Land Rover Freelander TD4_e HSE review

"It's a step in the right direction, but Land Rover needs to do more"

What is it?

If you’re Land Rover, the seismic shift in public awareness of carbon emissions must be cause for many a sleepless night. The brand’s five models – the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery, Defender and Freelander – are all pretty big, pretty heavy and pretty un-PC SUVs. But Land Rover has set about the tricky mission of cleaning up the brand’s act, starting with the Freelander, now with added e.

What’s it like on the outside?

The Freelander’s exterior is a real triumph, managing to look solid and classy in isolation, yet every bit the premium SUV when compared with its larger siblings. In fact, the Freelander’s styling, in particular the nose, is much less monolithic than the Discovery’s, lending it a more acceptable, less in-your-face stance. That said, the rounded front can make it tricky to know where the car’s extremities are when you’re parking.

What’s it like on the inside?

Despite the fact that my car was in range-topping HSE trim, the Freelander feels noticeably cheaper than the rest of the Land Rover range – Defender excluded. The plastics in particular are a bit cheap, and the switchgear doesn’t have that pleasing, damped feeling that you get in a rival Volvo XC60 or Audi Q5. That said, the seats are comfortable, the rear seats are spacious and the visibility is predictably excellent.

What’s it like to drive?

To turn a Freelander into a slightly more economical proposition, all TD4 diesel versions with manual transmissions get stop start. It works just like any other system, cutting the engine when you pull up to a stop and select neutral. It’s a pretty old school version of the technology, so the engine judders back to life quite noticeably. The system doesn’t work when the car’s cold and you’ve got the heater on full either, so would only be of value on your way back from dropping the kids at school.

To compliment the stop start, there are low rolling resistance tyres, and a gearshift indicator, which is located on the dash and doesn’t bug you by flashing incessantly if you decide to ignore it.

Otherwise it’s business as usual. The Freelander is a great cruiser, absorbing miles without fuss. The body does roll quite a bit, but grip is great. And of course, it’s a Land Rover, so nothing in its class of junior off roaders can cope with the terrain that a Freelander can deal with.

Verdict

The Freelander is a great junior SUV with a real sense of presence, heritage and class. It’s comfy, practical and performs well too. But the eco gains aren’t exactly earth shattering in their effectiveness, but are a necessary move by the firm to make sure the car-buying public see that Land Rover is taking steps to clean up its act. However, a bigger step is needed in the not too distant future if the public are to be convinced of Land Rover’s eco credentials.

By Tom Phillips