Land Rover Freelander 2

• Rating:
• Latest deal price: from £20,937 to £33,019
• For : Comfortable, capable off-roader, practical family car
• Against : Expensive, not as spacious as BMW X3, high costs

Styling

The Land Rover Freelander has a chunky shape that borrows design cues from larger models such as the Range Rover, yet has a look all of its own. The front end is imposing but it's quite car-like in the flesh, rather than an aggressive SUV. Latest versions have updated headlights, grilles and new bumpers along with new trim. All models come with alloy wheels as standard, although the new Range Rover Evoque does make it look rather dated.

Interior

You sit up high and enjoy a commanding view of the road ahead, thanks to a wide windscreen and relatively narrow A-pillars. Large glass areas behind the driver make it easier than most SUVs to reverse park too. The dashboard is a quality affair with upmarket soft touch materials along with wood and metal trim. Tall drivers should be very comfortable behind the wheel as the Freelander has lots of seat and steering wheel adjustment - it is also easy to get in and out of. Equipment levels are good with entry-level S models getting air-con and GS versions adding cruise control, climate control, Terrain Response and parking sensors. Further up the range XS models have electric seats and sat-nav, while flagship HSE models boast leather trim and a CD changer.

Driving and Performance

Gone are the days when Land Rover offered a petrol engine in the Freelander - now the range is diesel only. Choose from a 148bhp or 188bhp 2.2-litre turbocharged unit; we'd go for the latter as it never feels underpowered, has lots more low-end torque for easy overtaking and is swift with 0-60mph taking 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 118mph. It's also quiet and gets a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard, while other units have a six-speed manual. The auto is smooth and suits the Freelander well. Around corners, the Freelander isn't as precise or involving as a BMW X3 or an Audi Q5 – or its sister car, the Range Rover Evoque. It has too much body roll and steering that is a little vague. The upside is that it is extremely comfortable, excelling at cushioning occupants from bumpy roads. Sadly, while the Freelander is quiet around town, its boxy shape generates a lot of wind noise on the motorway.

MPG and running costs

The cheapest way to run a Land Rover Freelander is to go for the entry-level front-wheel drive 148bhp eD4 model which gets stop-start and returns 47.1mpg while emitting 158g/km of CO2. By comparison, the 188bhp 4x4 version posts 40mpg and 185g/km – not bad but not great when you consider a 184bhp 2.0d BMW X3 beats both models, returning 50.4mpg and emitting just 149g/km of CO2. While the entry-level eD4 costs a low £22,000, climb the range and you'll soon be entering £30k+ territory – but at least residual values are strong. Servicing costs are likely to be average for the class.

Practicality

The Freelander is well suited to the rough and tumble of family life with a big boot that has 755 litres of load space with the rear seats in place and a massive 1,670 litres with them down. That beats the BMW X3 by a long way – plus it features heavy duty, wipe clean materials on the boot floor and lots of cubby holes throughout the cabin. Front seat space is very good but knee room in the back could be better, although the Freelander actually has more knee room than the larger Discovery. Off-road, the Freelander beats more on-road focused rivals like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 hands down thanks to its excellent Terrain Response system, which features a number of modes to tackle different surfaces. Although be aware that entry-level versions and the eD4 do miss out on this system.

Safety and reliability

You get a host of airbags as standard on the Land Rover Freelander – including front, side and curtain 'bags – while it also features traction and stability control to enhance the car's already excellent levels of grip. Reliability is a different matter – the first generation Freelander was one of the most troublesome cars on UK roads, with owners constantly visiting their dealer. This latest version is a vast improvement, but we would still advise caution, despite the improved build quality and new engines.