Auto Review: Throw practicality out the window with well-designed, tough Land Rover LR4

(Land Rover)

Some vehicles defy rhyme or reason. Carmakers count on that.

People will pore over data, reviews and photos for days, weeks or months to analyze, compare and find the right vehicle. They email auto critics to dissect their thoughts. Then, they buy the one they like.

As much as anyone would have you believe, there is no empirical data on individual likes. Some vehicles connect with us, even when they shouldn't.

So allow me to confess: I really like Land Rovers. I always have. The 2011 Land Rover LR4 is simply a stunning machine, brimming with luxury and insane capabilities.

Its reputation for British craftsmanship -- about the same as the nation's skill at dentistry -- should shy me away from these SUVs. They are not very practical, and they're pretty expensive. But my rose-colored glasses hide every snaggletooth of imperfection and gloss over the pole barn roofline.

It's OK to give in to the emotional side of a vehicle -- that's how most are sold in the first place. Necessity has little to do with purchasing, and there's enough proof of that out there online to justify nearly any purchase.

Just go and find the reasons you should put down $50,000 on an SUV and print it. Ignore the rest.

The LR4's exterior looks good from every right angle of its design. The high roofline and blocky look to this seven-passenger SUV are as distinctive as they are pristine. There's a stately look about it that feels regal in the same way someone with a British accent just sounds smarter.

The LR4 has a clean and luxurious look, from the big flat front end to that iconic asymmetrical rear hatch. Somehow, this SUV can pull off muscular, elegant and sophisticated all at the same time. Nothing else looks like the LR4, except another LR4, and that's the true beauty of this vehicle. It's the George Clooney of SUVs.

Off-roaders' dream

Then there's this vehicle's capabilities. There's a reason Land Rovers find themselves doing those tough jobs in desolate places around the world. Land Rovers can go nearly everywhere, and the LR4 is no exception.
The Enhanced Terrain Response feature is a constant reminder that you can handle just about any condition at the twist of a dial. The system allows the driver to adjust to five terrain settings: General driving; Grass/Gravel/Snow; Sand; Mud and Ruts; and Rock Crawl.

The system automatically adjusts things like throttle inputs, air suspension, shift points and wheel spin to create the perfect settings for any condition. The only setting missing is Apocalypse.

The LR4 also gained Land Rover's Hill Descent Control. That system enables the LR4 to gracefully move down a hill, leaving steering as the only task the driver needs to concentrate on. (It takes a little faith at first to use Hill Descent because it's unnerving to give up control to the machine, which maintains speed down the hill much better than any human can.)

All of these cool systems, of course, wouldn't be of much use without the 375-horsepower direct-injection 5-liter V-8 engine under that clamshell hood. The engine includes variable camshaft timing and other high-tech features, including cam profile switching and a variable-length inlet manifold to help the 375 pound-feet of torque across its rpm range. (For serious off-roading, low-end torque is essential.)

There are other cool features that will help hard-core off-roaders such as the pressure die-cast oil pan, which can keep pumping oil even at extreme inclines and downhills. And the belt drives, alternator, power steering pump and starter motor are waterproofed.

The LR4 can tow more than 7,000 pounds and includes trailer stability assist, which uses the vehicles stability control to keep a trailer from swaying.
System easy to use

While the LR4 has the ability to go just about anywhere, when you sit inside, it feels like home. Actually, its front seats are nicer than any leather chair I've ever had in a home.

For the 2012 model year, which I haven't driven, the LR4 features a new electrical architecture that provides plenty of new features, including a standard 380-watt Harmon/Kardon Logic 7 audio system with 14 speakers. (There's the optional 17-speaker 825-watt system - if you need something more.)

There's also a new rear seat entertainment system that include two wireless headsets. Front passengers can load up the DVDs, and rear passengers can quietly watch videos. This is extremely handy when the great outdoors just doesn't provide enough stimuli.

Like everyone else, Land Rover is getting into the speech recognition game, as well. The system uses a fairly easy-to-learn set of commands that operate different functions. Say ''satellite radio'' and you can control it. Say ''phone'' and you can make a call. Say ''navigation'' and you can input an address and the map will guide you there.

The rest of the leather-encased interior is plush through and through. The wood trim is exquisite and the second row is extremely comfortable for adults or kids.

The high-mounted 7 -inch touch screen sits near the top of the dash and is easily within the driver's reach. There's even a neat piece of wood trim that allows you to rest your hand on it as you operate it.) More vehicles should consider high-mounted screens; it helps you keep your eyes closer to the road, if not actually on it.

Practical? Who cares?