  2014 Land Rover LR2. Click image to enlarge |
Coming up over a rise, we head towards the “water obstacle” below, a small man-made lake featuring a series of huge log jumps and giant carved waterfowl. Water lapping at the LR2’s door frames,we’re able to appreciate how truly imposing these jumps are close up, since Ockendon has driven straight into the centre of the pond.
Later that day, I’m invited by the Jaguar/Land Rover crew to try out their on-site off-road course in my own borrowed LR2. Throughout the weekend, the team offered show guests a chance to experience Land Rover’s legendary off-road capabilities for themselves, as well as some seat-time in the new Jaguar F-Type Coupe.
  2014 Land Rover LR2. Click image to enlarge |
While riders in their trim black jackets and velvet caps guided their steeds over gaily coloured poles in the showjumping ring far below, we made our way up a gravel road set into the Bromont foothills. As an upscale cute-ute, my tester is probably further off-road than any LR2 will ever venture, but it’s having little trouble negotiating the rugged forest trail.
Clambering over deep ruts and gravel banks, the LR2’s soft-roading, front-wheel drive character becomes more obvious. Its lack of air suspension and transfer case result in more lateral toss, jostling and wheel spin than the hard-core Land Rover models – yet it managed to successfully negotiate the worst of the rough-hewn gravel trail. The Terrain Response system has four driver selectable modes; General, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts or Sand which continuously adapts the torque split distribution depending on the terrain conditions. There’s also a host of traction control, roll stability, hill descent and “Gradiant Release Control” systems designed to keep the LR2 upright and under control while scaling slippery, steep terrain.
Boxy rump in the air, we chugged down a nearly vertical incline at the end of the course just in time to watch the final round of jumping.
Show jumping is the final test of the multi-discipline event, and the scores earned here can often determine the eventual winner.
When a petite Canadian rider named Jessica Phoenix soared clear over the final rail on her mare “A Little Romance” – beating seasoned teams from around the world – the crowd erupted in frenzied cheers. Adding to the excitement was the news that Bromont had just been chosen to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Returning the Land Rover to its Toronto headquarters early next morning, I couldn’t help but notice the faint, yet unmistakable fragrance of horse emanating from its interior.
Somehow, it seemed fitting.
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Pricing: 2014 Land Rover LR2
Base Price: $48,190
Options: Navigation $2,000, Sirius Satellite Radio – $450, Grand Black Lacquer Finish $380, Meridian Sound System $1,200
Freight: $1,470
A/C Tax: $100
Price as Tested: $53,790
Competition:
Audi Q5
BMW X3
Mercedes-Benz GLK
Porsche Macan
Crash Test Results:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
