Test: 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 SE

Land Rover’s baby mixes chiselled good looks with car-like performance, writes NEIL DOWLING. July 10, 2011

PART of the dream of owning an SUV is the command driving position giving you unparalleled vision over lesser traffic.
Another part is taking the kids to see the real Australia, via Birdsville.
Then there’s the family aspect. All of them love the mini-Landie. They practically wept when I said it was being returned.

VALUE: It falls into the luxury SUV category and that tells you it’s not a cheapie. At $55,310, it’s a big ask until you shop it against its natural rivals-it will even be shopped against its cousin, the mini-Range Rover Evoque.
But it gets lots of leather, electric seats with heaters, a great sound system and a full-size spare wheel.
The Freelander 2 starts at $44,990 for the turbo diesel TD4, runs through two petrol models (from $49,990) and tops out at $65,584 for deluxe diesel.
The Freelander 2 TD4 SE is priced almost on par with the BMWX1 2.0d at $55,580.
However, it’s more a rival for BMW’s pricier X3.

DESIGN: There are powerful genes in Land Rover’sDNA so there’s no mistaking the family resemblance in the chamfered, two-box shape of the baby.
It works, though, because it’s quite a functional design that maximises cabin space while making it compact on the outside and nimble enough for daily traffic duty on city roads.
The cabin follows some themes from its bigger siblings.
It’s clean, simple and stylish.
Bold switches, bright instruments, a low-mounted dashboard to maximise vision and-teamed with the side glass-contribute to an airy and light interior.

TECHNOLOGY: This is a constant, all-wheel drive wagon propelled by an enjoyable 2.2-litre turbo diesel (also going into the Jaguar XF) and a six-speed auto. The clever bits include the Terrain Response system controlled by a switch on the console.
Select sand, mud, bitumen or rocks and it changes the Haldex drive system coupling and modifies accelerator response and gear shift points.
This gives the Freelander remarkable off-road ability despite the transmission’s lack of low range.
The diesel comes as a 110kW or 140kW (marked as TD4 or SD4). Torque, a strong 420Nm for both, is the key for the Freelander’s brisk manners and ease of driving character.

SAFETY: As with its predecessor, the mini-Landie gets a five-star crash rating, six airbags and all the aids including electronic stability control, ABS on four disc brakes, cornering control and even hill descent. A mate uses hill descent on his Discovery 4 to ensure a safe trip down his home’s steep concrete driveway in the wet.

DRIVING: SUVs tend to look the way they drive-top-heavy and cumbersome. The Freelander has none of that. It’s quick, responsive, quiet and comfortable and feels more like a small car. The cabin is quite compact but seats four adults with plenty of room.
The 2.2-litre engine sounds small but delivers. There is some low-end softness but you have the options of flicking the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters to find a lower gear, or being patient.
Mid-range delivery is all torque and smoothness and feels as if it could keep pulling like that forever.
I love the suspension that soaks up road irregularities as much as softening the bumps on dirt trails. It’s a very good compromise.
In the dirt, the Haldex diff varies power delivery to the axles. It’s a heavy car and feels a bit uncomfortable on dry beach sand but lowering the tyre pressure provides traction.
It is better on gravel and firmer sand trails where the allwheel drive and quick steering rack give it confidence and stability at speed.

VERDICT: This is one of the best SUVs on the market in all class. It does everything right. But you can go outside this framework and pick up similarly equipped SUVs for a lot less.
The SD4’s more powerful engine has identical fuel consumption to the TD4 but performance is substantially better. Pay the extra $1500 and get the SD4.

specs
LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2 TD4 SE