The LR4 was more surefooted than us as it descended Black Bear on the rocky shelf trail. C
LR4
On day two, we pointed the LR4 out of Ouray and onto the dirt, where we explored the Mineral Creek Trail with a stop at the old San Juan Chief Mill. After lunch in Silverton, we traveled over the fabled Black Bear Road (elevation: 12,840 feet). The first thing we noticed about the LR4 as we sat in the driver's seat was the truly impressive visibility. A commanding driving position and tall glass all the way around make you feel like you're part of the scenery instead of simply a spectator. Combined with the thin, unobtrusive A-pillars and the three large sunroofs, the interior of the LR4 is bright and feels airy. It makes a darn good first impression.
The LR4's interior is handsome, and the instrument cluster has a 5-inch TFT driver informa
One thing that was obvious is that the LR4 has quite a lot of Range Rover DNA. It's a totally different vehicle, mind you, but the interior materials and textures are very similar. It has a luxury vibe and an array of bells and whistles. Under the hood is the same 5.0L V-8 as the Range Rover. It's mated to the CommandShift six-speed transmission. The 5,833-pound LR4 is 136 pounds heavier than the Range Rover, but Land Rover performance figures show it as only being slightly behind the Range Rover in 0-60 mph acceleration. The LR4 also sports the Terrain Response system as well as other electronics. As we made our way up the trail, we were impressed at the almost transparent operation of the Terrain Response system. On a particularly rocky, off-camber section of the Mineral Creek trail, it responded to our throttle inputs in a most refined fashion and carried us over the obstacle with no drama.
Thanks to the LR4's fantastic visibility, we had virtually unobstructed views of Telluride
Speaking of off-camber, the LR4 uses an electronic air IFS/IRS suspension that features what Land Rover calls "cross-link valving" on both the front and rear of the vehicle (the Range Rover also uses this system). Quite simply, this means that if one side of the suspension on either axle is compressed, air is forced to the opposite side to force it down, thus mimicking the action of a solid axle. This suspension gives the LR4 an impressive front travel of 10 inches and rear travel of 13 inches. As we descended Black Bear into Telluride to conclude our tour, we found the LR4 to be a worthy companion. Once again, we found the LR4's overall visibility to be an asset as we negotiated the mega-tight switchbacks above Bridal Veil Falls, where one goof can mean a nasty tumble down the side of the mountain.
Bottom Line
What we learned is that like Telluride, both the Range Rover and LR4 are also a study in contrasts. Ultimately, they're as much at home on the trail as they are in valet parking.
The Range Rover has a maximum wading depth of 27.5 inches, so we weren't worried about cro
Some of What's New for 2011
Range Rover
- Revised exterior design
- Improved interior equipment levels
- Optional reclining rear seats
- Optional laminated privacy glass
- Vision Assist Package
- Terrain Response enhancements including Gradient Acceleration Control and Hill Start Assist
LR4
- Bluetooth now standard on base LR4
- Rear view camera is standard on HSE
- Vision Assist Package for HSE and HSE LUX Packages
- Climate Comfort Package is a stand-alone option on LR4 base and HSE
- Terrain Response enhancements including Gradient Acceleration Control and Hill Start Assist