2008 Land Rover LR2 SE Most compact luxury SUVs are off-road pretenders. But Lawrence of Arabia would drive this one!The LR2 can run with the camels in hostile environments, boasting the maker's almost magical Terrain Response system, 8.3 inches of ground clearance, and impressive approach and departure angles (29 and 32 degrees, respectively). This compact luxury SUV is a bona-fide Land Rover.The LR2 is roomier, plusher, more powerful, and more versatile than the prior years Freelander (the old three-door version). The littlest Land Rover doesn't look like it snuck onto the showroom floor from the hiking-shoe store across the street either. With its clamshell hood, jeweled headlamps, chunky proportions, side air intakes, and slotted grille, the LR2 looks right at home next to its LR3 and Range Rover siblings.Towing capacity is an impressive 3500 pounds.Mounted transversely under the hood-a layout enabled by the engine's compact size-is a new, all-aluminum, 24-valve 3.2-liter inline-six developed by Volvo. It delivers 230 horses at 6300 rpm and 234 pound-feet at 3200 rpm. The LR2's engine is smooth (credit that balanced inline-six layout) and refined and goes about its job without seeming stressed (variable valve timing and variable intake runners help fatten the torque curve). Mated to a standard six-speed automatic (not the ZF box from the LR3 but a new, compact Aisin Warner unit), it pushes the LR2 to 60 mph in a claimed 8.4 seconds.This is definitely a fun to drive, great performing SUV that is every bit as satisfying on the road, as off!