Jaguar and Land Rover are really bringing it for 2013, focusing on changes that will increase appeal with mainstream buyers. Jaguar is maximizing sales with new engines, all-wheel drive systems and price drops, while Land Rover is currently in the process of updating its lineup. Recently, the redesigned 2013 Land Rover Range Rover debuted, showing strong design influence from the Evoque. Now, the brand’s second-smallest SUV, the LR2, is getting a refresh.
The LR2 was Land Rover’s first real attempt at producing something in the compact SUV class. It has off-road capability, but one of the problems is that it never really got great fuel economy. For 2013, things are being improved in that regard. The Evoque was the first Land Rover four-cylinder model, but it isn’t the last. Under the hood, the 2013 LR2 gets the Evoque’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.
Like the Evoque, in the LR2 it makes 240-horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. Those figures are up by 10 and 16 over last year’s 3.2-liter six-cylinder and fuel economy should get a commensurate improvement as well. Design wise, the LR2 is from a different era of Land Rover design. It has a boxier design that differs from the direction Land Rover has been going with the Evoque. 2013’s changes focus on updating the look somewhat. Up front there are redesigned Xenon headlights with LED elements along with reworked chrome and paint detailing. Out back the LR2 gets LED taillights as well. More modern? Yes. Evoque modern? No. Inside, Land Rover throws in an updated technology package that includes a new seven-inch touchscreen, instrument cluster screen and push-button starter.
Standard equipment has been increased for 2013, with “grained leather” power seats, standard dual sunroofs and an intelligent parking brake. The parking brake is unique in that the system adjusts braking force according to the slope the LR2 is parked on, and also monitors brake temperature. It includes safety features like a refusal to disengage if a person of a certain weight isn’t in the drivers seat. For 2013 price of entry for the base level model has rose by $700, to $37,250. The LR2 remains Land Rover’s cheapest model, and the four-cylinder should make things more appealing. At $43,995, we’d still shell out the extra dough for the Evoque.
