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  Land Rover got it right this time with the new Freelander which is 50mm longer and 109mm wider, ensuring a bigger interior and larger boot. Photo Gallery

Neil McDonald test drives and reviews the Land Rover Freelander.

In a quiet moment, even Land Rover admits the Freelander has gone from sinner to sainthood. The previous model, which was a hit in Europe but a lowly performer locally, was even nicknamed the “Freeloader” by many road-testers.

The previous generation's respectable heritage was shattered by poor build quality, questionable reliability and lacklustre engines. Local buyers were aware of this and gave it a wide berth. Last year Land Rover sold 87 and in 2005 only 145 for the year.

This time around though, the British company with a royal warrant and seriously chic Range Rover has got it right. Land Rover Australia says the Freelander is the most complete in its class and can justifiably take its place against the BMW X3 and Lexus RX330.

Two petrol and two turbo-diesels are available. The petrol line-up is priced from $49,990 for the six-cylinder Si6 SE and $55,990 for the Si6 HSE. The Td4 SE and HSE models add $2000. Options include a $6890 “tech pack” with Bluetooth, satellite navigation and xenon adaptive headlights, $1500 for metallic paint and $3300 for a sunroof.

The slick 3.2-litre in-line six is shared with Volvo but built by Land Rover and the punchy 2.2-litre Td4 comes from the French PSA Group. Both engines are mated to a smooth-shifting Aisin six-speed sequential automatic.

The Si6 delivers a healthy 171kW at 6300 revs and 317Nm at 3200 revs. This is 30 per cent more than the old V6 and a 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy. The 2.2-litre Td4 ups the ante in the torque stakes, with 400Nm on tap at 2000 revs. This is significantly better than the 260Nm delivered by the old 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. The Td4 delivers a significant power lift. It develops 118kW, compared with the old car's 82kW, a 43 per cent increase.

The new Freelander is only 50mm longer and 109mm wider, ensuring a bigger interior and larger boot. With the rear seats in place, luggage space has grown from 546 litres to 755 litres.

Land Rover has maintained the Freelander look with the clamshell bonnet, stepped roof and chunky front end. It has a wading depth of up to 500mm and ground clearance of 210mm. The car is packed with technology, safety and standard equipment.

It has a full-time Haldex four-wheel-drive system with four-mode Terrain Response that electronically controls the centre coupling to make off-roading easier. Terrain Response has settings for normal driving, grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts and sand.

To keep the car on the road there are anti-skid brakes, brake assist, corner brake control, stability control, roll stability control and hill descent control. With a highly rigid monocoque body and seven airbags, the car also manages a five-star EuroNCAP crash rating.

After the dismal run of the previous Freelander, Land Rover Australia, general manager Roger Jory does not want to jinx the new car. But the company should be able to sell upwards of 120 a month for the Range Rover's junior sibling.