Road Test: A Land Rover easy to live with

As Land Rovers go, this is a quite different car from the rest of the famous off-road brand's range, writes Brian Byrne. The eD4 tag on this particular Freelander 2 means it is 2WD, among other things.

The reason the company is offering a 2WD SUV is simple; there's a strong market for it. Across Europe, some 23 percent of compact SUVs are powered on one axle only, while in Ireland evidence would suggest the majority are of this format.

For 2011, a number of small detail changes have been made to the look of the Freelander. These include modifications to the bumper, grille, and fog lights surrounds at the front, and some changes to the rear lights.

The most important change is the revised 2.2 diesel engine, now up to Euro 5 standard and with more power. A 190hp version is also available in the 4WD Freelander, but for the 2WD we just get the 150hp unit, and a 6-speed manual gearbox.

There is, of course, no sign of the sophisticated Terrain Response that makes the rest of the Land Rover stable such formidable cars in some of the world's worst driving conditions. And in this version of the car, there's no screen for navigation and other stuff. Which, to this writer, makes the eD4's driver space a mercifully uncluttered place. Some tweaking of the graphics for the main instruments have also improved clarity substantially.

It may be the smallest Land Rover, but there's no shortage of space for either passengers or cargo. Headroom is excellent front and rear. And long-legged occupants need have no fear of being cramped in any of the five seats.

The boot space is decent, thanks to the overall square shape that is part of any Land Rover's DNA. Under the cargo floor there's room for some small packages, but that's because the spare wheel has been dumped in favour of an inflation/sealant system in the cause of reduced emissions.

The high-riding characteristics of this SUV make it a commanding place for the driver, with a really excellent visibility forward and all round. Fine large side mirrors are a joy.

On the run, the 2.2 diesel is at least as refined as it ever was, being one of the really good results of a previous Ford/PSA Peugeot-Citroen collaboration. There's some extra torque in the revision, but it doesn't bring on the 'surge' effect which make some diesels a little uncomfortable in traffic. The 150 horses up front are more than adequate, and nobody need feel cheated that the more powerful variant doesn't come with this version. The fuel consumption, thanks in part to the very tidy stop/start system that's now standard on Freelanders, is the equivalent of over 47mpg. That's very respectable for the size, weight and capability of the car. The emissions, though, are at 158g/km just a little too high to bring the car down into Band C, so the road tax is a little higher than you might like.

A word about the gearshift. For a big car, designed for tough use, it might be a surprise that it is such a smooth operator. Nothing truck-like here, rather something which would be right for the most swish saloon.

They may have dispensed with AWD, but the rest of the Freelander's underpinnings remain, so there are hefty wheels and Goodyear Wrangler tyres which are a good compromise between normal road and offroad covers. And, of course, the suspension components are as tough as is needed for sustained tough work.

Being 2WD — it's the front wheels, by the way — actually doesn't limit the eD4 Freelander much when taking to the grass or mud. There's a good traction control which keeps the vehicle from getting stuck in even stream crossings.

The base Freelander 2 now starts at just a tad under €30,000, and the version under review came in under €33,000 with larger alloys and some other goodies. I would put this price as making the Freelander very accessible, and perhaps a really good consideration for a long-term family car if you live in a rural location.

I could live with it. For a long time, too.