Motor Trend Reviews on the 2003 Land Rover Freelander
- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.2DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Ability
118kW, 400Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 8.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XC
- Transmission
half-dozen Spd Car
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Rubber
NA
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2 review
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2 Review
Test motorcar: 2.two SE TD4 Automatic
Options Fitted: Metallic Paint - $1500, Sunroof - $3300
Recommended Retail Price: $51,990
by Karl Peskett
"All hail the mighty cow." They're the best invention e'er. Not only do they give usa milk, cheese and yoghurt, merely we too get meat from them. And there'southward goose egg like chowing down on a skillful slice of bovine mankind.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot; they too give us leather. And the hibernate for your hide in the new Land Rover Freelander 2 is just wonderful. Soft, absurd and comfy - it'south how seats should be.
We took a 2007 SE TD4 model for an 1877km lap effectually Western Australia's south-west. Leaving Perth, our destinations were Busselton, Augusta, Walpole, Denmark and Pemberton. Being a rather lengthy trip, some supplies were required. A baby seat, pram, toys, nappies - were all included - and that was just for me.
The Land Rover swallowed upwards all our luggage, proving that mid-sized doesn't accept to mean minor. The twin sunroof arrangement meant plenty of light came into the black over ivory interior, and the glasshouse was tall enough for superb visibility. My 18-calendar month-old son was able to see out easily, preventing the colorlessness (and screaming) of iv-hour driving stints setting in.
Outside, the Freelander 2 is light-years alee of its dumpy predecessor. The "baby-Disco" look has been achieved while still giving the Freelander its own flavour.
Within, the dual-zone climate control besides quelled the typical "I'm cold/I'grand hot" arguments. The steering wheel's vertical aluminium horn strips are a bright idea, hands reached by your thumbs, or palm; whichever mood you're in.
However, the difficult plastic on the doors, wheel and nuance sit down incongruously with the soft leather and plush carpets. It's like donning a slick, blackness Versace suit, but choosing a purple and pink polka-dot tie. They just don't get together. Personally, I'd be willing to pay a few thousand more to get soft-touch plastics, purely to finish off the luxury 4WD tag.
The rear seat is a skilful size, and while initially seeming business firm, on the long haul, it's supportive and comfy. The armrests on the front buckets are also ideal for the stacking on the kilometres.
Setting off, the ride around boondocks is certainly firm, and can exist a little hard-edged, merely once the speeds rise, so does the comfort level. The merchandise-off comes with its off-route aptitude. Using the 4WD-for-dummies knob, the Freelander accurately selects traction-control, gear and rev levels to suit the terrain.
On a particularly treacherous wet grassy slope, we dialled in the "Grass, Gravel or Snow" setting. Without it, the car was slipping, sliding, and scrabbling for grip. With it, the Land Rover only walked up. This contrasts nicely with the "Sand" setting, which supplies enough of revs, and backs off the traction control to keep the vehicle's speed up, and the tyres spinning. In brusk, it works.
Nonetheless, both on and off road, each suspension hit is followed by a slight torso wobble. There must be some flex somewhere, as subsequently but a calendar week of state driving, some squeaks and rattles were brought to the surface.
That's non to say that the rest of the drive is bad. Far from it. The superb (only slightly loud) two.2-litre diesel is a perfect match to the six-speed automated which intuitively selects the perfect gear for the conditions. Fifty-fifty when braking, it downshifts like it mind-reads, ready for your command.
Fuel economy isn't too bad, with the trip about matching State Rover's official combined cycle at eight.7 litres per100km. Just a week of solely land driving should have returned a better effigy. The 118kW is adequate plenty to go along the engine spinning when needed, but the ample torque of 400Nm is where this motor shines. Providing smooth, seamless gearshifts up and down, overtaking is as simple as brushing the throttle. Don't floor it; you don't demand to. Just ride the torque curve and savor. Only practice continue your eyes peeled on state roads – overtaking isn't equally simple as it should exist.
This is a wakeup call to all country drivers. Check your mirrors before overtaking .
Things could have easily become a lot worse without swift thinking and shine driving. While en route from Pemberton to Perth on the Southwestern Highway, 2 vehicles were travelling in close proximity. The commencement, a truck; The second, a Daewoo Kalos.
The road straightened out, and continued straight for several kilometres. We approached, doing the speed limit, giving enough of fourth dimension for the Daewoo to pull out and go past. Merely as we got closer, the Daewoo maintained its distance behind the truck. Surely it was just going to sit there.
We accelerated, ready to overtake both vehicles, with comfortable margin. As we pulled out, we got to within two metres of the Daewoo. Suddenly and without warning, they indicated and went to overtake, missing us by centimetres. I didn't even accept fourth dimension to blast the horn. I braked and swung back in, tyres protesting on the limits of adhesion, DSC light blinking on the nuance. It hadn't kicked in yet, but was most to. Mr and Mrs Daewoo continued on their merry way, completely oblivious to the swaying, wallowing, squealing 4-cycle-drive behind them.
Ane wrong motion and the Land Rover would have rolled. At college speed, and the Kalos could accept been clipped, causing information technology to spin off the road, killing its occupants. With two tonnes or more of Freelander two (at best) roaring up backside you, check your mirrors. Once y'all're sure that it'due south clear in all directions, overtake at will.
The residue of the trip back was incident free. At highway speeds the aerodynamics and intermission combine to make it the most comfortable velocity - information technology feels like there's plenty air running under the car to take the hard edge off the ride.
At $51,990 the Freelander SE TD4 certainly makes a case for itself every bit a well-equipped 4WD, which tackles the rough-stuff with aplomb. Sure, there are cheaper SUVs out there, but they're not as nice inside, or as capable off-route. The question of reliability still hangs like a dark cloud over the Freelander name, even so Land Rover assures usa it'south got that sorted. Time will tell.
Simply for now, all I can say is, "All hail the mighty cow." They're the best invention ever.
thibeaultwasm1955.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.drive.com.au/reviews/2007-land-rover-freelander-2-review/
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