Land Rover Freelander 2 2011 review: snapshot

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering would you buy one?

What Is It?

Land Rover's baby 4WD which looks a lot like the big ritzy one and that is probably no mistake. It's just been upgraded, with some cosmetic changes as well as the addition of two new powerful diesel engines.

How Much?

What Are The Competitors?

BMW's X3, Audi Q5. Benz doesn't have a model in the luxury compact SUV segment _ not in this country anyway.

What's Under The Bonnet?

The 3.2-litre petrol V6 carries over from the previous model, but the big news is the two turbo diesels. It's basically the same 2.2-litre four cylinder engine but with different power outputs. One produces 110kW and the other, 140kW _ more importantly they both pump out the same 420Nm of torque.

How Does It Go?

Pretty good. We drove the two diesels at launch. To be honest we'd be quite happy with the 110kW unit. Having said that, it's not as smooth as say Kia's 2.2-litre diesel and the six-speed Japanese Aisin auto is not as quick to respond either.

Is It Economical?

Both autos are rated at 7.0 litres/100km. There's also a manual (entry level model) with stop/start technology that gets 6.6. We were getting about 8.5 litres/100km in the cars we drove, but that figure is probably not indicative.

Is It Green?

Gets 2.5 stars from the Government's Green Vehicle Guide, at least the previous model did. This one uses less fuel and produces less CO2 so it's probably going to do better. The hybrid Prius in comparison gets five.

Is It Safe?

Yes. Gets a full five stars for crash safety. Seven airbags are standard, including a driver's knee bag.

Is It Comfortable?

The Freelander 2 is a personal favourite. It provides comfortable seating for four adults and the cabin is quiet enough to facilitate easy conversation between the front and rear seats. You can option in leather and electrical adjustment as well as heating and cooling.

What's It Like To Drive?

The high seating position and torquey diesel engines make this one a snack to drive.

Is It Value For Money?

Yes and remember although it does not have low range four-wheel drive, this vehicle still has some serious off road ability, with terrain response to tailor the drive to different conditions; mud, gravel, snow etc.

Would We Buy One?

You bet. We had one of these cars for a couple of months and it was easy to live with. Not only is it practical it will impress the neighbours.