Land Rover FREELANDER Td4 RANGE
Compact 4x4s With Diesel Power Dont Come Much Better Than Land Rovers Td4 Freelander. Jonathan Crouch Reports
Diesel power was never a strongpoint of the original
Land Rover Freelander which was a pity since many owners wanted it. Fortunately, the latest version has an impressive
BMW-sourced Td4 engine that puts matters right. In fact, its good enough to make this Freelander the best diesel in the compact 4x4 sector.
This will come as something of a shock to early owners who struggled with the feeble L-Series 1.9-litre
Rover diesel, so they should probably try it. The 2.0-litre 16v turbocharged direct injection Td4 unit uses state-of-the-art common rail diesel technology to offer impressive improvements in performance, economy and refinement.
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With 112bhp on tap, owners can expect a 15% increase in power and a 25% increase in torque over the old model. As a result, this will be the Freelander that most customers are likely to choose, since it offers the best combination of virtues for tasks like towing or for off road excursions. Indeed, the impressive pulling power of this engine 260lb ft of torque at 1,750rpm also makes it a decent choice for motorway mileage, where you can expect to equal or better the 37.2mpg figure
land Rover reckon is achievable on the Combined fuel cycle.
Around town meanwhile, the flexibility of the engine you can pull easily from around 10mph in 4th gear means fewer gearchanges. On the open road, rest to sixty takes 13.2s on the way to 102mph, though youll lose a little on that if you choose the optional five-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox. This transmission is basically the same rubber belt-driven CVT system already used by Rovers 25, 45 and
MG TF models.
It offers a choice of Normal or Sport operations as well as a Steptronic mode where you can change up and down the box yourself.
"This will be the Freelander that most customers are likely to choose "
This type of manually-operated automatic set-up normally appeals to drivers who want the feeling of greater control over fast, twisty roads without the hassle of a clutch. In the Freelander however, it also usefully enables the driver to select second gear from rest, reducing wheelspin when moving off in treacherous conditions. The standard Hill Descent Control (HDC) system works only in Normal mode however and can be selected in either first or reverse gear to limit downhill speeds off road. HDC is fitted to all Freelanders and is a clever piece of kit.
On a sticky, steep descent, when you engage HDC, the system selects first gear and uses the anti-lock brakes to automatically maintain a descent speed of 5.6mph. Should the track get slippery or become more undulating, this will reduce to 4.4mph.
To cope with the extra power of the Td4, Land Rover has employed a heavy-duty braking system, fitting large, vented front discs and large diameter rear drums. The ABS system is complemented by EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution). This balances the brakeforce between front and rear axles for maximum efficiency. Electronic Traction Control (ETC) is standard to limit wheelslip in conditions such as mud and snow.
Quite a bit has been done over the years to keep the Freelander fresh. Back in 2001, we had the introduction of both the Td4 diesel and the flagship petrol V6, plus there were minor styling changes and the option of a new Steptronic automatic gearbox. Since then, further tweaks have included the introduction of a plush ES Premium variant, a revised heating and ventilation system, a larger petrol tank for petrol models and the option of a factory-fitted satellite navigation system. Forget all that though: with the latest model, Land Rover have really got serious. The changes include a completely revised interior (by far the old cars weakest link) and a major external restyle including a fresh face and tail. Theres also the addition of the Freelander Sport version, a model which the Solihull company claims is their sharpest handling and sportiest offering to date. Indeed, Land Rover chiefs are so confident of the Freelanders quality look and feel that they see the car as pioneer in a whole new market niche "the compact premium 4x4 sector". Few customers had any cause for complaint regarding the Freelanders exterior styling, but it has been given a makeover that brings it into line with current Land Rover group design thinking. The usual targets for restyling - namely front bumper, headlights and grille - are all replaced with a Range
Rover look, the lights in particular claiming to boost intensity by some 70%. The bumpers are also body coloured front and rear.
The tail lamps have been raised to a higher position, thus improving their visibility and reducing the likelihood of being obscured in road grime or off-trail dust. The engine choices remain exactly as before and theres choice of three-door or five-door bodystyles. Meanwhile, this cars status as the most capable compact 4x4 you can buy hasnt altered very much: if you plan to go seriously off road - even very occasionally its simply not worth even bothering with anything else in this sector. At one time, you paid heavily for that privilege but under new
Ford ownership, Land Rover has woken up to a changing market and realigned its prices. You can currently specify your Td4 model with E, S, SE, Sport, Sport Premium and HSE trim, at prices starting from £17,230. There are also high specification Freestyle and Adventurer models that may be worth consideration.
Tough competition will threaten Land Rovers dominant position in this sector over the next few years. Thanks to this excellent diesel engine, at least the Freelander is more than ready for it.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Land Rover Freelander Td4 range
PRICES: £17,230 - £24,630 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 10-11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 205g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 102mph / 0-60mph 13.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 37.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4382/2074/1828
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