2012 Land Rover LR4

Not only is the 2012 Land Rover LR4 one of the best vehicles when it comes to adverse driving conditions, it also has an elegant and luxuriously appointed interior that wows reviewers. That said, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Base MSRP: $26,995 to $54,470), is an equally strong competitor off road, and delivers great on-pavement performance, too. In addition, the Jeep starts at a lower price, and higher-spec models don't skimp on luxury features.

The Land Rover LR4 off-road specific features include a locking rear differential, hill descent control and a Terrain Response System, as Land Rover calls it, that allows the driver to easily change the vehicle's settings for specific road surface conditions.

Experts like the LR4's powerful V8; Edmunds.com calls it "a stout performer both on pavement and in the wilderness." The downside to all that grunt (and 7,700 towing capacity) is lousy fuel economy: The LR4 is estimated to achieve just 14 mpg in combined city/highway driving, making it one of the least fuel-efficient vehicles available, period.

Many reviewers point out that if you're looking for luxury and you don't need the heavy-duty off-road capability or towing capacity, that there are more practical options, like the universally well-regarded 2012 Acura MDX (Base MSRP: $43,030 to $52,655).

There are no crash-test results for the 2012 Land Rover LR4.

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates

12 mpg city / 17 mpg highway / 14 mpg combined

NHTSA Safety Ratings:

Front Impact: Not tested

Side Impact: Not tested

Rollover Resistance: Not tested

Overall: Not tested

IIHS Safety Ratings:

Front Offset Impact: Not tested

Side Impact: Not tested

Roof Strength: Not tested

For additional details, see our 2010 review

The 2012 Land Rover LR4 sees some audio and navigation system upgrades, but otherwise it's basically been unchanged the last couple of years. Our report on the 2010 Land Rover features  more comprehensive insights into what reviewers say about this model.