Cars
LAND ROVER LR4
The Land Rover LR4 is classic. A quick glance reveals the same boxy and evocative shape the LR3 and Discovery used before it. Its all-road abilities remain steadfast, key to the LR4s appeal. Interior appointments are better than ever. Powering the LR4 is a 5.0L V8 which makes the old Discovery, with its 4.0L 182-horsepower V8, feel like it's standing still.
There's no doubt the LR4 is a larger luxury sport-utility vehicle, and with this size and status come a whole host of more car-like rivals which cause the Land Rover to feel a little low-tech. At first.
The LR4 comes alive when the harmon/kardon stereo launches into Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue, when the big V8 propels you gently to highway speed like a smooth wave that never breaks. When you raise the suspension to avoid the basketball in your driveway. When you lower the suspension in pursuit of aerodynamics which might assist you in your quest for 13 mpg. When you handle a traffic jam by putting two of the Land Rover's wheels up on the sidewalk, causing every other driveway to laugh at your audacity, just a little, before realizing they want one, too.
Yes, that's when the LR4 comes alive, when, as an inanimate object, it manages to preternaturally acquire the confidence of one which knows other vehicles crave its cunning and competence.
Engines: 375 horsepower; 375 lb-ft of torque from a 5.0L V8
Base USD/CAD Price: $49,750 / $59,990
City Fuel Economy: 12 miles per gallon
It's Not Perfect: You know what might be worse than the LR4's 12 city miles per gallon? The LR4's highway rating is a barely tolerable 17 miles per gallon. Oh, by the way, the LR4 drinks premium. And it's not much of a handler: though capable in corners, many of the LR4s more successful rivals take corners like tall sports cars.
Sales Stats: Time was when the LR4's predecessor, Land Rover's Discovery, had few rivals to consider and just one in-showroom competitor. Now the LR4 must fend off numerous luxury crossovers (albeit in a larger market) as well as the Range Rover Sport, LR2, and the new Evoque. Sales dropped 59% from 2002 to 2010. Monthly and yearly sales figures for the LR4 can be viewed here.
- 2012's The Bad 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN It worked fairly well the first time around, so Nissan stayed true to practice with the second-generation Versa sedan by making it as ugly as possible. Where the first Versa sedan was devoid of styling, as though Nissan...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Volkswagen Gti
VOLKSWAGEN GTI Since the Golf-based Volkswagen GTI first came to market nearly 30 years ago, numerous rivals - both direct and indirect - have come and gone. There are new rivals on the way. Scion's FR-S is a rear-wheel drive boxer-engined...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Porsche Boxster Spyder
PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER As if it wasn't enough that the Porsche Boxster was one of the best cars in the world to drive, in Spyder form, it's also one of the best at which to gander. We're nearing the end of the line for the current,...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Nissan Juke
NISSAN JUKERemember when Elaine's roommate, George's girlfriend, got the nose job? Things didn't turn out so well. So before you ask Nissan to take the Juke to some Hollywood miracle surgeon, keep that memory in mind. Besides, aren't...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Ford F-150 Ecoboost 4x4
FORD F-150 ECOBOOST 4X4 By choosing this particular model-within-a-model to be a Good 12 member, it may seem as though the desire for specificity has gone haywire. But hold on a second. Naming only EcoBoost four-wheel drive F-150s to The Good 12 doesn't...
Cars
2012's The Good 12 - Land Rover LR4
LAND ROVER LR4
The LR4 comes alive when the harmon/kardon stereo launches into Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue, when the big V8 propels you gently to highway speed like a smooth wave that never breaks. When you raise the suspension to avoid the basketball in your driveway. When you lower the suspension in pursuit of aerodynamics which might assist you in your quest for 13 mpg. When you handle a traffic jam by putting two of the Land Rover's wheels up on the sidewalk, causing every other driveway to laugh at your audacity, just a little, before realizing they want one, too.
Yes, that's when the LR4 comes alive, when, as an inanimate object, it manages to preternaturally acquire the confidence of one which knows other vehicles crave its cunning and competence.
-----
Engines: 375 horsepower; 375 lb-ft of torque from a 5.0L V8
Base USD/CAD Price: $49,750 / $59,990
City Fuel Economy: 12 miles per gallon
It's Not Perfect: You know what might be worse than the LR4's 12 city miles per gallon? The LR4's highway rating is a barely tolerable 17 miles per gallon. Oh, by the way, the LR4 drinks premium. And it's not much of a handler: though capable in corners, many of the LR4s more successful rivals take corners like tall sports cars.
Sales Stats: Time was when the LR4's predecessor, Land Rover's Discovery, had few rivals to consider and just one in-showroom competitor. Now the LR4 must fend off numerous luxury crossovers (albeit in a larger market) as well as the Range Rover Sport, LR2, and the new Evoque. Sales dropped 59% from 2002 to 2010. Monthly and yearly sales figures for the LR4 can be viewed here.
The Good 12
BMW 3-Series - Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon - Chevrolet Suburban
Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4x4 - Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback - Jeep Wrangler
Kia Rio 5-Door - Land Rover LR4 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4x4 - Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback - Jeep Wrangler
Kia Rio 5-Door - Land Rover LR4 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Nissan Juke - Porsche Boxster Spyder - Volkswagen GTI
The Bad 8
The Bad 8
Acura RL - Chrysler 200 Convertible - Ford Explorer EcoBoost
Honda Crosstour - Lincoln MKS - Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
Nissan Versa Sedan - Toyota Corolla CE
Honda Crosstour - Lincoln MKS - Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
Nissan Versa Sedan - Toyota Corolla CE
The Good 12 Rules
- 2012's The Bad 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN It worked fairly well the first time around, so Nissan stayed true to practice with the second-generation Versa sedan by making it as ugly as possible. Where the first Versa sedan was devoid of styling, as though Nissan...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Volkswagen Gti
VOLKSWAGEN GTI Since the Golf-based Volkswagen GTI first came to market nearly 30 years ago, numerous rivals - both direct and indirect - have come and gone. There are new rivals on the way. Scion's FR-S is a rear-wheel drive boxer-engined...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Porsche Boxster Spyder
PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER As if it wasn't enough that the Porsche Boxster was one of the best cars in the world to drive, in Spyder form, it's also one of the best at which to gander. We're nearing the end of the line for the current,...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Nissan Juke
NISSAN JUKERemember when Elaine's roommate, George's girlfriend, got the nose job? Things didn't turn out so well. So before you ask Nissan to take the Juke to some Hollywood miracle surgeon, keep that memory in mind. Besides, aren't...
- 2012's The Good 12 - Ford F-150 Ecoboost 4x4
FORD F-150 ECOBOOST 4X4 By choosing this particular model-within-a-model to be a Good 12 member, it may seem as though the desire for specificity has gone haywire. But hold on a second. Naming only EcoBoost four-wheel drive F-150s to The Good 12 doesn't...