The Land Rover LR3 is a comfortable vehicle. Driver and front passenger get power-adjustable seats with adjustable armrests, and the second-row seats have generous headroom and legroom. Even the third-row seats can be considered habitable for adults.

The large windows, long wheelbase, and overhead Alpine windows create a spacious, airy interior. The low beltline, with window sills well below shoulder level, not only helps lower the center of gravity, but also improves forward and downward vision, an important advantage when driving through rugged terrain or traversing narrow tracks, especially those with exposures to seemingly bottomless ravines.

The instrument panel is clean, modern, and in keeping with the geometric exterior design. Controls are good sized, tactile, and significantly more intuitively arrayed than Land Rovers of the past.

In fact, LR3's interior design gives up nothing to other SUVs in practical flexibility. The second-row seats fold down into the footwell, leaving a perfectly flat surface. Many SUVs do not offer the benefit of flat cargo areas. The optional third-row seats can also fold flat, creating a six-foot load floor. Each rear seat folds independently, leaving numerous options for seating and cargo.

Several thoughtful touches have been added for '07. The Harman/Kardon stereo, which comes standard for 2007, incorporates a time display. Yet a separate clock has been added to the information center in the instrument cluster making it easier for the driver to tell time at a glance. A three-flash lane-change function has been added to the turn signals. The front passenger's power window opens and closes with one touch, and the front power seat adjusters operate without having to have the key in the ignition switch.

As with every previous Land Rover, practicality in the outback is reflected in functional interior appointments. For the variety of stuff carried on a camping trip, there are four glove boxes, readily accessible stash zones and numerous drink holders. Flip-down grab handles are located at all four doors, and comfortable, solid grab points built into the front-seat headrests give occupants something to hold on to when the driver is exploring the LR3's impressive tilt, climb, and descent limits.