| First Drive | Brighton, England | 2013 Land Rover Freelander |
Key Facts
Model tested: Land Rover Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Lux
Pricing: £39,805
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Transmission: four-wheel drive, six-speed automatic
Body style: five-door SUV
Rivals: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Volvo XC60
CO2 emissions: 185g/km
Combined economy: 40.4mpg
Top speed: 118mph
0-62mph: 9.5 seconds
Power: 190hp at 3,500rpm
Torque: 418Nm at 1,750rpm
In the Metal: 
It's a Freelander, so no real surprises then, Land Rover's mid-sized family machine instantly recognisable from its upright grille to its no-nonsense, functional style and tall stance. That familiarity is largely thanks to it having been around a while now and its continued popularity, though even the most seasoned Freelander spotters will be hard pushed to see the 2013 model year changes that now feature. So, you've guessed it, some revised lights with LED daytime running lamps bracket the revised grille with shiny inserts, while around the rear there are also new lights.
Inside it's more of the same, with subtle revisions throughout. The centre console follows its Land Rover relations in binning the dial for Terrain Response, using switches instead. The infotainment system has also been improved and the key no longer requires docking. It all remains as stylishly functional as ever, though even with its revisions newer rivals have the edge on the Freelander for visual and tactile appeal - as well as user friendliness.
Driving it:
For all its advancing years there's no denying that the Freelander still delivers when it comes to driver appeal. The suspension is particularly well judged, mixing fine control with a supple ride that betters virtually all its rivals. The steering offers decent weight and even a modicum of feel through the relatively thin rim (heated here in HSE Lux spec), while the brakes are strong and refinement on the road is good.
In isolation the 2.2-litre SD4 turbodiesel engine does a respectable job, hauling the Freelander 2 to 62mph from rest in just 9.5 seconds. The six-speed automatic transmission also manages its ratios swiftly and without fuss. Where it falls down, and underlines the Freelander's advancing years, is when it's compared to similarly priced rivals. Pitch Land Rover's most potent turbodiesel Freelander 2 against its competition from BMW and Audi - the X3 xDrive 35d SE and Q5 3.0 TDI quattro S-Line - and its driver won't see which way the German duo went. The BMW utterly demolishes the Land Rover's 9.5-second 0-62mph time, taking just 5.8 seconds, and Audi is not too far behind at 6.5 seconds.
While the Freelander would undoubtedly get you further off-road, that's a lot of performance to sacrifice for the idea of mud-plugging invincibility. While in reality it'd never be a race against the clock, those Germans do offer more performance more of the time for greater flexibility, but the real issue is that they achieve that in a more environmentally (and hence tax) friendly manner with better emissions and mpg figures.
What you get for your Money:
That deficit in performance isn't really made up on the specification sheets against those two protagonists either. In HSE Lux trim this particular Freelander does come with an equipment list that includes satnav, leather, heated seats and steering wheel and all the connectivity you could wish for, but then it's right at the top of the range - and hence the price list.
Worth Noting
Land Rover won't say so at the moment, but it's readying a new Freelander - which is anticipated for launch in 2015. It should bring even greater off-road performance combined with far superior interior packaging to deliver greater space front and rear and in the boot, too.
Summary
In isolation the Freelander 2 remains an impressive package, but alongside its key rivals it doesn't look so clever anymore. Many will pay the high price for the Freelander's off-road image and undeniable ability, but it's a heavy one to pay - not just for on the road performance, but on your pocket too.
