Your watching a WheelsTV Top200 new vehicle test drive on the 2006 Land Rover LR3.
The LR3 is the first new product to be introduced since the conjoining of Land Rover and Ford, and it appears the joint venture is paying off. The LR3 is built upon a hydro-formed chassis that is claimed to be one of the strongest in the industry. There's fully independent suspension at all four corners and electronically controlled air springs, which automatically adapt to any and all terrain conditions.
All LR3's are powered by Jaguar's 4.4-liter all-aluminum V8 that works up 300 horsepower hitched to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The interior of the LR3 is a testament to luxury with leather on every seat, and there can be either five or seven of them, depending on whether you take your LR3 with a third row seat.
The LR3 offers two trim levels: SE and HSE, and both levels come with plenty of standard and optional features including a touch-screen navigation system, Bluetooth-enabled communication, and a 9-speaker Harmon Kardon 300-watt stereo system with a 6-CD changer. An optional 550-watt Logic7 14-speaker surround sound stereo system or 600-watt Harmon Kardon surround sound stereo are also available. There's even a fixed glass roof option that gives you unlimited visibility, but filters out heat and UV rays.
There's a long list of safety features on the LR3, such as adaptive headlights that pivot around corners and adjust up and down to counteract hard braking. 4-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, active anti-roll technology, hill descent control, side-impact and head curtain airbags, and an electronic parking brake.
What will all of this luxury, utility, and durability cost you? A 2006 Land Rover LR3 delivered in the SE trim level has an MSRP of $48,216. Go for the HSE level and you're looking at a suggested base price of $52,985.
The 2006 Land Rover LR3 is a very upscale and prestigious package and benefits from the ever-traditional reputation of Land Rover's rock-solid construction and the inescapable influence of Ford and Jaguar in the final execution. It may be as good as it gets.