For 2004, the Freelander gets a mild makeover in the form of new front end styling, new wheels and some interior enhancements that include new instrumentation and cupholders. This is the first major change to the truck since its introduction in Europe over five years ago. In total, there are about 700 changes to the vehicle, but most are not readily noticeable to the casual observer. Things like new rear-seat latches, revised rear valance and improved wheel balancing will probably not register with most shoppers, but the in-dash CD changer, optional 18-inch wheels and new paint colors may get the Freelander a few more looks than before.
Perhaps the most important revision of all is the lower price. The two-door SE3 reviewed here is still priced at about $27,000. However, the top-line four-door HSE is now priced under $30,000, while the SE comes in at $26,000 and the base S disappears altogether. Our SE3 was equipped with optional 18-inch wheels (a new feature for 2004), which added $750 to the price.
OK, so this thing is, like, cuter than the original Suzuki Samurai, the VW New Beetle and Honda Element all rolled into one. That's not meant as a slight, but an honest statement of our adoration. The '04 Freelander is a good-looking car that garners many compliments whether parked or cruising down the boulevard on a warm Saturday night. The new front end treatment works well and gives the truck a more aggressive look, but it does bear a slight resemblance to the Nissan Xterra. Higher-mounted taillights are also appreciated, as the old ones could too easily be obscured with mud and were hard to see in traffic. One of the great things about the SE3 is that everywhere you look there are panels or windows that open or pop out or come off altogether. With the top off, the Freelander gets even better-looking, but removing and installing that top is not the piece of cake one might suspect — more on that later.
Inside, the most obvious change is the more stylish dash treatment. The gauge cluster is now more contemporary and sporty-looking — in our previous full test of the Freelander, dash design was a sore spot. The seats can now be had with either perforated leather or suedelike fabric called Alcantara. Our SE3 came with a material called "Black Technical" fabric that felt a little like rubber. This fabric seems durable and it is reasonably comfortable but after an extended time it can start to feel a little hot.
Thankfully, the six-disc CD changer is now in the dash rather than under the seat, but the sound quality is still pleasing — this Harman Kardon system is one of the better stereos in this class. Another noticeable improvement is the design of the cupholders as they can now hold decent-size drinks without fear of them spilling all over the dashboard.
In an attempt to improve ergonomics, the Freelander's window switches and door lock switches have been moved to the more traditional door-mounted location. This only applies to the HSE and SE versions as the SE3 still has the window switches on the center console. Other switchgear has been relocated as well. Buttons for the cruise control, foglights and rear wiper are now in more user-friendly locations. The cruise control on/off button is a little bit of a reach, but not awkward. Other interior improvements include a quieter A/C and heating fan and reduced wind noise from the rear removable top.
Speaking of that removable top, it is not the kind of thing you can take off on a whim just for the afternoon. Removing the top was no problem — on a scale of one to 10, the removal process is about a six with only one person. The releases are easy to undo and a simple tilting of the hard top allows you to pull it out rearward. Still, it is not super-light, and there are no handles to assist in getting it to the ground smoothly. When a Land Rover representative dropped the SE3 off, he explained that reinstalling the top would probably be a two-person job but that it would not require the removal of the roof rails. Good luck! In order to reinstall the hard top, we had to partially disassemble the roof rails and even then it was no picnic. The installation process took two different sizes of Torx bits — one with an off-set head. Afterward, we needed a buffer to get rid of the scratches we put in the black paint. The only remaining signs of harm were slightly scuffed-up rails and some light scratches on the outer part of the hard top. In the long run, most owners will probably leave the top on and opt for opening the sunroof and rear window plus popping open the side quarter windows for that open-air feeling. For true convertible lovers, the SE3's removable top is worth the hassle, but just barely.
So the 2004 Freelander has some upgrades, but mechanically speaking, it is essentially the same as before. The ride is smooth, but steering effort is very high and the seating position is still odd. Power is adequate, but the delivery of that power is not super-smooth, something you would expect from Land Rover. At the end of the day, the vehicle is definitely better than the '03 model, but with no upgrades to the truck's mechanicals it's hard to see it as all new. The in-dash CD changer is appreciated as are the improved taillights and more attractive dash design.
Our biggest complaint about the Freelander has always had to do with price, but with a base price of $25,995 for the nicely equipped SE model, Land Rover's small SUV is now more inline with such small SUVs as the Jeep Liberty or Mazda Tribute. While $26 large may still sound like a lot of money, keep in mind that a loaded Toyota RAV4 can top out above $27,000. If you're just dying to get into a Land Rover, and we can't say we blame you, then the Freelander is an affordable way to do just that. Despite its many revisions, the Freelander still acts and looks (for the most part) like the baby Land Rover some of us have come to know and love — or at least like. Yes, there are compromises, but when you consider such factors as off-road ability, exterior styling and curb appeal, it's hard not to like this little rig.
Perhaps the most important revision of all is the lower price. The two-door SE3 reviewed here is still priced at about $27,000. However, the top-line four-door HSE is now priced under $30,000, while the SE comes in at $26,000 and the base S disappears altogether. Our SE3 was equipped with optional 18-inch wheels (a new feature for 2004), which added $750 to the price.
OK, so this thing is, like, cuter than the original Suzuki Samurai, the VW New Beetle and Honda Element all rolled into one. That's not meant as a slight, but an honest statement of our adoration. The '04 Freelander is a good-looking car that garners many compliments whether parked or cruising down the boulevard on a warm Saturday night. The new front end treatment works well and gives the truck a more aggressive look, but it does bear a slight resemblance to the Nissan Xterra. Higher-mounted taillights are also appreciated, as the old ones could too easily be obscured with mud and were hard to see in traffic. One of the great things about the SE3 is that everywhere you look there are panels or windows that open or pop out or come off altogether. With the top off, the Freelander gets even better-looking, but removing and installing that top is not the piece of cake one might suspect — more on that later.
Inside, the most obvious change is the more stylish dash treatment. The gauge cluster is now more contemporary and sporty-looking — in our previous full test of the Freelander, dash design was a sore spot. The seats can now be had with either perforated leather or suedelike fabric called Alcantara. Our SE3 came with a material called "Black Technical" fabric that felt a little like rubber. This fabric seems durable and it is reasonably comfortable but after an extended time it can start to feel a little hot.
Thankfully, the six-disc CD changer is now in the dash rather than under the seat, but the sound quality is still pleasing — this Harman Kardon system is one of the better stereos in this class. Another noticeable improvement is the design of the cupholders as they can now hold decent-size drinks without fear of them spilling all over the dashboard.
In an attempt to improve ergonomics, the Freelander's window switches and door lock switches have been moved to the more traditional door-mounted location. This only applies to the HSE and SE versions as the SE3 still has the window switches on the center console. Other switchgear has been relocated as well. Buttons for the cruise control, foglights and rear wiper are now in more user-friendly locations. The cruise control on/off button is a little bit of a reach, but not awkward. Other interior improvements include a quieter A/C and heating fan and reduced wind noise from the rear removable top.
Speaking of that removable top, it is not the kind of thing you can take off on a whim just for the afternoon. Removing the top was no problem — on a scale of one to 10, the removal process is about a six with only one person. The releases are easy to undo and a simple tilting of the hard top allows you to pull it out rearward. Still, it is not super-light, and there are no handles to assist in getting it to the ground smoothly. When a Land Rover representative dropped the SE3 off, he explained that reinstalling the top would probably be a two-person job but that it would not require the removal of the roof rails. Good luck! In order to reinstall the hard top, we had to partially disassemble the roof rails and even then it was no picnic. The installation process took two different sizes of Torx bits — one with an off-set head. Afterward, we needed a buffer to get rid of the scratches we put in the black paint. The only remaining signs of harm were slightly scuffed-up rails and some light scratches on the outer part of the hard top. In the long run, most owners will probably leave the top on and opt for opening the sunroof and rear window plus popping open the side quarter windows for that open-air feeling. For true convertible lovers, the SE3's removable top is worth the hassle, but just barely.
So the 2004 Freelander has some upgrades, but mechanically speaking, it is essentially the same as before. The ride is smooth, but steering effort is very high and the seating position is still odd. Power is adequate, but the delivery of that power is not super-smooth, something you would expect from Land Rover. At the end of the day, the vehicle is definitely better than the '03 model, but with no upgrades to the truck's mechanicals it's hard to see it as all new. The in-dash CD changer is appreciated as are the improved taillights and more attractive dash design.
Our biggest complaint about the Freelander has always had to do with price, but with a base price of $25,995 for the nicely equipped SE model, Land Rover's small SUV is now more inline with such small SUVs as the Jeep Liberty or Mazda Tribute. While $26 large may still sound like a lot of money, keep in mind that a loaded Toyota RAV4 can top out above $27,000. If you're just dying to get into a Land Rover, and we can't say we blame you, then the Freelander is an affordable way to do just that. Despite its many revisions, the Freelander still acts and looks (for the most part) like the baby Land Rover some of us have come to know and love — or at least like. Yes, there are compromises, but when you consider such factors as off-road ability, exterior styling and curb appeal, it's hard not to like this little rig.
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