FREE YOUR MIND
By Line
To some, a Land Rover without four-wheel drive is a heresy, but to many a front-wheel drive Freelander makes every kind of sense. Andy Enright reports.
Ten Second Review
Here's an strange one. A Land Rover that Land Rover buffs will probably abhor. The idea of a Land Rover without four-wheel drive might infuriate the purists but for the many customers who use their Freelander primarily on tarmac and value its practicality and style, the front-wheel drive eD4 will tick all the right boxes.
Background
Sixty-two years is a long time to stick to one particular engineering philosophy but that's how long Land Rover has been building vehicles, and every last one of its production models has had four-wheel drive. An utterly immovable corporate touchstone, it was probably easier to imagine Porsche building a front-engined 911 or Morgan moving to an automated production line than thinking of a Land Rover with anything other than four-wheel drive. You might well imagine, therefore, the slack-jawed stupefaction among Land Rover buffs when the company announced that it was to build a front-wheel drive version of its latest Freelander.
Front-wheel drive SUVs aren't a modern phenomenon, Those with long memories might recall the Matra Rancho, while in more recent times front-wheel drive versions of the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CR-V have proven strong sellers. Quite clearly, the market was there for Land Rover's taking. Was it just dogma that was holding the company back?
Driving Experience
Leaving aside any debate about corporate heritage or brand values, how does the Freelander eD4 drive? Rather disappointingly for the mud 'n' muck die-hards, it drives much like any other Freelander. But then even a four-wheel drive Freelander is nominally front-wheel drive when driven in normal conditions on tarmac, the differential only sending power to the rear when traction to the front tyres is lost. So in 99 per cent of driving conditions, the eD4 front-wheel drive feels no different. Only in icy or snowy conditions will you hanker after all-wheel drive and even then, Land Rover's clever traction software maximises the amount of available grip. What's perhaps overlooked is that a set of winter tyres is often a more cost-effective investment than a four-wheel drive system in the snow and ice anyway as they help when braking and cornering as well as accelerating. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine is good for 149bhp and, as befits the entry-level model, it drives through a manual gearbox. It can propel the car to 60mph in 10.7s and on to a top speed of 112mph.
What might come as a complete surprise is Land Rover's confidence in the Freelander eD4 as an off-road vehicle. Surely some mistake? The Freelander eD4 is mystifyingly capable off road. Yes, it will give up before an all-wheel drive model, but it sniffs out grip where none seems to exist while all of the Freelander's inherent all-terrain rightness (underbody protection, ground clearance, tight approach, breakover and departure angles) still applies.
Design and Build
Although the shape is recognisable, you get more Land Rover for your money now in Freelander 2 guise. It's 50mm longer, 109mm wider and 32mm taller than the original but the wheels have been moved further towards each corner, freeing up another 105mm in the car's wheelbase which, in turn, makes rear seat accommodation a whole lot better. The exterior of the latest Freelander 2 has been treated to a facelift marked out by a beefier front bumper assembly incorporating front fog lap bezels, a revised front grille, improved headlights and tail lamps, a full width tailgate applique and fresh 18- or 19-inch alloy wheel styles. There are three more colours to choose from too: Kosrae Green, Baltic Blue and Fuji White.
In the cabin, Land Rover's design team has revised the instrument dials, and there are now four seat styles with the option of a Premium Pack that includes Windsor Leather upholstery, an 8/6 way electric seat, plus premium carpet mats and covered centre stowage. That old accusation that the Freelander cabin was a bit of a hotchpotch of quality materials mixed with cheap plastics is now much less of an issue, with the good stuff being distributed far more liberally.
Market and Model
Prices open at £21,995 for the entry-level S model and hit £32,995 for the range-topping HSE. Given that these models are mechanically identical, that's quite a premium to charge for equipment but it's worth noting that few private buyers will spring for the S version, as the Freelander eD4 starts to look attractively specified only when you step up to the GS grade.
View the first rung on the Freelander eD4 ladder as the next model up, the GS priced at £24,995, and you'll appreciate how de-contented the S model is. The GS gets cruise control, power fold mirrors, rear parking sensors, rain sensing wipers, auto headlamps and bigger 17-inch alloy wheels. Step up to the £28,595 XS and you'll also get a DVD-based navigation system, heated front seats trimmed in Alcantara and leather and a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel. The HSE version includes memory seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, an electric sunroof, a rear spoiler, and a very special stereo by Alpine which features digital radio and Dolby Pro Logic II 7.1 surround sound with no fewer than thirteen speakers.
Cost of Ownership
Land Rover bills the Freelander eD4 as its most economical car ever and it's hard to argue with the figures. With no four-wheel drive mechanicals to haul about, the eD4 is around 75kg lighter, model for model, and with its Stop/Start system that cuts the engine when stationary, will return a combined fuel economy figure of 47.1mpg. That said, the differences over the TD4 four-wheel drive model aren't huge, with that car managing a combined figure of 45.6mpg. It's a similar story when it comes to emissions, the eD4 managing 158g/km and the TD4 165g/km. This is largely down to the efficiency of the Freelander's TD4's third generation Haldex four-wheel drive system.
While this small saving may be the difference between the Freelander eD4 making it to an approved company car list or not, for private buyers it doesn't make too much difference. They'll probably be more impressed by the £750 list price difference between this and the TD4. Resale values for the Freelander 2 have outstripped initial industry estimates, with retained values after three years of comfortably over 40 per cent of its original price. Initial demand for the eD4 model appears strong so there's no reason to suggest it won't follow suit.
Summary
The Freelander eD4 might just be the most divisive car I've come across in the last couple of years. Were it to wear anything other than a Land Rover badge, it would doubtless be judged a classy, capable and worthwhile newcomer. Indeed, if you feel no great affinity for the Land Rover brand, it could well be the model that welcomes you to the fold. That historical baggage is a tough thing to ignore, however, and for every person that welcomes Land Rover's pragmatism, there will be another that thinks the company has sold out an enduring principle for the sake of a quick buck.
I take a practical view. The car market is tough enough without a company being hidebound by dogma. Flexibility is key and Land Rover can still build the best 4x4s in the world without having to watch market share bleed away at the bottom of its range. Land Rover anoraks can direct complaints to the usual address but I think the Freelander eD4 is one of the boldest product decision I've seen for a very long time.
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THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE
Introduction
The Freelander 2 is the compact 4x4 we all knew Land Rover had the capacity to build. Whereas its predecessor's spread of talents was distinctly patchy, the Freelander 2 offered superior build quality, sleeker styling and even better off-road potential. It was also a car that improved quite significantly over the course of its life and the models we look at here are those built from 2008 through to the 2011 model year facelift that arrived in dealerships at the end of 2010.
Models
5dr Compact 4x4 (2.2-litre diesel [S, GS, XS, HSE])
History
By the time 2008 rolled round, the Land Rover Freelander 2 had already earned its reputation as the classiest compact 4x4 around. Now contributing to rather than living off the Land Rover brand, the Freelander nevertheless found itself looking down the barrel of the credit crunch with buyers keeping what money they had under lock and key while nervous banks refused to extend lines of credit to anybody without an impeccable credit score and some serious collateral to back it up with. In other words the market for smart 4x4s virtually evaporated overnight.
Remedial action was required. The first and most obvious change was to can the slow-selling, thirsty and expensive 3.2-litre petrol engined cars. An environmental and austerity pitch couldn't be taken seriously when there was a 232bhp slugger in the line up that managed 25mpg and spouted 265g/km of carbon dioxide. Land Rover decided that an all-diesel line up was the way forward and reinforced the message by introducing the TD4_e, a model that reduced the diesel engine's CO2 from 194 to 179g/km and featured a Stop/Start system that cuts the engine when the car is stationary - a first in the SUV sector. This Stop/Start technology was rolled out to all manual models in 2009.
What You Get
If you're thinking of graduating to this Freelander 2 from an original Freelander, you're in for a treat. It's fully 50mm longer, 109mm wider and 32mm taller and the wheels were shifted further towards each corner, freeing up another 105mm in the car's wheelbase, making rear seat accommodation a whole lot better and improving off-road ability into the deal. The kerb weight crept up to over 1,900kg in the process but a parallel improvement in safety and refinement is a transaction most customers will be willing to accept. Quality-wise, the interior is a somewhat unusual mix of very high quality materials with some surprisingly cheap plastics. It's better than you'd expect in a mainstream compact 4x4 but perhaps not quite of the standard you'd find in the Freelander's premium-badged German rivals.
There are four trim levels offered: S, GS, XS and HSE. The S model misses out quite badly in not being fitted with the amazing Terrain Response system, so I'd be tempted to walk on by.
The Freelander feels a classier and more sophisticated proposition than compact 4x4s such as Nissan's X-Trail, Toyota's RAV4 and Honda's CR-V. By the same token, though, its genuine off-road prowess and Land Rover badge mean you're far more likely to see a mud-splattered Freelander than a premium compact SUV like the BMW X1 or Audi's Q5 with soiled alloys. The Freelander's mix of quality and honest practicality set it apart and the latest cars add greater efficiency into that rare mix. You'll need a manual TD4_e model to take advantage of low emissions and superior fuel economy. By contrast, the automatic model looks increasingly outmoded.
What You Pay
This versions of the Freelander 2 has, if anything, outstripped initial estimates as to how much of its new value it would retain. As such, bargains are hard to come by. Yes, the market might have been swelled by smart rivals such as the Audi Q5 and the BMW X1, but the Freelander 2 retains such a core of support that you'll need at least £14,375 for a manual S model and £15,825 for a low mileage GS.
What to Look For
The Freelander used to have a distinctly second rate reliability record, but the Freelander 2 has improved things hand over fist. Check if a tow bar has been fitted and also check the tyres for odd wear patterns. Although the Freelander 2 is very capable off road, there are limits to its ground clearance so inspect the underside for signs of damage to the suspension, exhaust and front valance. The diesel engine is a tough unit and if you're test driving the car on a cold day, don't be afraid if the Stop/Start system fails to kick in. The engine is programmed to keep running at temperatures below three degrees Celsius. The lower dash plastics can scratch easily and make sure the glove box hinges are still in requisite order.
Replacement Parts
(Based on 2009 Freelander TD4 - approx excl. VAT). Mirror glass retails at £20 for the flat panel and £25 for convex glass. Tail light bulbs are just 29p a pop, and a lamp assembly for the rear number plate is £10. An auxiliary drive belt is £15 and oil and air filter elements are £7 and £6 respectively.
On the Road
This Freelander 2 is very much a tale of two gearboxes. The manual model gets the Start/Stop system and returns superior economy and less carbon emissions. The automatic version, well, it doesn't. The buying decision ought to be fairly cut and dried in that case and while we'd still counsel you to go for the manual model, there remains the inescapable fact that the automatic is just nicer to drive. Decisions, decisions.
Assuming that you have chosen the manual car, you'll get from zero to 60mph in a middling 10.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 112mph, so it's doubtful you're going to win any drag races. Body control through corners is way better than in the old Freelander, though, and this Freelander 2 is a car from which you can derive some enjoyment on a challenging section of road.
It's off road that the magic is revealed, and only once you've taken your Freelander 2 off road (ideally under the initial auspices of people who know what they're doing) that you'll marvel at how well Land Rover has integrated that ability and enabled it to work with what are often the conflicting demands of road driving. The Terrain Response system allows the driver to select what sort of off-road conditions the car has to tackle via a rotary knob on the dashboard and the car's electronics work out how best to apportion power and maximise traction. There's still no low range transfer case, but you do get a sophisticated Gradient Release Control system which offers a logical extension of the much-imitated Hill Descent Control system for descending very steep inclines.
Overall
If you're in the market for a compact 4x4 that can cut it off-road and yet which offers a civilised on-road performance, stop right here. Your shortlist need only run to this Land Rover Freelander 2. There may be other rivals that handle a little better on the black top, but for a truly versatile vehicle, nothing can top this Freelander 2. The used market is quite vibrant at the moment, and while it's hard to find genuine bargains, you should still be able to find solid value for money. The best buy is probably a low mileage manual GS model with a fully stamped-up service book but it's hard to go too far wrong with this generation Freelander.
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LAND OF THE FREE?
By Line
Land Rover's Freelander has had to move with the times but the latest models look well in tune with today's market. Steve Walker reports
Preview
As a manufacturer that built its name on producing 4x4 vehicles and more specifically, 4x4 vehicles that are amongst the best in the world for off-road driving, Land Rover was placed in something of a predicament recently. Driven by legislative changes, increased environmental awareness amongst consumers and, hopefully, a desire to do the right thing, the car industry installed improving efficiency as a top priority. Land Rover's problem was that falling in line behind this green banner becomes all the more difficult when your range is full of large, heavy vehicles with complex all-wheel-drive mechanicals. To Land Rover's considerable credit, it rose to the challenge and the latest Freelander is a good indication of progress made.
Ten Second Review
The first front wheel drive Land Rover is now available at the bottom end of the Freelander range but it's the 4x4 cars with their class-leading off-road ability that impress most. All versions get a roomy and solidly built cabin and the latest engines boost the baby Land Rover's environmental credentials.
Background
The massive, earth-shattering news with this Freelander is that you can get a front-wheel-drive one. Land Rover aficionados up and down the country will have wept into their army surplus chemical warfare boots at the news but the camouflage-clad off-road army with their Defenders and Mk1 Range Rovers should not despair. Land Rover hasn't sold out. The Freelander range remains centred on a core of 4x4 models, with the front-wheel-drive alternatives created as entry-level choices to compete in an area of the European compact 4x4 market that accounts for around 23 per cent of total sales.
Driving Experience
The 2.2-litre diesel engine that powers the Freelander is available in two guises. The TD4 is the 148bhp version that comes as standard with an automatic gearbox and Stop/Start technology which cuts the engine when the Freelander is stationary to save fuel. The automatic transmission is available as an option and, unusually, also comes with Stop/Start technology on the TD4. Go for the more powerful 187bhp SD4 version of the 2.2 engine, however, and the automatic gearbox is standard.
All of these models come with all-wheel-drive and Land Rover's excellent Terrain Response system for off-road driving. This clever set-up with different modes for the different terrains the Freelander might encounter goes a long way towards excusing the car's lack of a proper low-range transfer case. This system acts almost like an off-road expert sat alongside you, selecting the best traction mode for any given terrain type. No rival has anything quite like it.
All of which leaves only the two-wheel-drive eD4 variants which effectively break Land Rover's longstanding policy of only producing 4x4 cars. Times change and the advantages of 2WD are felt mainly in the improved efficiency of the car.
Design and Build
This is the second generation Freelander, a car that's been through more styling revisions than most. The latest models can be identified by a flatter nose courtesy of a redesigned front bumper with square holes for the fog lights cut into it. It moves the grille up in line with the large oblong headlights for a cleaner, more modern look that still has that Land Rover chunkiness. The cabin has smarter instrument dials than previous models but the wide centre console that puts its tactile controls within easy reach remains.
Compared to the original first generation Freelander, this MK2 model, launched in 2006, is 50mm longer, 109mm wider and 32mm taller but the wheels have been moved further towards each corner, freeing up another 105mm in the car's wheelbase and making rear seat accommodation a whole lot better. Weight crept up to over 1,900kg in the process but a parallel improvement in safety and refinement is a transaction most customers will be willing to accept. Quality-wise, the interior is a somewhat unusual mix of very high quality materials with some surprisingly cheap plastics. It's better than you'd expect in a mainstream compact 4x4 but perhaps not quite of the standard you'd find in the Freelander's premium-badged German rivals.
Market and Model
There are four trim levels offered - S, GS, XS and HSE. With the 2WD models added to the mix, there's a large differential between the top and the bottom but Land Rover will see that as an opportunity to attract a broader clientele. Most craven badge snobs will likely ignore the stripped-out S entry model, created mainly to give the Freelander an eye-catching starter price. The optional Premium Pack adds leather trim, electric front seats and premium floor mats.
A little like the mighty Range Rover in the luxury 4x4 class, the Freelander has always felt like a breed apart next to compact 4x4 alternatives. The breadth of capabilities that the baby Land Rover has at its disposal means it has something subtly different to offer than the vast majority of its rivals. It's always felt a classier and more sophisticated proposition than compact 4x4s like Nissan's X-Trail, Toyota's RAV4 and Honda's CR-V. By the same token though, its genuine off-road prowess and Land Rover badge mean you're far more likely to see a mud-splattered Freelander than a premium compact SUV like BMW X3 or Audi's Q5 with soiled alloys. The Freelander's mix of quality and honest practicality set it apart and the latest cars add greater efficiency into that rare mix
Cost of Ownership
Minimising costs by improving efficiency has been a central theme in the car industry over recent years and Land Rover had a harder job in this area than most. The results achieved in the latest Freelander, while not the best in the compact 4x4 sector, are promising. The Euro5-compliant engine has a revised variable geometry turbocharger and a diesel particulate filter. It can also run on a mix of up to 10% biodiesel.
The Freelander's best economy figures come from the front-wheel-drive variants which manage over 47mpg and 158g/km emissions. Owners will get 45.6mpg from the TD4 models and 40.4mpg from the SD4, with emissions for the two at 165 and 185g/km respectively.
Summary
There aren't too many areas where the Land Rover Freelander2 comprehensively aces the opposition. It's positioning between the mainstream compact 4x4 and the more salubrious premium compact 4x4s makes that difficult. Where it scores, and scores heavily, is in being on the podium for virtually every single reason why you'd buy a compact 4x4. What's more, it's backed up by the attraction of the Land Rover badge, is one of the best looking models out there and now, has decent fuel efficiency to go with its other qualities.
As an all-round competent compact 4x4, the Freelander takes some beating. Opt for a 4x4 model and it will be good off the road as well as on it. There's a well-built and roomy cabin and with the introduction of front-wheel-drive variants, the range is varied enough to appeal to a wide audience.
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