Land Rover by Ford adds LR3

The Land Rover brand has been something of an orphan in the past decade, first sold off to BMW and then acquired by Ford. For 2005, the first Land Rover developed under Ford debuts. The LR3 is a midsize SUV that replaces the Discovery, which retained the legendary Land Rover off-road reputation, but always lagged behind other premium SUVs in styling, comfort and features.

The LR3 promises to cure those shortcomings with a suspension that gives up none of its off-road capability, but delivers a smooth ride, a 300-horsepower V8 borrowed from Jaguar and a long list of interior comfort and convenience items. It's expensive, starting at $45,000 and rising to $50,000 for the HSE model, but Land Rover fans will likely think it's worth it.

The Range Rover, due for a makeover in 2006, and the entry-level Freelander continue unchanged.

-- Posted: Feb. 15, 2005