Overview & Reviews

For decades, Land Rover SUVs were known primarily for their utility and off-road prowess. During the 1980s, they became more luxurious, but their ability in the dirt has never been in question.

A prime example of this change was the Land Rover LR3, which replaced the aging Discovery. The old "Disco" was long on utility but a little shy on amenities. The LR3 offered a lot more style. Unfortunately, it still suffered from an underwhelming engine, quirky ergonomics and a poor reputation for reliability.

If all-terrain adventures are a frequent family activity and the thought of owning a pedigreed SUV appeals to you, it's hard to think of a better-suited vehicle for the task than a used Land Rover LR3. But if you'll be sticking primarily to pavement, other luxury SUVs like the Acura MDX or Lexus RX 350 will be better choices.

Most Recent Land Rover LR3 Models
The Land Rover LR3 was produced from 2005-'09. Originally, there were SE and HSE trim levels. The SE came standard with a 216-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 (we would avoid this), while the HSE got a 300-hp 4.4-liter V8. The V8 became standard on all LR3s for 2008. The HSE trim essentially became an option package in the final production year. Aside from the third-row seat becoming standard on the HSE for '06 and in the SE for '08, other changes were limited to additional standard features.

Though smaller than the Range Rover, Land Rover's midsize LR3 was still capable. V8 versions could tow up to 7,700 pounds and the LR3 was hard to beat off-road. All variants came standard with fully independent adjustable air suspension and a host of electronic off-road aids. Combined with a locking center differential, an optional electronic rear locker and the LR3's new Terrain Response system, this truck had the ability to climb boulders in a single bound.

At the same time, the LR3 also provided a useful interior as well. There was seating for seven adult passengers and both the second- and third-row seats folded flat to make cargo-hauling easier. The cabin design was a tad utilitarian and lacked the luxurious ambience of its competitors or its successor, the LR4. Another downside was the chaotic mess of little buttons spread upon the dash that could be confusing to use at a glance.

Other than being underpowered given its hefty curb weight, there were few complaints about the way the LR3 drove. It delivered the kind of tight, refined ride we expected from a luxury SUV and the steering provided excellent road feel and more feedback than many of its competitors. A tight turning circle and an effective power assist kept it nimble in parking lots.

In reviews, we were endlessly impressed with the Land Rover LR3's capabilities off-road and continuously surprised at how well it performed on road. However, besides the above concerns, there's also the matter of its thirst for fuel and poor record for reliability. As such, buying an out-of-warranty LR3 without being close friends with a Land Rover mechanic is not the wisest idea.

User Reviews:

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  great veh... - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By tstid - October 25 - 6:20 pm

  jsut purchased this month...great veh...owned ml, lexus...they dont compare...cant compare...the lr3 is in a league all by itself....roomy interior, great feel at the wheel...takes curves wtih a breeze...does well in crosswind and is very quite...true off road...looking for a true suv...it is the lr3

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  One Big Problem - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By amf - October 25 - 4:10 am

  Big Problem : This is our familys third Land Rover. A Discovery in 1994, another Discovery in 1998. We loved them both and loved our Service Manager. We needed more power to pull a trailer, so in December we took delivery of a fabulous LR3, V8, HSE. Fabulous except for one thing that makes driving, especially long distance driving, really miserable: the driver (and front passenger) headrest is slanted forward at a really uncomfortable angle. No matter where the seat itself is positioned, the headrest is tilted so that the drivers neck is bent forward; it is impossible to sit up straight and have your back, neck, and head rest comfortably. Check this out before you buy or lease !!!

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  Best truck I have owned - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By TN - October 24 - 2:46 pm

  changed from a lexus GX to LR3 and its been great. Rides a lot better than the lexus, handles well, tows my boat over anything where the lexus always felt strained. Advanced drive systems do work well in the truck off road. Alot of room and a great load carrier. If you need a real SUV and not just a road machine then this Landrover is the one to go for. It can be thirsty and so far i have only had one fault which was fixed by the dealer while i waited.

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  LR3 HSE7 - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By KandG - October 16 - 3:16 am

  We cross shopped the BMW X5 4.8is, X5 3.0 (0nly one with a manual) and Volvo XC90 V8. LR3 won out over others for features at price point and legendary capability of the marque. So far so good. Mileage has been better than average (approx 19.7mpg) LR3 is very stable at triple digit speeds on the autobahn. Utility, versatility and ergonomics are great. Steering feel is perfect and not overboosted like the Volvo. Only wishes really are for a manual tranny, cloth seats/rubber mats (leather is too much to upkeep) and Tdi options stateside. Navigation could have better input control such as a column stalk/selector. Touch screens tend to get tedious. Voice Command is really unnecessary.

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  Staying with Land Rover - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Jayk - September 25 - 12:56 am

  I have newly purchased a LR3 HSE and just love it. Big improvements over the Discovery Series II I owned for 6 years and put 183,000 miles on. I loved that car. It was time for a change. The LR3 is landrovers way of saying we listened. The ride, the interior, the 3rd row seating show vast improvements from the series II. The turning radius is awesome and I trust the cars safety record to protect my family. Looking forward to surpassing the 200,000 mark in this one.

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  The best there is - 2007 Land Rover LR3
  By uncle ollie - September 20 - 1:16 pm

  The experience has been fantastic. this is the best built vehicles in the world. i live in Maryland and since Ive had my vehicle, I pray for snow.

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  Awesome SUV!!! - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By David - September 11 - 4:30 pm

  This is a really fun truck to drive. We also own a Landcruiser and was actually looking to buy a smaller SUV like ML350 or X5, when we stumbled on this....Wonderful truck..This is now the truck of choice in my house.

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  Just Perfect - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By Jeff - September 9 - 5:13 am

  After three Mercedes MLs, it was time for a change. The MLs kept getting better (1998, 1999, 2001 models) but were nowhere near as good as the LR3. The LR3 is incredibly solid, with smooth acceleration and a great ride. Interior comfort is excellent and the kids love the third row, which offers easy access. Winter driving in New England was never better, with the LR3 handling snow and ice in a way that can only be described as awesome. Yeah, I like the LR3 a lot.

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  Get in the Mud - 2005 Land Rover LR3
  By RoverFun - September 5 - 12:40 pm

  My family and I have put 25k miles on the truck this year and have more a problem not driving it. Third row seat is a pleasure, best tailgate design ever, and confort beyond exspectation. I understand that others have had trouble with a first model year, but that is typical and I was prepared for it (bought 100k bumper to bumper warrenty). I have been off road with groups and solo and never been stuck yet. The truck is truely more at home off road and my wife can still lean back an chat on the cell at the same time. I even squeezed a larger set of tires on it and they worked great in sand

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  Fabulous Beast - 2006 Land Rover LR3
  By bgsntth - September 5 - 5:00 am

  I just turned in our SE V8. It was a truly wonderful truck, and we fully utilized every aspect of its function and performance. We have had many luxury SUVs that performed the dual duty of soccer mom mobile and ranch truck. The LR3 exceeded beyond everything in both aspects, and was more reliable than all the others barring the Lexus GX. Cargo area is huge, rear seats are roomy and comfortable for adults, off-road capability with Terrain-response is w/o peer -barring my wifes 08 RR. Only wish it had the Dynamic Response and a diesel option.