Land Rover has given its Freelander SUV a mid-life upgrade with a few minor exterior changes such as revised front bumper and grille, tailgate design and new alloy wheels as well as a new seat style. The more important changes are under the bonnet where it now comes with an upgraded turbo-diesel engine.
When released here in 1998 Freelander represented a break from tradition in that it was Land Rover’s first foray into the emerging ‘soft-road’ market that has since grown dramatically. That early Freelander struggled, mainly because of its engines, however the release of the Freelander 2 in 2006 was a major step forward and the smallest Land Rover is now the company’s largest selling model globally, although in Australia it sits in third place behind Discovery and Range Rover Sport.
Having said that Freelander is the smallest vehicle in the Land Rover range, at 4.5 metres in length, is still relatively large. Most importantly it has the off-road credentials expected from one of the pioneers of 4WD vehicles.
The 2011 Freelander comes with the choice of in-line six-cylinder petrol and two versions of four-cylinder common-rail turbo-diesel engines, 110 kW TD4 and 140 kW SD4. Both engines generate the same maximum torque of 420 Nm, 20 Nm more than in the previous model.
The engines are mounted across the vehicle and drive through a permanent 4WD system with a number of electronic aids that, combined with the high engine torque, will allow Freelander 2 to go to places that are well outside the capability of most so-called 4WDs in today’s market.
Both engines use a new variable geometry turbocharger that is water-cooled and so can run at a higher temperature thus reducing emissions. The engines are also compatible with 10 per cent biodiesel fuel, 5 per cent more than the previous engine, and are fitted with a fuel tank mis-fuelling device to prevent the tank from taking petrol.
The side mirrors are now 10 per cent larger and combined with the Freelander’s large glass areas and square design provide excellent visibility. The trade-off in the larger mirrors is a marginal increase in wind noise but otherwise the interior is aurally cocooned from the outside world.
Interior comfort is good and there's space for four adults without those in the rear having to sacrifice too much in the way of legroom. Even with all four seats occupied there's reasonable space in the boot.
The 2011 Freelander 2 comes in four variants. The entry-level model is just called TD4 and is only available with six-speed manual transmission. The XS comes with either the i6 or TD4 engines; the SE with any of the three engines; while the top-of-the-range HSE is only available with the SD4 engine. All have six-speed automatic transmission only.
Safety features in all models include front, side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags, ABS brakes with EBD and BA, traction and stability control, roll stability control and hill descent control. Freelander continues to use Land Rover’s patented Terrain Response 4WD system, CommandShift and adaptive shifting.
Other standard features include cruise control, steering wheel audi controls, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, and a full-size alloy spare wheel. The fuel-saving feature of Start/Stop is fitted only to the TD4 manual model.
We were able to test both of the upgraded turbo-diesel engines during our test drive from the centre of Sydney down to the Southern Highlands and across to the south coast. The route included a couple of moderately difficult dirt and rock-strewn roads as well as several water crossings.
Standing outside the Freelander with the engine idling there’s a distinctive diesel rattle, however once you’re inside the sound is barely noticeable.
Freelander cruises beautifully on the open road, with good ride qualities, a ride that’s generally quiet, and cornering ability that, while not to pure car standards, is probably greater than will ever be needed by the typical driver. Note that many of the traction aids fitted for off-road use are also suited to sealed roads.
Off the bitumen Freelander coped with everything that the semi-rugged route threw at it with the torque and traction aids pulling it through some steepish hills in effortless fashion.
Two-wheel drive Freelanders are available in overseas markets but, at this stage, only with manual transmission models. Given the low take-up rate of manuals here Land Rover Australia has no plans to import them.
We recently reported on the new-found confidence within the Jeep marque since it was revived by Fiat. The same applies to Land Rover, now owned by Tata Motors, who were able to report increased global sales of 26 per cent in 2010. Australian sales exactly matched that increase. Despite the takeover Land Rover has been allowed to manage its own affairs without any interference from its new Indian owners, a wise move given the impressive rise in the company’s sales graph.
Those who want a stylish vehicle with excellent on-road characteristics, and which is the real thing when it comes to tackling the great Australian bush, must place the British Land Rover Freelander 2 high on their shopping list.
The complete 2011 Land Rover Freelander range, with prices (excluding government and dealer charges) is:
TD4 2.2-litre 110 kW turbo-diesel: $44,990 (manual)
XS i6 3.2-litre petrol: $49,990 (automatic)
XS TD4 2.2-litre 110 kW turbo-diesel: $52,790 (automatic)
SE i6 3.2-litre petrol: $52,510 (automatic)
SE TD4 2.2-litre 110 kW turbo-diesel: $55,310 (automatic)
SE SD4 2.2-litre 140 kW turbo-diesel: $56,810 (automatic)
HSE SD4 2.2-litre 140 kW turbo-diesel: $65,854 (automatic)
Contact your local Land Rover dealer for driveaway prices.
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