Skip advert
Advertisement
Car group tests

Land Rover Freelander v Honda CR-V EX v Hyundai S Fe v Nissan X-Trail

Land Rover’s new Freelander is aiming to be king as it takes on rivals from Nissan, Hyundai and Honda, on-road and off

Compact SUV group shot

The off-roader that made rivals quake with fear when it was first launched in 1997 is back! The second-generation Land Rover Free­lander is finally here, and it looks set to shake the compact SUV class to its core once again.

New from the ground up and featuring the Discovery’s acclaimed Terrain Response system plus a raft of other hi-tech features, it’s bigger, cleaner, quieter, smoother, better to drive and more desirable than ever. Or so Land Rover claims. To find out if it lives up to the hype, we got our hands on the new 4x4 first and put it through its paces on all surfaces in a variety of conditions – from central London to the Welsh Borders. The result is this definitive and exclusive first test.

Advertisement - Article continues below

One thing’s for sure – the Freelander will sell well on the strength of its badge alone. But will that be enough? After all, Land Rover’s rivals have been burning the midnight oil to perfect their challengers. Honda’s new CR-V is here, and it claims to be more refined, mature and practical than ever. Now featuring a top-hinged tailgate, as well as the firm’s superb i-CTDi diesel engine, the CR-V has even been benchmarked against conventional family cars to ensure it drives well.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Cr-V

2023 Honda

Cr-V

26,357 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £22,985
View Cr-V
Cr-V

2020 Honda

Cr-V

60,311 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £14,365
View Cr-V
Cr-V

2023 Honda

Cr-V

18,219 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £24,938
View Cr-V
Cr-V

2023 Honda

Cr-V

35,105 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £19,399
View Cr-V

Hyundai sent tremors through the compact SUV establishment earlier this year with the new Santa Fe. Still the only car in the class to boast seven seats, it too has a fine diesel, not to mention stylish looks and a raft of other family-friendly features. No wonder it won the best 4x4 Recreational Vehicle award at our New Car Honours so convincingly. Nor can you write off the Nissan X-Trail. Before the Hyundai came along, it had made our NCH award its own, winning four times in a row, thanks to its well thought out cabin and excellent ability both on and off-road.

Between them, these three rivals will test every aspect of the new Freelander to the limit. So is the Land Rover king of the hill – or over the hill? We went to the ends of the earth to find out.

Verdict

Great news for Land Rover fans – the Freelander 2 is hugely capable, highly desirable and drives brilliantly in all situations. That’s enough to give it victory here. But it’s not perfect – the interior isn’t particularly big or clever and we think the firm is being overly greedy by pricing it so high.

So family buyers on a budget may be better off going for a bigger, better value SUV, that’s still refined, well equipped and smooth riding – the Hyundai Santa Fe. Make no mistake, the Santa Fe is a giant leap forward – as you can tell from the fact it finishes ahead of the sporty and responsive Honda CR-V. Unfortunately for Nissan, its rivals have moved the game on, and although rugged, the X-Trail doesn’t have the all-round appeal of the class leaders.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Honda Cr-V

Honda Cr-V

RRP £45,925Avg. savings £4,324 off RRP*Used from £14,365
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £4,463 off RRP*
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,924 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,028 off RRP*Used from £15,990
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change
Protyre area manager Simon Hall inspecting a Vauxhall Corsa's tyre

Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change

The number of MoT failures caused by worn tyres is on the rise, and experts are calling for mandatory follow-ups on advisories
News
12 May 2025
Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it’s a “monster”
VW Golf GTI badge

Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it’s a “monster”

VW is taking the iconic hot hatchback brand into the electric era with the new Golf GTI EV already in development…
News
13 May 2025
Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future
Mazda MX-5 EV exclusive image - front

Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future

The next Mazda MX-5 roadster is set to be offered as a pure EV, and our exclusive images preview how it could look
News
10 May 2025