2012 Land Rover Freelander 2 Reviews

Graham Smith road tests and reviews the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Land Rover Freelander 2 as a used buy.

Though it's generally used only as a suburban runabout, the Land Rover Freelander is capable of tackling bush, beaches and desert conditions that would strand, or even break, others in its class.

It’s a pity that in sharing its underpinnings with the newer Evoque, the Freelander gave up its place in the compact luxury SUV sector. Now, this week in Canada, Freelander takes bits back from Evoque and again proves a strong contender to other European SUVs.The changes aren’t big - the replacement of a petrol engine with a new motor and some trim changes, with new paint and better finishes. But they should be sufficient to at least hold its own. Meanwhile, Land Rover is in an enviable place. Sales are booming - up 41 per cent globally on the same period in 2011 - and are so far ahead of predictions that it finds itself unable to quickly introduce new models.Pricing changes with the deletion of the 3.2-litre in-line petrol six-cylinder version and the replacement with this one, the Si4 with the Ford two-litre EcoBoost engine. But they don’t get cheaper. The old 3.2 SE was $52,510 and the incoming Si4, which is in showrooms now, is $55,600. Yes, the feature list is improved and the SUV gets some small exterior trim features to lift it a bit.More interesting is the upgrade inside. It looks better by borrowing a lot of switchgear from Evoque. It gets a far superior audio - standard is a 380 watt 11-speaker Meridian but a 825W 17-speaker is $1815 more - while sat-nav returns in-house with a $2500 tag.A rear camera and leather is standard as is 18-inch alloys. Build quality is up and in warranty terms, Freelander remains the most trouble-free Land Rover. Spec can be similar to rivals but remember this is a wagon that actually can go off the road.The good news and the bad news are the same - no change to the look. Yes, there are small changes to the headlights and tail lights and the grille has edges. The alloys have a new pattern. Not much else outside and that’s excellent because this is one neat hauler. Inside the Evoque switches lift the Freelander from Discovery to Vogue grade.The wagon still feels small inside compared with the Volvo XC60 but many buyers don’t need the extra space. For me, it is very well proportioned and just the right size.The main change is the introduction of the new Ford 177kW/340Nm two-litre engine. This engine is in practically everything - Ford Falcon and Focus, Volvo XC60 and S60, Jaguar XF and Caterham - for good reason. It replaces the thirsty 179kW/320Nm inline six-cylinder petrol which continues in one of the Volvo XC60 models.The gearbox remains a six-speed auto and drives all wheels continuously. The clever Haldex clutch that spreads the power to the wheels with traction also remains. New is a smart electrical system that only allows the alternator to charge the battery when the battery needs it. It saves fuel this way. There’s also an electric park brake that adjusts itself to ensure the car remains stationary.This is a five-star rated wagon - note that the sister car, the Evoque, is a four-star - with seven airbags, all the necessary electronic braking aids and extras like roll mitigation. The rear camera is standard and includes a guide path and also a new “hitch assist” that takes the towball directly under the trailer’s coupling. The spare is full size. There’s also heated side mirrors.Land Rover has honed the Freelander range and while the diesel was driven, I concentrated on the new petrol mill. From experience in other cars, we know this is an excellent engine with heaps of grunt and reasonable economy. The weight of the Freelander (1775kg plus occupants and fuel) slows down the engine’s verve a bit.The brick shape of the wagon also makes the engine noise apparent and though it’s minor, it’s more audible than say the Falcon model. An excellent seating position, great visibility (thanks to slim pillars) and comfortable seating makes any driver feel at home. Same with the location of controls.The touch screen gives quick access to data and sat-nav (optional) graphics are a decent quality. The engine’s response is aided greatly by the six-speed auto. Though the box’s mapping tries to maintain a higher gear - to improve fuel economy - it has a manual mode. Despite its smallish cabin dimensions, the Freelander feels “right”. It’s easy to park, manoeuvre in tight spots and solid on the open road.It can’t shine in the spotlights like Evoque, glide expensive city streets like the Range Rover or mercilessly pound the deserts like the Discovery. But despite a wave of luxury SUV rivals, the Land Rover Freelander does an exceptional job of being good at everything from toughing it out in the dirt to scrubbing up for a night out. 

Mud drips from the roof of our Freelander.  A passerby points it out to his wife: ‘They’ve been somewhere fun.’ Indeed we have. When taking Land Rover’s new Freelander off road there is little to limit your journey (except for a stubborn horse that wouldn’t get out of our way).TheFreelander may be a compact SUV, but it will do its best to keep up with the big boys. Dressed enough for the city streets, it truly comes alive in the bush. Through various terrain testing over the week we came to one conclusion: when you climb in a Freelander and turn off-road - adventure will follow.Land Rover’s Freelander 2 SD4 SE, priced from $56,810 comes with 18-in alloy wheels, Intelligent Power System Management for more economic battery charging, full size spare wheel, parking aids, Bluetooth, audio input socket, rain sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, heated exterior mirrors, bright finish twin bar grille, adjustable wheel mounted audio and cruise, electronic folding side mirrors when the vehicle is parked, six-way adjustable driver seat, push button start/stop, trip computer, and perimetric security system.With 140kW/420Nm the 2.2-litre SD4 diesel engine has plenty of oomph off-road and on. The six-speed automatic transmission is seamless, but if you think you can do better, engage CommandShift and have a go at beating Freelander’s take off of 0-100km/h in 9.5 seconds.When you’re not tackling trails, the official fuel figure is an impressive 7.0L/100km, though our scoot off road and through the mountains found 9.5L/100km, not bad considering the terrain.Smaller than its Land Rover brothers, this compact SUV can still push through water at depths up to 500mm, tow up to twotonnes, and clear obstacles with axel clearance up to 210mm in front and 265mm in back.And with the assistance of Terrain Response’s four modes, and front and rear independent suspension, you’ll find a surprisingly stable ride. After dusting off on your way home, the Freelander’s smaller dimensions make it very capable in busy city driving, and hunting for the elusive parking spot, all while having enough room to accommodate five adults and gear.The exterior of the Freelander has the classic Land Rover look. True to its strong lineage, it’s stylish, but not flashy. Internally however, this 4x4 has a soft side.The interior design is clean and gives the cabin an open feeling. Keeping with this, the back seats are 50mm higher than in front. The stadium seating lets those in back enjoy a clearer view, and the middle seat converts to an armrest with cup holders. With a choice of interior colors, wheel design, and a score of available accessories you can tailor the Freelander to match your taste.Heated front seats, a six-way adjustable driver seat, and an adjustable steering wheel and armrest will make anyone feel at home behind the wheel. Wheel mounted cruise, audio, and Bluetooth add to the driver’s control, though the spacing of the buttons are a bit awkward.You can plug in an iPhone or MP3 player, but without an accessory cord you can’t use the vehicle’s controls to skip tracks, and it’s a shame in this high a model that the Bluetooth connectivity only works for calls.The back seats fold to a 60:40 split, transforming the 755L of storage into 1, 670L of room for larger items, and the 12V power socket in back can keep an esky full of food ready for a picnic.The dash display is more uniform in design than user friendly, but once you puzzle out the numerous functions you’ll feel like a tech expert. Our test vehicle included the touchscreen satellite navigation system. At extra cost it’s a steep addition, but handy if you’re going to be driving beyond the familiar horizon.The Freelander gets a five-star ANCAP safety rating, with seven airbags, a monocoque body, front and rear crumple zones, a large battery of braking, stability and traction aids -- HDC, ABS, EBD, CBC, EBA, ETC, RSC, DSC and so on -- plus two child seat anchor points.To be honest there wasn’t much about this SUV we didn’t like. Descending a steep gravel road did little to disturb the twenty roos grazing at the road’s edge, as the Freelander’s hill descent control kept us from sliding.The HDC is handy on difficult terrain and it can be engaged at speeds up to 50km/h, using the cruise + and – to set the speed, though on anything short of moderate difficulty the HDC is almost too grabby. Still, we’d rather have the HDC overprotective than too carefree on tough descents.Terrain Response allows you to easily pick the right setting for current conditions. We played around with the grass/gravel/snow, and the mud and ruts settings and weren’t disappointed (there’s also a sand setting if you want to brave the beach in winter, or if you’re smarter this time of year and want to trek across the desert instead). The vehicle’s traction quickly adjusts to the road -- or lack thereof -- and you can drive on in confidence.The Freelander 2 is at home on the motorway as well as off, roll stability control compensates for any smidgen of body roll, and the compact size makes parking easy. While you wouldn’t use this in any stealth operation due to the external noise from the engine, internally it’s a quiet ride.Follow your friends on a 4x4 adventure and once you reach your destination, turn off the Freelander’s engine, step from your heated seats, pull a cool beverage from the esky in back, and try to pretend it was a rough drive in a compact SUV, so your mates aren’t disappointed.An impressive compact SUV, the comfortable and versatile Land Rover can handle just about anything. 

PART of the dream of owning an SUV is its command driving position that gives you unparalleled vision over lesser traffic. The other part is taking the kids to see the real Australia, via Birdsville.I was contemplating the virtues of the high driving position while sitting in Land Rover's delightful Freelander 2, waiting to turn left at a T-junction. Alongside me, turning right, was another SUV. Which blocked my view so I had to wait for him to go. Commanding view? Dream on.But that aside, this mini-Landie is an absolute gem. Everybody loved it. My family practically broke down in tears when I said it was being returned. They hadn't done that since I had to return Video-Ezy's copy of 101 Dalmatians.It falls into the Luxury SUV category and that tells you it's not a cheapie. At $55,310, it's a big ask until you shop it against its natural rivals and will even be shopped against its cousin, the mini-Range Rover Evoque.But it does get lots of leather, electric seats with heaters, a great sound system and a full-size spare wheel.The Freelander 2 starts at $44,990 for the turbo-diesel TD4 version, runs through two petrol models (priced from $49,990) and tops out at $65,584 for the deluxe diesel. The Freelander 2 TD4 SE is priced almost on par with the BMW X1 2.0d at $55,580. But, spec-to-spec, the Land Rover offers more and arguably will take to the hills with more aplomb. On the downside, it doesn't have a BMW badge.Powerful genes trickle through Land Rover's blood so there's no mistaking which family the chamfered two-box shape of the baby belongs. It works, though, because it's a very functional design that maximises cabin space while making it compact on the outside and nimble enough for congested city duties.The cabin follows some themes from its bigger sisters. It's clean, simple and stylish. Bold switches, bright instruments, a low-mounted dashboard to maximise visibility and - like the side glass - afford an airy and light interior. It's actually a clever move because, in comparison with most rivals, this vehicle is not as spacious.This is a constant all-wheel drive wagon driven by a enjoyable 2.2-litre turbo-diesel - which is also going into the Jaguar XF - and six-speed automatic. The clever bits include the Terrain Response system controlled by a switch set on the console.Depending on where you switch it - sand, mud, bitumen or rocks - it changes the Haldex drive system coupling and modifies accelerator response and gear shift points. Despite the Freelander's lack of a low-range gearbox, this system gives the wagon remarkable off-road ability.The diesel comes as a 110kW or 140kW (marked as TD4 or SD4). Torque remains at a strong 420Nm for both and is the key for the Freelander's brisk manners and ease of driving character.Like its predecessor the mini-Landie gets a five-star crash rating, six airbags and all the aids including electronic stability control, ABS on four disc brakes, cornering control and even hill descent. Interesting that a mate uses hill descent on his Discovery 4 to ensure a safe trip down his home's steep concrete driveway in the wet, so the device isn't only for off-road excursions.SUVs tend to look like they drive - top-heavy and cumbersome. The Freelander has none of that. It's quick, responsive, quiet and comfortable and feels more like a small car.The cabin is quite compact - though seats four adults with plenty of room - which perfectly suits small families or couples, as does the miserly fuel consumption.The 2.2-litre engine sounds small but really delivers. There is some low-end softness under the accelerator but you have the option of flicking the steering wheel paddle shifters to find a lower gear, or being patient.Mid-range deliver is all torque and smoothness and feels like it could pull like that forever. Close to perfect.I love the suspension that soaks up road irregularities as much as softening the bumps on dirt trails. It's a very good compromise.In the dirt the Haldex diff sends power to various axles. It's a heavy car and feels a bit uncomfortable on dry beach sand but lowering the tyre pressure provides traction.It is better on gravel and firmer sand trails where the all-wheel drive and quick steering rack give it confidence and stability at speed.This is one of the best SUVs - in all classes - on the market. It does everything right. But despite its Luxury SUV category, shoppers can go outside this framework and pick up similarly-equipped SUVs for a lot less money. Take the Mazda CX-7, for example or even the Toyota Kluger.Yes, the Freelander is probably the most competent "soft roader" in the SUV class but figure out if you're going to use its capability rather than just use it for its driveway appeal - a tragic finale for many BMWs. Slide down the Freelander model list and you'll notice the SD4 has a more powerful 140kW engine compared with the TD4's 110kW.Given fuel consumption is identical but performance is substantially better, pay the extra $1500 and get the SD4. Also, the auto is excellent so forget the manual transmission because it won't attract many buyers when you sell the car.

Sadly, it continued to concentrate on its role as basic transport for a few decades afterwards, and in doing so it opened the door to a tidal wave of Japanese copycats.It learnt quickly after that. First there was the 1970 Range Rover; more recently there's the mini-me off-roader called Freelander.Now in its third generation, the Freelander has changed marketing tack by arriving with only one engine – a turbocharged diesel made by BMW – and two body styles.That the power comes from BMW isn't weird considering the German was one of the former owners of Land Rover (it's now owned by Ford). But the use of a diesel in a soft-roader – a vehicle that doesn't have the off-road acumen of its bigger Land Rover siblings – in the Australian market is an unusual move.What will sway buyers is the fact that this is a damn good diesel.It's quiet, revvy, economical and pulls strongly from anything above idle. With that power plant mated to the five-speed auto, the rather portly Freelander SE gets up and dances.Dressed with a new body faced off by a tough-looking grille, the Freelander presents as a very likeable package with excellent street appeal and just about the perfect size for a young family or a couple on the move.It shares some features with the Discovery, notably the pocket headlights and the profile showing a raised roof line founded on the need to lift the rear seat to create a better vista for its occupants.The tailgate is a swing-away style, though the rear glass is electrically operated to serve as a portal for shopping and similar small items.The model tested was an automatic five-door SE which, despite the rather squat dimensions, easily accommodated four adults on leather-faced seats.From the driving seat the dashboard is simple and neat, with many storage nooks for personal gear. Partly because the seats are comfortable and the ride compliant, this is a machine that quickly endears itself to the driver with on-road confidence at highway speeds and nimble manners through bends.Forget the fact that this is a diesel. Aside from some muted grumbles at idle, the performance is excellent and the engine noise disappears at speed.Point it into the dirt and there are some limitations. The suspension travel is modest and a few times in the Hills near Mundaring the rear wheel spun uselessly in air. But the ground clearance appeared better than expected with no bangs and crashes from below.The engine is practically unstoppable and it's this – plus the option of using the gearbox manually – that makes the Freelander more confident in the bush than initially expected.Take it to the sand, however, and the low-profile tyres give little scope for deflating.The lack of a low-range transfer case is another bugbear, though the first-gear ratio is quite low – so much so that the vehicle generally accelerates from rest in second gear.I am aware that previous Freelanders had some awful quality problems and some petrol-engined versions succumbed expensively to the Australian heat. This diesel should be a lot better.

The badge might say diesel, but what that means Down Under is "serious off-roader".The Freelander went oil-burner-only a couple of months ago for the Australian market, with a total switch to 2.0-litre turbo-diesel power.It's a shift in focus for the Land Rover which, though never a "soft-roader", had a slightly suburban emphasis for young families and people who couldn't afford to jump into a trendier Discovery or flagship Range Rover.The Freelander has been a huge hit at home in Britain, where the classic Land Rover is still the benchmark for four-wheel-drives. But it has not gone as well in Australia, where Toyota is king of the bush and Japanese four-wheel drives have made life more than tough for a vehicle not close to best in class.Still, it has a Land Rover badge and Land Rover DNA, and that is enough for some people.Sales this year have been modest -- 282 in the first seven months -- with the Freelander up against heavy hitters in the compact four-wheel-drive class, where the Nissan X-Trail is setting the pace with 8098 sales.The Freelander is a class above its size rivals on price, and that means it could also take a hit from the classy BMW X3. The Landie's prices now start at $39,950, which is well above a five-door Toyota RAV4 from $32,290 or a Honda CRV from $31,990, though even the flagship Freelander SE automatic at $46,450 is well below the X3 at $65,300.No surprise, then, that Land Rover in Australia is pushing the diesel angle and pitching the Freelander at people who really need an all-paw escape machine.The update hasn't changed the fundamentals, with tweaks typical for any mid-life facelift.The nose looks a little different with a new bumper-headlamps-grille combination, the tail lamps are new, there are new colours and the removable roof on the two-door can be either a hard cap or a folding soft top.Inside, Land Rover has tweaked the dash and added cupholders, the seats have more support and new fabrics, and sound and ventilation is upgraded.It's not much of a change, but Land Rover is concentrating on the all-new Discovery, which it needs to win back lost ground in the luxury 4WD class.The Freelander has never been a Cars Guide favourite. The British machine has always felt cramped and dozy on the road, but we were hoping the latest version would change our minds.THE Freelander diesel is great in the rough stuff. It has fantastic grip and climbing ability, as well as a sure-footed feel on steep descents that makes it a delight for four-wheel-drive work.It is easy on fuel, has reasonable overtaking power for country road work, and packs Land Rover suspension that crushes the roughest roads and irons out smaller bumps without upsetting anyone in the cabin. But, and it's a big but, you have to drive out of town to get to the rough stuff.The Freelander, even with the latest updates, is nothing special for everyday blacktop driving. For suburban commuter work, unless you are a Land Rover fanatic, it would be a real pain.The diesel engine doesn't get going for the first 30 metres, the touch-change system on the automatic gearbox doesn't provoke a real response, and even when it is going it struggles to provide zip.It is a snoozer. Fine for country use, but outpaced in town.The cabin changes make the Freelander a little nicer, but even the latest seats – with great support and comfort – put a mid-sized man far too close to the roof. It's easy to bump your head in rough country.The cabin still looks a mix-and-match job, unlike the integrated Japanese rivals and the classy X3 for people with big budgets, even with big cupholders and good CD sound in our SE automatic tester.The doors close with a real thunk and the Freelander feels as if it will go the distance, but not without some squeaks and rattles.The real enjoyment comes when you turn into the scrub and tackle tracks or hills, when the diesel engine just thumps along and the superb suspension keeps the wheels planted and the car moving forward. That's when you know it's a real Land Rover, capable of realising the dreams of any weekend warrior.It has a badge to compete with the Japanese hero cars, which won't go close to it in the bush – apart from the Nissan X-Trail – but cannot match their comfort and refinement when you're closer to home.So we cannot avoid the buts and we cannot really recommend the latest Freelander except to people who are sold on diesel and the traditional Land Rover off-road experience.The Freelander is great for off-road work with a diesel kick, but there are far better choices for all the other jobs.