It's also hard to dismiss the tailgate, probably the only one to sport an asymmetrical door, the only eccentric touch on this otherwise rather staid vehicle.

The central navigation system, for example, is fairly easy to use, especially since it repeats the directions out loud and very precisely.

Luxury and practicality
Strange that they still had trouble fitting an uncluttered dashboard in such a large vehicle. Indeed, the LR3's dash and centre console seemingly overflow with gadgets and knobs of all shapes and sizes, several of which require some patience to master.

The central navigation system, for example, is fairly easy to use, especially since it repeats the directions out loud and very precisely. However, the numerous buttons that surround it, which control the audio system (very efficient with its 10 speakers) or the air conditioning, require precise handling. Large fingers, in a moving car, won't have any trouble mixing up the controls.

It's worth mentioning that more is not merrier in this case, and the presence of all the control buttons does nothing for the charm of an otherwise well designed, spacious interior that offers lots of support to both the front and rear passengers as well as the driver.

And because we tested the HSE version, the top of the line, it was equipped with all the systems and gadgets imaginable, including integrated Bluetooth, voice command, and a completely computerized information centre.

Lastly, the generous cargo area was large enough to fit my son's bicycle without even having to lower the seats, which justifies its size. It's so high, however, that you have to get up on tiptoe to reach it.

The generous cargo area was large enough to fit my son's bicycle without even having to lower the seats, which justifies its size.