Land Rover Freelander 2 2008 Review

This is the only moment when Freelander 2, one of twins in a convoy ranging over wildly isolated southern Mongolia, failed to cope.

Considerably in its mitigation, a Gobi windstorm the previous night has blanketed the planned course with deep, soft, gritty sand — stuff that gives pause to even Land Rover's relentless Defender.

More tellingly still, the Free-oh was being driven by me, whose only previous go in the sand hills has been a comparative doddle up Big Red outside Birdsville.

Other than this minor mishap, which necessitated much spade work and an eventual snatch from the sand trap by the Defender, the second version of Land Rover's compact SUV is mighty impressive during a 650km haul through outlandish Mongolia.

We were in a bright orange-coloured convoy consisting of two Free-ohs, three Defenders and a brace of Discovery 3s, these being the reconnaissance team scouting locations for next year's Land Rover G4 Challenge.

This almost legendary global adventure sport supports the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

With trials for Australian competitors to be held in the Blue Mountains in October, the chances are good that come this time next year one of our compatriots will find themselves doing a bit of gardening here in the massive Kongoriim Dunes, about 90 minutes' flight and a day's drive from the capital of Ulaan Baatar.

The G4 recce provides both a marvellous opportunity to try the topline Freelander 2.2 TD4 HSE on and (frequently) off the beaten track and a polar contrast to our 400km of city and NSW country driving in a Free-oh only the previous week.

The specifications are almost identical, the G4 vehicle having little added other than off-road rubber and the optional underside bash plates screwed firmly into place.

In the back is camping gear and water.

To potter along the Bells Line of Road was to appreciate what people like me are loathe to admit; the compact diesel SUV is all the family car a compact clan could want. A bright interior and ample all-round vision quashes car sickness. The 10.2 litres per 100km return (a figure blown out by wretched midweek traffic) would have removed any need to visit the bowser for at least another week.

Driven through a smart six speed Aisin automatic, the 118kW/400Nm turbo oiler takes a bit to wind up — at 11.2 seconds to 100km/h from standing you won't risk whiplash — but the mid-range punch is predictably assertive.

Fit and finish approach Japanese quality and the Landy's cabin comfort and ambience is appreciably ahead of BMW's rival X3 2.0d.

While the latter slays it in terms of on-road dynamics, the Brit bashes the Bosch when the tarmac disappears.

Barely 5per cent of Mongolia's roads are sealed and those bits that are are often more harrowing than the dirt tracks. Yet the veteran Australian 4WD editor along for the ride confirmed my feeling that the Free-oh is the genuine all-rounder of its class.

It shares the Disco's Terrain Response and and stability control systems that provide traction across four central console activated programs — Hill Descent Control and Roll Stability Control. While sharp steering adjustments and a bit of scrambling are required to avoid the hazards that the higher clearance Disco passes over imperiously, the Freelander is by far the more fun. And — at a good 800kg easier on the scales — it's a good deal more responsive when hauling out of that dry creek bed. At any time the torque transfer to the rear axle is seamless.

Having earlier this year steered a gal pal away from a Freelander 2 chiefly because of the first generation model's appalling reliability reputation, I'm now suffused with guilt. Having already been on the broken road for weeks, neither Freelander evinces the least sign of wear — there's a hewn quality that doesn't come at the expense of comfort.

FREELANDER 2 TD4 HSE

price: $58,490

engine: 2.2L/4-cylinder turbo diesel; 118kW/400Nm

economy: 10.2L/100km(on-road tested)

transmission: 6-speed automatic