Land Rover presented the Freelander 2 in 2006 but somehow the shape has not aged, it has matured more than anything. It comes with superb off-roading ability, however, there are 2WD versions available. Refinement is a key strength and the Land Rover is as happy plugging through deep mud as it is cruising on the motorway or on the school run. Key rivals for the Land Rover include the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and even the Range Rover Evoque from Land Rover’s own stable. Performance 3.5/5 Diesel is the sole choice on the Freelander but there is a high and low powered version of the 2.2-litre turbodiesel. It comes in 148 and 187bhp forms. On test we drove the higher powered 187bhp engine. It will get from zero to 60mph in 8.9 seconds and has a top speed of 118mph. Ride and handling 4.5/5 The Freelander is good to drive, however, enthusiasts will prefer BMW’s X3. The good news is that body roll is kept to a minimum while the steering is nicely weighted. It excels on long motorway journeys as the supple ride makes the journey incredibly comfortable for front and rear passengers. All models above the basic S version are fitted with an off-road system. Thanks to this clever bit of kit, you can select the mode to best suit the terrain you’re driving on including grass/gravel/snow, mud ruts and sand as well as a tarmac mode. Equipment 4/5 There’s plenty of standard kit even on entry-level models of the Land Rover Freelander. It comes with ESP, six airbags, central locking, an alarm, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric windows front and rear, electrically adjusted and heated door mirrors, CD stereo with MP3 player, steering wheel controls for the stereo, and split and fold rear seat. Our model was the HSE Lux trim and came with the above plus 19-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights, reversing camera, Windsor leather upholstery and a heated leather steering wheel. The sole option that was added to the car was the full size spare wheel costing £185. Running costs 3.5/5 On average the 187bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine will return 32.5 mpg and it emits 185 g/km. Our car was priced from £39,805 excluding the optional spare wheel. MotorTorque Verdict 4/5 The Land Rover Freelander is one of the most practical cars on the road. With 4WD it has a go-anywhere character and it has tons of space for the family making it an ideal car for all seasons.
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