LIVING at the extreme is home from home for Land Rover but the off-road legend is about to go beyond limits with the all-new Freelander.

Bigger and better in every aspect than the original, the latest Freelander is about to set a new benchmark among 4×4s.

It is also going up a league when it comes to pricing with the new line-up aimed at the premium buyer.

The top range HSE model will cost £33,990 and even the basic versions will set you back £20,935.

In terms of price only the BMW X3 is in the same bracket but the new Land Rover is going to wipe the floor with its German rival – it’s that good.

This is more of a baby Range Rover than the entry-level Land Rover – the slot occupied by the first Freelander when it was launched back in 1997.

The interior is a class act, more plush and refined than before and much more comfortable.

It’s not on sale until December but we have just put the range topping 3.2-litre HSE through its paces – and it is very impressive.

The spartan feel of the previous Freelander has been replaced with luxurious leather upholstery and wooden trim and while the dash remains absolutely functional it is now state of the art and centred around a full-colour touchscreen controlling the latest in graphic displays.

Although similar in design to the original the new Freelander is almost two inches longer.

Chiselled body lines, Land Rover’s new trademark grille, headlamps and air vents give the necessary muscular credentials of any off-roader.

It looks contemporary and very purposeful with the HSE set off by ten-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels which help the Freelander cut a dash in the city.

The extra length translates into more room inside, especially in the back which now feels as spacious as in the flagship Range Rover.

Luggage room is also up 38 per cent over the original with a very useful 755 litres of space – the largest cargo capacity of any current Land Rover model. Drop the rear seats and there is 1,670 litres available which is comparable to a large estate car.

Climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a Dolby Premium sound system are all part of the HSE package.

Internal storage space is good with a sensibly sized glovebox – although it’s not lockable – and adequately proportioned pockets with bottle holders in each door.

The new Freelander – the first Land Rover to be built in the UK at Halewood in Liverpool – is available only as a five door model, dispensing with the three door option of the original.

Other significant differences are moving the spare wheel off the tailgate and into a well beneath the cargo area floor and the tailgate itself, which now opens from the bottom as opposed to the side – all of which makes the Freelander easier to load and much more user friendly.

The new model also makes use of a keyless entry system and uses a ‘smart’ card which is inserted into the dash next to the steering wheel. The engine is switched on by pushing a starter button.

All new Freelanders also feature a double sunroof which gives the cabin an airy feel and helps punch home its quality feel.

Land Rover is making use of two new engines to power the new Freelander – a 2.2-litre four cylinder diesel, developed by parent company Ford in conjunction with Peugeot, and a 3.2-litre straight six petrol engine which has come from Volvo – like Land Rover part of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group.

It’s the 3.2-litre which powers the HSE and it is meaty and much more powerful than MG Rover’s K-Series V6 used in the original.

The new engine develops 233bhp leading to a 0 to 60 time of 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.

Through a six-speed Command Shift automatic gearbox, which allows auto and manual gear selection, it’s a smooth operator and brisk off the mark. It also sounds good and potent.

Average fuel consumption is a claimed 25.2mpg and that is about par for the course for a vehicle of this size and all-terrain ability.

CO2 emissions are high, though, at 265g/km and it is the diesel engine, with its 37.7 average mpg and 194g/km CO2 output, which is going to be the more popular.

Handling is where the new Freelander really impresses.

The overall ride is class leading - firm, accurate and wallow-free – and much more accomplished than any other full blown off-roader at the moment.

It’s also a vehicle which is very easy to manoeuvre and the HSE comes with parking sensors front and rear.

Advanced braking systems, traction control and independent all-round suspension are enhanced by a roll over protection system – originally developed by Volvo for the XC90 – which makes the Freelander2, as it will be badged, the most stable Land Rover to date.

The new model also sees the debut of Gradient Release Control, an electronic braking gadget which makes uphill and downhill move-offs easier.

Land Rover’s Terrain Response computerised off-road system is fitted across the Freelander2 range. It’s an electronic, go-anywhere ‘expert’ which ensures optimum traction for a variety of conditions ranging from mud and snow to desert and rocky tracks.

Combined with Hill Descent Control, short front and rear overhangs and more ground clearance than before, it should make the Freelander amazingly capable off the beaten track.

We didn’t have the chance to take Freelander2 off road – that will be the subject of a road test in a couple of weeks’ time – but in everyday use it is a supreme performer and brilliant all round package.

That said, there are a couple of ‘could do better’ points.

The handbrake is situated very close to the side of the driver’s seat and can pinch your fingers if you are not careful.

There is another issue with the seatbelt anchor points which rub against the front upholstery.

This car was only a few days out of the factory but already there were black marks on the side of the front seats next to the seatbelt clasps.

The Freelander2 is the last model to be created by Land Rover’s retiring design chief Geoff Upex who, in the past three years, has also brought us the new Range Rover, the Discovery3, an updated Defender and the Range Rover Sport.

Upex has saved the best till last – let’s not spoil it with a couple of niggles.

(this article was taken from icLiverpool)

This entry was posted on Friday, October 27th, 2006 at 3:39 pm and is filed under New Cars. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.