Search: More on the Land Rover Freelander
All-new replacement for the UK's best-selling 4x4, the new Freelander is bigger with prices to match. But will it tempt buyers away from the Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trial?
Price: 2.2 TD4 HSE, (without options) £30,690
On sale: Now
0-62mph: 10.9 seconds; top speed 112mph
Average fuel: 37.2 mpg
Standard equipment: alloy wheels, cruise control, electric sunroof, climate control, remote central locking, electronic stability control, driver, passenger and side airbags, power windows, CD autochanger, satellite navigation, power seat adjustment, leather trim and parking sensors.
Tiscali verdict: 8/10 Finally the Freelander badge is worthy of the Land Rover name. It's not a cheap option, but is satisfying to drive on and off-road.
It might look like a neatly face-lifted Freelander MK1, but be in no doubt that the latest car is all new and no significant part is carried over. Larger, better-built and with prices peaking at well over £30,000, the new Freelander jumps a class straight into BMW X3 territory. Why, you may ask? Well, the US is a key market for the new car and some of the Americans simply couldn't fit in the old model. But what you really want to know is whether the new car has overcome the old cars reputation for poor durability. After a week and over 600 miles at the wheel, I know the answer.
The Freelander looks really every bit the baby Land Rover, with classic styling cues including the clam-shell bonnet. Worthy of particular mention are the distinctive front headlight units and the bold front grille with the Land Rover badge - it's a surprisingly small badge considering the size of the grille. The styling is all-new, but it's a familiar look and you couldn't mistake the Freelander for any rival. Other design highlights from the side include the Freelander's roof line which rises Discovery style towards the back of the car and the deeper rear windows. At the back, there are distinctive rear light clusters, plus, the tailgate now opens like a conventional estate car instead of sideways, but the rear window doesn't open separately. The shape works better with some colours than others. Our test car looked really sharp in the metallic orange finish.
The inside of the Freelander is a nice place to be: there's a feeling of quality and solidity that never featured in the old car. It's bigger too, with more leg, shoulder and head room inside, so you're more likely to get comfortable. The padded surfaces of the dashboard and doors feel well made; the high driving position gives a commanding view of the road; the front and rear seats are comfortable and supportive on long journeys and the dashboard, although perhaps slightly cluttered, is stylish and easy to use. The boot with its hatched tailgate is practical - it's just a shame there's not more room.
Is your car dirty? Check out guide to car cleaning...
Despite its chunky looks, the Freelander is very good to drive on the road. It's also very capable off of it, in true Land Rover tradition. Most 4x4's feel very ponderous on the road, but not the Freelander which always feels composed with body roll kept well under control. The 2.2-litre TD4 diesel engine is a revelation; it's refined, frugal, pokey and has loads of low down torque. The six-speed manual gearbox is well matched to the engine, feeling slick and smooth. A great cruiser, its long gearing and refined engine make it hard to tell you're driving a diesel and the touring range is an impressive 37.2mpg.
Fancy a closer look? Check out our Land Rover Freelander gallery
Land Rover is at the top of the game with the new Freelander. It looks sharp, is fun to drive, great to be seen in and should be painless to own (the opposite to the old car). It feels every bit the premium baby Land Rover it's supposed to be. It's just a shame about the price and that the boot is not bigger.
