Mustering just 216 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 269 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, the 2005 Land Rover LR3’s base 4.0-liter V6 engine is charged with powering 5,426 pounds – no small task. Clearly, the main reason for offering this overmatched motor in the LR3 is to get the base down closer to $40,000, since the EPA fuel economy estimate is 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, virtually indistinguishable from the 14-city and 18-highway numbers for the V8 engine.

Under the hood of the SE V8 and HSE V8 is a 4.4-liter eight-cylinder whipping up 300 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 315 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. This aluminum dual overhead cam powerplant is derived from a Jaguar unit, modified for rugged off-road use with changes to improve dust and water sealing, to allow the LR3 to ford up to 24 inches of standing water, and to traverse steep grades without fluid starvation.

All 2005 Land Rover LR3s are equipped with an adaptive six-speed automatic transmission with a CommandShift manual shifting feature that lets the driver choose her own gears if she likes. Power flows through this transmission to a permanent 4WD system with a standard locking center and available locking rear differential. Low range gearing is included with the two-speed transfer case, and the system splits power 50/50 front and rear at all times.

A four-wheel independent, height-adjustable air suspension is standard, with remote rear suspension control an option. Using this available feature, it’s possible to raise the rear of the LR3 to increase the departure angle, which allows the SUV to get through more difficult terrain. Four-wheel, vented-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist are also standard, and the parking brake is electrically operated.

Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is standard on the LR3, along with Terrain Response, a sophisticated off-road traction control system. With Terrain Response, the driver can select any one of five system settings that optimize the ride height, engine response, hill descent control, traction control, and transmission to handle conditions specific to general driving; slippery surfaces like grass, gravel and snow; mud and ruts; sand; and rock crawling. A power rack-and-pinion steering with a tighter turning circle than the old Discovery helps the LR3 to maximize the Terrain Response system’s effectiveness by ensuring that the SUV is maneuverable in tight spots.

Worried about having so much high-tech gear aboard a Land Rover? Every LR3 comes with a four-year, 50,000-mile warranty with six-year, unlimited corrosion coverage. So just make sure your lease contract doesn’t extend past the warranty coverage, and you oughta be all set.