Land Rover Freelander Station Wagon (03-06) - Review

Review by Parkers on
Freelander is ideally suited to upmarket 4x4 buyers who want serious off-road capabilities in a compact package. It may be Land Rover’s entry-level model, but it still wears the best badge in the business. It’s the finest off-road performer for its category and age and although fuel economy is a little eye watering around town, it’s a decent car to drive around town. Freelander has been on sale since 1997, but this 2003 facelift gave it a smoother look with new headlamps and an upgraded interior. As well as the five-door station wagon, Freelander is also available as a three-door, sold as Hardback and Softback.
3.5 out of 5

Other Land Rover reviews

3.5 out of 5

Running costs

Freelander holds its value well, but you'll need the diesel to enjoy good economy and the1.8 and V6 are downright thirsty. With fuel consumption figures of just 22mpg on the combined cycle, the 2.5-litre V6 petrol unit is particularly expensive to run, though fuel economy is improved on longer journeys than when edging through town traffic. Parts and servicing are reasonably affordable, as is insurance.

* based on most recent data

Estimated fuel cost for 10,000 miles per year

Unleaded

£2,273 - £2,790 *

Diesel

£1,732 - £2,003 *

The estimated fuel cost figure is a guide to how much this model will cost to fuel each year, so you can compare between cars. It's calculated by using the model's average mpg (calculated from both town centre and motorway driving) and the average fuel price. It's based on the following cost-per-litre: petrol 135p and diesel 141p. Prices are updated daily.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

12,000 miles (petrol), 15,000 miles (diesel).

Warranty

Three years unlimited mileage

Road tax (12 months)

£270.00 - £460.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

2 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
    205
  • L
  • M
    298

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

Freelander is quite a polluting model. With an average of 242 g/km CO2 across the range, its emissions are quite high for a small 4x4. However, it's worth noting that the line up has a high number of diesel models, bringing the average down and giving buyers more choices of low-emission versions. Diesels typically produce less CO2 than petrol engines with similar power outputs. The range is not very frugal, averaging 30 mpg.

Find the exact engine and CO2