Land Rover Freelander 2 Review

Land Rover Freelander Review

The original Land Rover Freelander caused a stir when it was launched in 1997. It proved so popular that it topped the 4x4 charts in Europe for five years and in the UK, it was the best-seller from its launch until 2005, according to Land Rover.

So, can the new Freelander 2 achieve the same level of popularity? There seems to be no reason why not. Whereas the previous model majored on functionality over form, the all-new Freelander 2 is more like a mini Range Rover both in looks and comfort levels. Unfortunately, these things come at a price.

The entry level TD4 S is priced at £20,935 and the top-of-the-range i6 HSE is £33,990, which is quite a hefty price tag when compared to some other 4x4s on the market. However, Land Rover argues that the others don’t have the same off-road capability and point at the new levels of interior luxury and ride quality.

To a certain extent the company has a point - the car is faster and better on the road, it does have a more comfortable interior space and it’s more economical but I believe it’s the Land Rover name that swings it. For those who are fond of venturing into the unknown, the Land Rover badge is synonymous with off-road capability.

The test car was the TD4 model in HSE trim, which heads up the diesel range and bears a price tag of £30,935. The TD4, 2.2-litre, turbo-diesel is new to the Freelander 2 and is offered as an alternative to the i6, 3.2-litre petrol engine.

The diesel produces 160PS (158bhp) at 4,000rpm and 400Nm at 2,000rpm - 200Nm is available between 1,000 and 4,500rpm, so there is plenty of pulling power on tap. Until recently, this engine was only mated to a 6-speed manual transmission but can now, with the exception of the ‘S’ model,  be ordered with the same 6-speed automatic gearbox with Command Shift, that appears in the i6 version.