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Land Rover Freelander 2 SUV

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Land Rover Freelander 2 SUV Review

Price range:

$44,990 - $65,854

Car Verdict rating:

Good:

Crisp design is aging well, class leading off-road ability, excellent vision, handling and ride.

Not so Good:

Excessive wind noise, aging dash layout, excessive body roll at speed.

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Land Rover Freelander 2 SUV Competitors

Land Rover Evoque 40 from: $53,395 car review	Volvo XC60 40 from: $56,950 car review	BMW X3 40 from: $62,200 car review
Audi Q5 40 from: $63,400 car review	MINI Countryman 35 from: $37,700 car review

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Land Rover Freelander 2 SUV Review

Design and Engineering	Good	The latest generation Freelander hit Australian shores in May 2007. The overall design and styling is clean and uncomplicated – we like its positive stance, the floating effect roof, blackened rear pillars and chunky door handles. The Freelander is also noticeably roomier than the 1st generation model which sold here from 1998 to mid 2007. Whilst it rides on a car like monocoque platform, make no mistake the Freelander is still a true off-roader. Thankfully so, the engine and radiator are protected by a rugged under-tray and Land Rover’s Terrain Response means it can be driven with confidence over a wide variety of surfaces. The mid life facelift went on sale here in February 2011. With it came new bumpers, grille, headlights and tail-lights - As well as the usual new alloy wheel offerings and paint colours came a new turbo-diesel engine offered in two levels of power.
Design and Engineering	Not so good	Some of our testers think the design is starting to age and it’s also heavier than most compact SUV’s. It is also uniquely sized – larger than a Volkswagen Tiguan yet smaller inside than the premium BMW X3, Audi Q5 or Volvo XC60 offerings.
Interior and Styling	Good	The interior layout is functional; with excellent visibility for all on board. The upright ‘command’ driving position ensures you sit high in the Freelander. Depending on the grade the seats are covered in a durable cloth or two types of high quality leather. The front centre armrests are a nice touch as is how the doors cover over the side sills (keeping them free from mud), ensuring that when entering the Freelander you won’t make a mess of your pants. The high roof line equates to excellent levels of headroom for second row passengers. When not in use the back seat folds down flat (in a useful 60/40 format) creating a large cargo zone. The load floor cover is reversible – carpet on one side and a water resistant surface on the other -practical thinking on Land Rover’s behalf. The mid life facelift brought along some new trim levels in the model range.
Interior and Styling	Not so good	The interior lacks the premium feel of the Range Rover Evoque or the luxury German models previously mentioned. The angular dash feels old school in design with too large portions of the interior surfaced in hard plastics. The controls and switches also lack that luxurious feel. The green back lighting in the audio screen looks outdated (which the top XSE grade thankfully does without) and the high number of buttons scattered around the centre console makes a great argument for a mouse like interface button. The Garmin brand satellite navigation screen is smaller than most, but, it does work and it’s easy to use. Rear seat knee and legroom is average, plus the Freelander lacks rear air-conditioning vents. The boot has a higher than ideal load height and the 755 litre capacity (or 1670 litres rear seats folded) isn’t as impressive as it sounds due to the shape of the cargo zone.
Performance	Good	There are two engines on offer – a 2.2-litre four cylinder turbo diesel (two different tuning levels to choose from) and a 3.2-litre six cylinder petrol. The 2.2-litre TD4 engine produces 110kW of power and a very healthy 420Nm of torque, the 2.2-litre SD4 increases power to 140kW with torque staying at 420Nm and the 3.2-litre Si6 produces 171kW of power and 317Nm of torque. All bar the entry level grade are offered solely with a six speed automatic transmission (the TD4 also can be opted with a six speed manual and this grade also comes with idle-stop to minimise fuel usage). We went a week with the TD4 in mid spec XS trim and came away impressed. Whilst the official 0-100km/h time is 11.7 seconds in the real world it feels a lot faster. Pulling power is impressive from low revs, the engine stays relatively refined when driven sensibly and the six speed auto delivers power smoothly and impressive.
Performance	Not so good	Against the competition the diesel is louder than ideal, most noticeable at idle and low revs, however it becomes less of an issue at higher speeds. Road noise is also louder than ideal and whilst much more frugal than the petrol six, the diesel’s real world economy is higher than most (a price to pay for the off-road capabilities?).
Ride and Handling	Good	The Freelander has a smooth, comfortable ride and stays composed over most road surfaces. The long travel suspension is softer than typical; a bonus when negotiating poorly marked roads. Gravel surfaces are handled with aplomb and should you need or wish to negotiate 4x4 terrains the Freelander will be well and truly up to it. The Terrain Response driver controlled system offers 4 modes (on-road, grass/grave/snow/, mud and rock, and sand) – off road the Freelander is class leading. The steering is direct and was well weighted under hand.
Ride and Handling	Not so good	Body roll in the Freelander is more noticeable when compared to its more road focused competitors like the BMW X3, Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5. Body roll becomes more evident when cornering on tarmac at speed, but the Freelander isn’t built to be driven like a hot hatch it was designed to driven in a more sedate manner. And this is when the Freelander is at its most enjoyable to drive, when tackling country roads or getting dirty off-road.
Buying and Owning	Good	As of February 2011 the Freelander is better value than previously. We think the XS trim grade is the pick of the range. It comes with leather trimmed seats, automatic climate control, a nine-speaker audio system, satellite-navigation, Bluetooth and is far less expensive than the top of the range XSE grades. All Freelander’s come with a full size spare wheel (located under the boot floor) - a plus for country driver’s over competing SUV’s that only come with a temporary space saver spare. At the high end of the option range, there’s a new Premium Luxury Pack option with Windsor leather trim in Ebony, Almond, Ivory or Tan colours; privacy glass; special 19-inch alloy wheels; eight/six-way electric seats; a Logic 7 audio system; premium carpet mats and covered centre stowage. This is available on the range-topping SD4 Freelander HSE only and adds $6890 to the $64,854 price.
Buying and Owning	Not so good	The optional Premium Luxury Pack takes the Freelander a step to far. Yes, the Windsor leather trim is beautiful to touch, the Logic 7 audio system is high quality and the 19-inch alloys look the part. But, we think the smarter value is lower down in the price range. If you want a compact sized Land Rover loaded with every possible luxury option, surely the Range Rover Evoque is the more appropriate vehicle to load up. Larger wheel options aren’t the way to go if you intend to travel off-road – our tip is to go for the smaller wheels with larger profile tyres.