Dichotomy: a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities. There are countless examples, such as good and evil, black and white, Land Rover and, logic.
Because let’s be honest, nothing is less logical than falling in love with a Land Rover, even the LR3, especially at a time when the price of a litre of gas is almost higher than that of a kilo of caviar. Nothing is more dichotomous (we do have to put culture to use sometime) than to believe that a Land Rover is the ideal vehicle for day-to-day use while checking out its spec sheet and reputation. And yet.
Land Rover, squared
Design-wise, the Land Rover LR3 is not an exercise in subtlety. Its profile was probably designed by a team of stylists with only a ruler and some highly sharpened pencils at their disposal. Don’t look for sexy curves or anything aerodynamic. The LR3, like the rest of its family, favours the cardboard box look rather than the curvy one.
But this stern design is backed up by numerous details that give it a unique appearance. The grille, for example, is as it should be, composed of three straight lines that simply confirm its family name. If it weren’t for its smaller size, one could easily mistake it for its big brother, the Range Rover.
In the back, the black, oversized windows polish the vehicle’s look while outlining the bulky contours. The contrast was that much more striking on our test model, which, save for the black squares, was draped entirely in white.
Same thing for the wheelhouses, which are framed by a resistant black plastic protective arch. Aside from strengthening the body when driving on rougher terrain, these houses impress by their very presence, giving the impression of larger wheels. Despite its small size (in Land Rover speak, obviously, as this is the second largest vehicle of the line), the LR3 turns heads, whether we like its general look or not.
It’s also hard to dismiss the tailgate, probably the only one to sport an asymmetrical door, the only eccentric touch on this otherwise rather staid vehicle.
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