A Land Rover for the Rest of Us

SEE ALSO: For Specs and Comparisons - Land Rover Buyers Guide

New York July 27, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that amid all the speculation surrounding Ford Motor Co.'s likely sale of Land Rover, The Wall Street Journal sees one thing as certain: Whoever takes control of the venerable luxury brand will do so at its pinnacle.

Land Rover has never had as attractive a lineup as it does today, and sales are as robust as the brand's off-road reputation. Globally, Land Rover had its best year ever in 2005, then again in 2006, and is on pace to sell even more vehicles this year.

The catalyst has been an overhaul of the entire model range, a process that now concludes with the 2008 LR2, which will hit the U.S. in April.

The LR2 is the most accessible Land Rover to date, and not just because its $34,700 base price makes it both inexpensive for the brand and competitively priced with the competition.

Factor in the improved fuel economy, smaller size, and functional design, and the LR2 may appeal to people who might never have considered a Land Rover.