Land Rover Freelander (06 on) - Review Review by Simon Harris on 04 January 2007 Last Updated: 13 June 2011 Land Rover has taken all its off-road knowledge and put it into an upmarket package to create the excellent Freelander 2. Refinement is a key strength and the Land Rover is as happy plugging through deep mud as it is cruising on the motorway or taking on the school run. Compared to the previous Freelander, quality and reliability have taken a huge leap forward too and this model feels as robust and well built as a Land Rover should. Thanks to a spacious interior it's a great family car and ideal for towing caravans or trailers. It's available with a strong 2.2-litre diesel engine which offers reasonable economy and new from mid-2009 is a fuel-saving stop and start system, which shuts down the engine when the car is stopped in traffic. The only downside is that it looks expensive compared to other similarly capable 4x4s. The Land Rover Freelander 2.2 TD4S is extremely capable both on and off-road. It’s robust well-built and reliable and manages the neat trick of being relatively car-like to drive. It has an upmarket feel, it comes with a prestigious badge sensible purchase price and, for a 4x4, suprisingly good fuel economy. In 2010, For the first time in its history Land Rover has broken with tradition and developed a two-wheel-drive model in the form of the refreshed Freelander. To some traditionalists this may seem that Land Rover is going against its heritage with the introduction of two-wheel drive cars, but the marque has to move with the times. Reducing emissions and running costs are vital in this age of austerity and Land Rover may have found the answer by appealing to more customers with the introduction of two-wheel drive. Taking all these factors into account this is why the the 2.2 TD4S won the 2011 Parkers 4x4 cost of motoring award. 4 out of 5 Other Land Rover reviews Summary Facts & Figures Equipment Driving & Performance Comfort Costs Safety & Reliability Buying & Selling Also Consider Company Car Info Owners' Reviews Gallery 3.5 out of 5 Performance There are only two engines are available in the Freelander but by far the most popular choice is the diesel. The 2.2-litre unit is smooth and pulls strongly from low-down, however it isn't especially quick, covering the 0-62mph time in 11.7 seconds with the manual gearbox. The six-speeder is easy to use, while the optional automatic is smooth with seamless changes that suit the diesel engine well. Both are good for more challenging terrain - the auto is especially capable. From mid-2009 (for 2010 model year vehicles) all manual diesel Freelanders come with a fuel-saving stop/start system. Once warm, the engine will automatically cut out when the car is stationary, with the handbrake applied and in neutral. As soon as the driver presses the clutch pedal, the engine starts up again. It also includes a 'stall recovery' system and will start up if free-wheeling downhill. The 3.2-litre petrol is very smooth, quiet and willing. With 233bhp its no surprise that it's quicker than the diesel, racing from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds, but it needs to be revved to get the best out of it. Fuel economy of just 25mpg is another reason to stick to the diesel. In 2010 Land Rover added a two-wheel drive Freelander. It's now Euro-5 compliant, it has an improved stop/start system and the 148bhp 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, with the smooth-shifting six-speed manual gearbox is more efficient. View full gallery 4.5 out of 5 Handling The Freelander may be refined and upmarket, but it is still very much a capable off roader in the Land Rover tradition. What may surprise many is how good it is on the road too. It's very composed through corners and body roll is kept well in check, while the steering is nicely weighted and responsive. In fact, the Freelander feels like an ordinary family car, rather than a 4x4. The suspension is impressive too and the supple ride means long motorway journeys are comfortable. All models above the basic S version are fitted with a simple-to-use off-road system (controlled by a dial) which can be altered depending on what terrain you're driving in (such as grass/gravel/snow, mud ruts and sand as well as a tarmac mode). This then alters the car's electronics - including many of the Freelander's electronic safety devices - to best deal with the driving conditions. Tested on sand dunes the Freelander certainly proved itself in deep sand which bodes well for other challenging driving in mud or snow. View full gallery Car Valuations Find used car prices with Parkers accurate car valuations. Find out more Land Rover Freelander cars for sale We have 668 models like this for sale. Find Land Rover Freelander cars for sale Previous: Equipment Next: Comfort