2005 Land Rover LR3 Preview

Andy took me over to Steven and Doug and I asked them about the decision to only go halfway with interior tactile quality. While they reminded me the vehicle on display was an

"All this work to make it look fabulous and the beancounters wasted your efforts with cheap, sub-grade plastics?" (Photo: Land Rover)

early pre-production example, I got the feeling tolerances for the production version wouldn't be a heck of a lot better. After going on and on about how important it was for the new LR3 to appear better than the best in the industry if it was to attract new luxury buyers, especially those that might already have been made aware of the brand's rather dowdy reliability rating, they looked as if right there, right then was the last place either wanted to be at that moment. Once again I made myself unpopular, doing my duty as an automotive reporter and car enthusiast for sure, but hardly factoring in that these people had sunk their hearts and souls into building a new vehicle and hardly wanted to hear me brutally criticize it. Oh well, they can be as critical of my analysis if they like, make a few offhand comments about how my crass writing style will never win any Pulitzers and get some revenge - a point that I won't defend.

But maybe my initial reaction was worthwhile after all. Early reports of the production LR3, which I have yet to see up close, are filled with positive comments about interior

The optional third row seats fold flat into the floor, and offer decent head, shoulder, hip and legroom for an average size adult. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

fit and finish and materials quality, so maybe they listened to what I, and no doubt other auto critics had to say and spent the extra couple of hundred need to get the plastics right. To answer that I'll need to drive one, so come back later and I'll fill you in on what I think.

What I did like was the flexibility of the interior. The optional third row seats fold flat into the floor, and offer decent head, shoulder, hip and legroom for an average size adult. When folded down, the cargo area opens up for loading large items, especially handy due to the LR3's tall configuration. The second row of seats folds flat too, which opens up a truly cavernous cargo hold.

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