Land Rover

Freelander 2

Often seen as the looker of the range, the Freelander is always guaranteed to turn heads. Its spacious interior offers versatility and there are many top notch features such as seats with memories and full-colour touch-screen DVD satellite navigation. The model was replaced by the Discovery Sport.

Test Drive

Land Rover Freelander 2 SD4 190PS Metropolis

As the ever-popular Land Rover Freelander prepared to make way for the all-new Discovery Sport, it seemed only fitting that a fully loaded and specced up model was introduced to take the final bow.

Based on the top-of-the-range HSE model, the Metropolis trim is bursting at the seams with luxurious refinements and techno treats.

For example the car boasts the finest premium Windsor leather upholstery, a panoramic glass roof, touchscreen navigation, a Meridian sound system, luxury carpet mats, a heated steering wheel, reversing camera, electrically adjustable seats, metallic paint, xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights and a list that goes on and on.

It looks amazing from any angle with its sporty, yet rugged stance along with 19-inch alloy diamond turned wheels and, of course the 4×4 capabilities simply reinforce its ‘go-anywhere’ attitude. The spacious interior offers ample room for four adults to stretch out in comfort and the high roofline results in plenty of head room with light flooding into the cabin via the large sunroof.

And luggage limitations will rarely be enforced either as the Freelander is designed to cope with hefty loads. The boot can accommodate 405 litres of luggage and with the 60:40 split folding rear seats lowered this is increased to a whopping 1,670 litres.

The Freelander Metropolis is powered by a 2.2-litre SD4 turbo 190PS diesel engine which provides ample oomph as it moves smoothly through the six-speed automatic gearbox.

Admittedly it’s not the fastest powerhouse around and sudden bursts of pace do take a little planning, but that aside the vehicle is superb fun to drive and ready to take on anything Mother Nature throws its way.

It can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 9.5 seconds and tops out at 118mph. According to official figures the Freelander can deliver 40.4mpg on a combined run with carbon emissions of 185g/km.

But it’s always worth taking a step back and reminding ourselves just how capable the Freelander is when really put to the test. For example, it has a wading depth of 500mm, obstacle clearance up to 210mm plus approach and departure angles that are certainly not for the faint-hearted!

In and around town, the Freelander proved very simple to drive – it was nimble and deceptively agile for its size – and the high-seated driving position results in excellent all-round visibility.

Then out on faster lanes and motorways, it delivers a comfortable and smooth ride for all occupants and easily keeps pace with fast-moving traffic. There is a little road, wind and engine noise, but it’s not too bad and the pitch perfect Meridian audio system soon factors out that issue.

Road-holding also impresses and that means tight bends can be attacked with confidence and the ultra-efficient suspension system somehow manages to iron out all the creases, bumps and dips along the way.

As one would expect, the Freelander is kitted out with a comprehensive array of safety specifications to keep occupants safe both on and off road, where the terrain response system – along with a host of other driver aids – assist in tackling obstacles such as snow, sand, rocks and mud.

All in all, the Metropolis model priced at just a fiver shy of £36k, seems to be the perfect way for the Freelander to sign off after gaining so many plaudits worldwide over the years.

Test Drive

Land Rover Freelander 2 SD4 190PS HSE LUX

Boasting a sportier, more rugged and ready-for action stance, the new Land Rover Freelander has been given its biggest make-over since it was launched back in 2006.

The vehicle is lining up in a very competitive segment these days with plenty of opposition from the likes of Audi and Honda, so it really needs to pull out all the stops… and it does.

It looks amazing with a bold front end with “Land Rover” emblazoned across the bonnet.

Distinguishing features include the large double grille, 19-inch alloys, body-coloured door mirrors and door handles, a double sunroof, plus sweeping lines that give the vehicle a real presence.

It oozes style and class, but equally appears ready for any challenge thrown in its path.

The interior has been given a shake-up and now boasts plenty of premium equipment as standard with improved instrumentation.

There are fewer switches and controls, but make no mistake this vehicle is still feature-rich with technical treats.

Comfort levels are exceptionally high with electrically adjustable seats complete with memory settings.

They can be heated at the flick of a switch and even the steering wheel can be heated to help beat off the winter chill.

Passengers are treated to a bright and welcoming cabin environment with light flooding through the large windows and double sunroof. The high roofline helps the trio of back seat passengers benefit from plenty of head space.

And there will never be any luggage restrictions either as the generously-sized boot can quickly and easily be increased capacity-wise thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats.

The interior has been beautifully crafted with black soft leather upholstery neatly finished off with grey stitching.

Creature comforts include a brilliant infotainments package with a 17-speaker Meridian sound system, sat nav via a colour touchscreen, Bluetooth, automatic climate control and plenty more besides.

So, the new Freelander 2 certainly looks the part and is packed with quality features. But how does it perform?

We’ll, it’s a winner there too with the 2.2-litre diesel-driven engine powering the vehicle from 0-60mph in just 8.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 118mph.

It can deliver a combined fuel economy of 40.4mpg with carbon emissions of 185g/km.

Acceleration through the six-speed automatic transmission is very smooth and the power seems to be in endless supply.

All-round visibility is excellent and cabin noise relatively low.

But don’t forget this vehicle is just as accomplished off road as it is on the more familiar Tarmac.

It features full time Intelligent 4WD and at the flick of the terrain response switch it can cope with any surface or obstacle put in its path.

In fairness, if you are behind the wheel of a Freelander, you will not get caught out by anything unexpected that Mother Nature throws you way.

Of course, Land Rover has kitted the Freelander out with a vast range of top notch safety specifications.

All in all, the latest generation Freelander is a brilliant all-rounder.

And priced just shy of £40k, it’s very clear to see why this car has such a vast and loyal following from the Land Rover fan base.

Test Drive

Land Rover Freelander 2 SD4 HSE

It was always regarded as the baby of the Land Rover bunch, but it seems the Freelander 2 has grown up.

Yet despite its size and design enhancements the vehicle now boasts improved CO2 emissions and better fuel efficiency too. But fear not, there is no compromise on performance – the Freelander 2 can go from 0-62mph in just 8.7 seconds and boasts a top speed of 118mph.

The new 2.2 diesel model supplied for the test drive delivered 190PS and included the latest design tweaks such as a new bumper, grille and improved headlights and taillights, a choice of alloys and new colour schemes – the test model was Lago Grey.

So the exterior may look a little different from its predecessor, but there is a comforting, instantly recognisable and almost reassuring appearance to the interior with clear dials, easy-to-operate buttons and switches and leather seats (heated of course) that can be electrically moved up, down, back or forth to find the perfect, comfortable driving position.

There is ample space for four adults to travel in extreme comfort and a fifth over shorter journeys and there is no limitations on the luggage they can bring along either as the boot is very generously-sized and can be increased further thanks to split-folding rear seats.

Light floods in via the large windows and double sunroof which gives the cabin a very spacious feel and there are plenty of creature comforts, including dual zone climate control, sat nav, cruise control, parking sensors, a great sound system (although I was disappointed I couldn’t connect my iPod), multi-function steering wheel and plenty more besides.

In and around town, the Freelander 2 proved deceptively nimble and easy to manoeuvre. The high seated driving position and larger-than-life door mirrors resulted in excellent all-round visibility and squeezing into tight parking spaces is made all the easier thanks to those sensors.

Then out on the open road, the 2.2-litre engine delivered plenty of power and acceleration as the vehicle moved smoothly through the automatic transmission.

Road holding was excellent even in wetter conditions and cabin noise was relatively quiet.

And while few owners will venture from the familiarity of Tarmac roads, the driving mode on the Freelander 2 can be simply switched via a central dial so you can deal with anything Mother Nature throws in your path such as rivers or very steep inclines.

As one would expect, Land Rover has fitted the vehicle with a very comprehensive list of safety features and with a price tag of £36,245 (plus £2,975 optional extras) the Freelander 2 has matured into a fantastic 4×4 vehicle that feels just as much at home on a mountain side as it does on the school run.

Test Drive

Land Rover Freelander 2 2.2 TD4 HSE 5dr

Guaranteed to turn heads in any busy car park, the Freelander 2 may not be as big as some of its siblings, but it still ticks all the boxes.

On the performance front, both on and off road, it makes a great impression and when it comes to creature comforts you couldn’t possibly be disappointed for this vehicle has been carefully constructed to meet a very demanding criteria.

Admittedly, it does come with a fairly hefty price tag, but sometimes you get just what you pay for and this is one of those instances.

So once you get over any penny-pinching issues, the Freelander 2 is ready to take on any challenge on any terrain… and make very light work of it.

And for drivers who are unlikely to venture very far from the Tarmac, the Freelander is packed with first class features such as leather seats that can easily be adjusted six ways to make extra carrying space, a wood-effect fascia, colour-schemed carpets, a superb sound system and MP3 audio socket to name just a few.

But for the more adventurous (or just those everyday drivers trying to cope with the latest cold snap that global warming has sent us), the Freelander’s ability in snow and icy conditions is outstanding.

Obviously, the Land Rover name is synonymous with great build and awesome off-roading capabilities, so you wouldn’t really expect anything less of the Freelander – and it does live up to all expectations.

It boasts Land Rover’s unique Terrain Response System which maximises traction across a range of surfaces through the vehicle’s electronic management system and traction aids.

This basically means that you select the setting to suit the driving and weather conditions and Land Rover does the rest for you, so minimising effort and maximising performance and safety, be it on snow, ice, sand, gravel or steep inclines.

Elsewhere, the Freelander is crammed with state-of-the-art safety specifications including anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist, electronic traction control, roll stability control, cornering brake control plus much much more.

All in all, the Freelander is on the wish-list of so many motorists as it has looks, performance, luxury and quality written all over it.

It’s just a case of getting past the initial asking price.