Land Rover FREELANDER
* A Womans View Will It Suit Me?
In the compact four-wheel drive sector the Japanese used to have it all their own way. Until
Land Rover entered the fray with the Freelander which went straight to top of the class. My son just loves it when we have a 4x4 to test out. He cant wait to get in the car to go to school (nice change) and he lords it over school friends as we loftily pass by.
Sadly, I dont need a Freelander for the school run but this was the first compact four-wheel drive model that can really cut the mustard off-road as well as in suburbia. In other words, its not just a lifestyle indulgence. Its a Land Rover first and foremost and that means it's rugged enough for weekends and holidays off the beaten track. The latest round of changes has spruced-up the Freelanders image nicely. Weve got a strikingly different front end and the interior, which had been a Freelander weak point, is a big improvement. In its current form, youd have to agree that Land Rovers smallest offering is better than ever.
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For day to day driving, the Freelander was ideal for me. It made the daily chores that much more fun, yet for all its chunky dimensions, it handled well in tight corners. The interior finish, too, is more car-like than you might expect, so you dont have to forego any creature comforts out in the wilds. Inside, the five-door proves to be more family-friendly on weekend expeditions, and for our below average 2.
0 kids it was more than enough.
Being higher up than in a car is great for driving whether youre in a town centre traffic jam or out on the dales. I tend to prefer petrol to diesel power, and was certainly not disappointed with acceleration or the cruising speeds of my 1.8-litre model. 4x4s are renowned for a sometimes less than composed ride but the Freelander isnt too bad in this respect.
It corners without too much drama and long journeys dont present a problem even though you will notice any bumps in the road more readily than in a standard family hatchback.
In the current Freelander the engine choices remain exactly as before and theres a choice of three or five-door bodystyles. The Freelander was the first car of its kind to offer V6 petrol power, in this case the 2.5-litre 177PS unit already found in the
Rover 75. Youd expect this to give useful performance and it does, offering nearly 50% more power and torque than the 1.
8-litre four-cylinder petrol unit that I tried. The Td4 turbo diesel unit is just as impressive in its own way. This 2.0-litre 16-valve engine uses common rail technology to develop 112PS.
Low down pulling power is particularly impressive. Prices start at £15,995 for the entry-level 1.8-litre E with the Td4 coming in at £17,230 and the V6 starting at £23,395.
Easily. The Freelander is great fun, an excellent companion on the school run and perfect for high days and holidays.
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