Land Rover Freelander II
For status in the compact SUV segment, the undisputed king is the
Land Rover Freelander. VW's new Tiguan may steal a significant number of sales from the British company, but the Freelander still has a lot to offer.
First up, the Freelander is much more comfortable. It's down to the ride/handling compromise, a balance Land Rover decided should be tipped in favour of ride quality - it really is a great motorway car. Although the Freelander and Tiguan ranges appear to start at the same price point, the Land Rover's engine offerings are larger, with either a 2.2-litre turbodiesel or a 3.
2-litre six-cylinder petrol unit the only options. Unless you have a pathological hatred of all things diesel, there's precious little reason to opt for the thirstier petrol model.
Although few buyers will ever use the Freelander to its full capability, it is a highly impressive machine off-road, featuring a version of Land Rover's renowned 'Terrain Response'. That, allied with the chunky styling gives the Freelander the air of a larger 4x4, but in a smaller, easier to digest package.
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