Land Rover Freelander

What is it?
Land Rover Freelander

What's special about it?
Meet the little brother of the popular Land Rover Discovery Series II and the prestigious Range Rover. Developed while BMW owned the famous British truck maker (Land Rover was purchased by Ford this past summer), the Freelander enters the compact SUV segment to battle the Mercedes ML320, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Grand Cherokee, et al.

It comes fully armed for battle. Fifty years of Land Rover sport-utility know-how imbues the handsome truck with impeccable off-road capabilities and its association with BMW means it won't fall apart under duress or during normal driving (previous Land Rovers are not known for stellar build quality).

The Freelander employs a permanent four-wheel-drive system that works on-demand, meaning the ute is front-wheel drive until the system detects slippage and then power is evenly distributed to the rear wheels. Land Rover's Electronic Traction Control (ETC) system monitors each wheel, applying brakes to wheels without traction, ensuring that the vehicle continues driving where it is pointed. Hill Descent Control (HDC) maintains an ideal speed for maximum control on steep descents. Coupled with standard ABS, there's enough technology on the Freelander to get Mr. Magoo over the Rubicon.

Why should you care?
The Freelander is coming to the U.S. very soon. In Europe, the natives make do with a puny 1.8-liter, 16-valve four-banger that won't win any land speed contests, but is great on gas. Knowing the North American yen for motor muscle, but also acknowledging new concerns over rising fuel costs, the Freelander will arrive on our shores with a 2.5-liter V6 that pumps out about 170 horsepower, manages zero-to-60 mph in a decent 10 seconds and still gets 16.5 mpg in the city and 29.1 mpg on the highway. A five-speed automatic tranny with Steptronic (a system that allows clutchless manual shifts using intuitive up-down throws of the gear lever) provides the option of casual automatic driving or more aggressive shifting.

While luxurious interiors (leather, heated seats, six-disc CD changers, etc.) are available, the Freelander was designed, like its bigger siblings, to offer charming, comfortable comportment, but also ultimate durability. Expect prices, depending on equipment, to fall in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. In the ultra-competitive sport-ute market, the Freelander provides an option that demands exploration.
-- Neil Dunlop