THE CAR
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» LAND ROVER LR4 ‘It’s the perfect all-rounder,’ says Shahzad Sheikh. Need he say more? Well, he’s going to anyway
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’LL TRY TO STOP FAWNING IN A moment, but the question has to be asked: is the Land Rover LR4 quite simply the perfect all-rounder? Okay let’s start by trying to define what everyday automotive perfection constitutes. It has to have the look and prestige of a car you can be proud of. This thing has the famed green oval on the grille and the heritage and credibility that immediately injects the LR4 with, is above reproach. Although the LR4 is not a Range Rover, it doesn’t look out of place turning up at the Emirates Palace, nor would it appear odd packed full of kids on the way to school sports day. It’s equally at home cresting a dune or precariously cocking a wheel as it negotiates a particularly rocky wadi bed. It was styled only with the aid of a set-square but the designers still managed to infuse it with a rugged but clean-cut appeal that imparts solid dependability and an indisputable road presence.
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There’s a subtle elegance and class within its simple lines – even more so in the LR4, an evolution of the LR3. Next you want practicality and safety, especially if this will be your sole car that also needs to endure the family chores. It’s a genuine seven-seater, and still retains enough space for most of the weekly shopping run. There are lots of storage compartments, the large glass area will ward off travel sickness and safety is self evident from the heft of the thing – crash into it at your peril. As a CAR reader, you’re also keen to learn about the performance. With a new 370bhp 5.0-litre V8 shared with its Range Rover brethren, the benchmark acceleration run drops by seven-tenths to just 7.9 seconds to 100kph. Torque is also considerably up on the old car at 375lb ft. To ensure the car remains composed despite its increased pace, it benefits from advances such as upgraded suspension with stiffer anti-roll bar and electronic air suspension, as well as improved
dynamic stability assist. It will never be a sports car, but nor will it leave you embarrassed and frankly left behind. For our region, a perfect family car should also be decent off-road, even if the only journey you take off the black-top is a shortcut in Sharjah or getting down to the beach. Fret-not though, as befitting the badge, off-road it’s even more impressive. New features include sand launch, which allows you to easily move off, and you can now leave the traction control on. Just pick the appropriate setting in the Terrain Response system and it will dial back the aids including stability to let you get on with it, but still keep you safe. It’s also available with the new all-round camera systems that employ five cameras to show you exactly what’s going on around the car – useful whilst rock crawling, or negotiating Deira City Centre car park. I said I’d stop fawning well I can now that I’m ending this piece. The LR4 really is that good.