2012 Land Rover LR2
Independent review & score by Carivo
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Engine | 3.2L 6-Cylinder |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrain | 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Type | Regular |
| City / Hwy MPG | 15 / 22 MPG |
| Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
| Est. Annual Fuel Cost | $3,350 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $26,880–$35,908 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
Our scoring places the 2012 Land Rover LR2 at 6.6/10 overall, which translates to a Good rating for this suv. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 7.3/10, while Reliability at 5.9/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional suv — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. Reliability is the weak spot: 5.9/10, under the class average. Review the recall record on this page and price in extra maintenance headroom. The safety score of 7.3/10 is solid mid-pack territory. If advanced driver aids matter to you, compare standard equipment carefully and verify ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance at 6.5/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. Tech rates a reasonable 7.1/10: the essentials are covered and well executed, but rivals at the same price often include more as standard.
Priced from $26,880–$35,908, 10 MPG, seating 5, the Land Rover LR2 sits in the mid-market bracket of the suv segment. The value score of 6.5/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 14 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Our take: The 2012 Land Rover LR2 is a passable suv but not a standout one. Weaknesses in value and performance and reliability hold it back from being a strong recommendation. It may suit buyers with specific needs it serves well, but we'd encourage comparing at least two or three higher-scored alternatives before deciding.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2012 Land Rover LR2 ranks #2331 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 5% of the segment. Its 6.6/10 overall score is 0.8 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $26,880 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $36,079 by about 25%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking → · Best SUVs under $35k →
| Fuel (75,000 miles) | ~$26,250 ($5,250/year at $3.50/gal) |
|---|---|
| Recall repairs | $0 — 2 campaigns on record; recall work is always free at franchised dealers |
| Insurance | Varies widely by driver and state — always quote the exact trim before buying |
We only print costs we can compute from sourced data (EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls). We don't estimate maintenance or depreciation — anyone who gives you one number for those is guessing.
Across the LR2 model years we've scored, the 2012 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 6.7/10 | $29,399 | Read review → |
| 2013 | 6.7/10 | $28,140 | Read review → |
| 2012 (this review) | 6.6/10 | $26,880 |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle with our free VIN recall checker.
| Air bags 01/07/2014 · 14V395000 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 LR2 and 2012-2013 Range Rover Evoque vehicles. A component within the Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may fail, resulting in the… |
|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic / Foundation components / Disc / Caliper 06/12/2012 · 12V563000 | Jaguar Land Rover is recalling certain model year 2012 LR2 and Range Rover Evoque vehicles manufactured on June 11, 2012. The rear brake caliper retaining bolts may be insufficiently torqued. |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Own a 2012 Land Rover LR2 that's been repaired repeatedly for the same problem? It may qualify under your state's lemon law — run the free lemon law check →
We rate the 2012 Land Rover LR2's reliability 5.9/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
2 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 6.6/10 overall, ranking #2331 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 5% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2012 Land Rover LR2 starts at $26,880 and ranges up to $35,908 across trims (MSRP when new). At 10 MPG, expect roughly $5,250/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
No standout weak years: across the 3 LR2 model years we've scored, every year lands within half a point of the best (6.7/10). Pick on price and condition rather than year.
The documented issues for the 2012 Land Rover LR2 are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic (details in the recalls section above; repairs are free at dealers). For wear-and-tear patterns beyond recalls, owner forums are the best source — we only report what federal data documents.
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