pants size.
The motor is mated to a revised ZF HP28 6-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system, controlled through a very user-friendly multi-mode dial in the cabin with settings for:
• General driving
• Grass/gravel/snow
• Sand
• Rock crawl
Those setting will get drivers through everything from cottage roads and winter weather to the apocalypse. And with comprehensive changes that include new suspension components, a more precise Hill Descent control system, smoother steering, bigger brakes and improved traction control, the LR4 has been optimized for almost any on-road or off-road driving situation.
There's more bush-bashing ability here than ninety-nine percent of drivers will ever need or want to use, especially at the risk of their paint jobs and the lack of lattes and cell phone coverage.
All these techy bits have been wrapped in a refreshed and refined package.
The exterior design has been updated, smoothed and obviously moved closer to the more upscale, squared-off Range Rover style, but the iconic hints remain - the uniquely curved, wiper accommodating, horizontally-split tailgate, the stepped roof heritage and the rear side windows that curve into the roofline, reflecting the Alpine windows of the past.
Inside, the transformation continues with a new dash and centre console, new seats and an array of other new features.
The new interior not only has a much more premium look and feel, it's also gained improvement to its functionality.
The new console inclines towards the driver, the switchgear and controls fall more readily to hand, and new LED ambient lighting helps make the cabin a more pleasant and more easily used space after dark," according to Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director.
Some of the features available for the LR4 include a portable audio interface, DVD entertainment, a new key system which offers Keyless Entry and Push Button start and a new five-camera 'surround' system to assist in everything from low-speed rock crawling to parking and towing hookups.
The LR4 starts at $59,900. As tested, it lists for $77,720 (HSE LUX PLUS Package $12,690, Roof Rails $180, Rear Seat Entertainment $2,750, 20-inch 10-Split Spoke Alloy Wheels $2,200) (not including destination and taxes).
That puts this tested close to the starting price of a Range Rover Sport but still well below the almost-$100K price level of the premium class Range Rover.
I've always had a soft spot for the original Land Rovers and their Disco descendants.
Those predecessors would sometimes be the butt of my jokes over their oddball styling and yestertech content. But it would never be a mean-spirited critique.
More like the family teasing over the endearing eccentricities of some favoured uncle whose basic strengths and reliability more than make up for any occasional foibles.
And with this latest generation of LR4, Land Rover has smoothed out some of those eccentricities of the past, retaining the uniqueness of the brand in a very refined package that shines with new technologies, new content levels and the kind of any road, any weather, any situation capabilities other SUVs could only wish for.

BODY STYLE: five-door sport utility vehicle
DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, four-wheel drive.
ENGINE: HSE 5.0-litre V8 engine (375 hp, 375 lb-ft)
FUEL ECONOMY: 17/12L/100km (city/hwy); 16.6L/100km (combined, as tested)
STARTING PRICE: $59,900