It’s a multi-national squad that comprises the compact SUV lineup in our new car market and by any measure, the Land Rover Freelander 2 deserves its place in the team.
Spoilt for choice, buyers in this segment will rely heavily on personal styling preferences, individual lifestyles and – if price is a consideration – individual deals on offer from manufacturers and dealers.
What You Get
Car Showroom thoroughly enjoyed our week behind the wheel of the range-topping Freelander 2 TD4 HSE. It’s distinctive styling, luxurious leather interior, excellent ride quality, sharp driving dynamics and versatility got the job done for the working commute and family duties.
Sure there is lots of technology – including Land Rover’s excellent and user-friendly four-wheel-drive (4WD) system (shared with the Discovery) called Terrain Response. Activated via a center console switch, this system is governed by a Haldex center coupling and has four modes.
And as you would expect from a Land Rover there is plenty of off-road competency evident by the Freelander 2’s high ground clearance (210mm) and sturdy protection plate for the engine and gearbox. But – as is expected in this segment – the Freelander 2 is biased towards on-road, everyday driving and (for example) the Continental tyres would not be favored by serious ‘bushies’.
The HSE model we tested rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and also gains bi-xenon headlights, a three-position drivers’ seat memory and an excellent Alpine audio system with a rear headphone plus and auxiliary jack.
But overall, our impressions of the Freelander 2 are dominated by just how easy it is to operate – even for a first-time SUV driver. This is a combination of good sizing and packaging, excellent all-round vision, the smooth engine/transmission and simple, easy-to-use controls.
Under The Hood
A joint development between Ford and Peugeot-Citroen, the 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel is good for 118kW and 400Nm. Drive is to all four wheels (biased to the front under normal conditions) via a six-speed automatic transmission.
Freelander’s petrol alternative is a 3.2-litre six cylinder that delivers a lusty 171kW of power and 317Nm of torque.
We liked the diesel – it’s mostly quiet (a little noisy at high revs) and certainly makes easy work of acceleration (even with the Freelander tipping the scales at more than 1.7 tonnes).
Land Rover says the combined cycle fuel economy is 8.5l/100kms.
The Interior
We reckon the Freelander’s interior is one of the standouts in the compact SUV segment. There is a lot of Land Rover Discovery and even Range Rover about the interior.
Leather abounds and the front seats have the excellent adjustable armrests common with the more prestigious Land Rover models. The driving position is very comfortable, instruments are good and the center console controls for audio, climate control and 4WD are all very easy to use (although perhaps not the latest in style).
Car Showroom’s junior members enjoyed a good view from their child seats which mounted easily onto the rear seat (three anchor points). The rear seat is wide and comfortable even for three adults.
Exterior & Styling
Obviously from the Land Rover family, the Freelander 2 is nicely proportioned with the mesh grille and front fender side vents delivering nice, modern touches.
Colour-coded bumpers incorporate fog lamps at the front.
We liked the 18-inch alloys on the HSE model tested - they give the Freelander a much more purposeful stance.
On The Road
On-road, the Freelander 2 is very handy. The 2.2-litre turbo diesel is well-matched to the six-speed transmission and responsive in all gears.
We were particularly impressed by the low levels of NVH and noise suppression over bumps.
And while the Freelander 2 is undoubtedly confident off-road, Land Rover has delivered a nice balance - on-road the ride and handling is firm and steering response is precise.
Off-road, Land Rover’s Terrain Response and Hill Descent Control work terrifically well in tandem. The Freelander 2 will take you into some terrain that would be beyond many segment rivals.
Challenges
Over the years Land Rover’s quality and reliability issues have been an issue, however the company has made massive improvements in recent times and in our experience the Range Rovers and Land Rovers we have tested have all been nicely built and performed well – including the Freelander 2.
If you frequently load your vehicle to the max, you may find the Freelander 2 does not have the ultimate luggage capacity of some segment rivals.
Verdict
Given the high caliber of some segment rivals we thought the Freelander might have struggled – we were wrong. Land Rover has done an excellent job with the Freelander 2 and it’s a nice mix of styling, technology and is certainly very comprehensively equipped.
The interior is a standout and the driving dynamics are excellent.
The Competition
On sales, overall the compact SUV segment ‘Big Three’ are Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson but realistically, the Freelander competes in the ‘European League’ of the segment where competition is very strong.
Volkswagen’s Tiguan is a multi-award winner for good reason – it’s a great compact SUV. Pricing is sharp too, however Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre turbo-diesel does not match the Freelander 2 for power or torque.
Likewise the Renault Koleos - a great European SUV that is excellent value-for-money but it falls short of the Freelander for engine performance.
BMW’s X3 is also in the mix however it does have a price premium over the comprehensively equipped Freelander 2.
And if you’re planning on pushing the envelope off-road, the Freelander 2 has some real credentials in that area.
Likes
Well-made; extensively equipped; nice driving dynamics; strong off-road
Dislikes
Luggage space not the best in-class
