Land Rover Freelander 2 hits our roads

Also available in countries which have embraced diesel technology is the 2.2 litre four cylinder turbodiesel (TD4) version. Equipped with common-rail diesel technology and a Variable Nozzle turbocharger, it delivers 160 PS and a very enticing 400 Nm of torque. Just not so economical after you remember that we get taxed for private diesel vehicles.

The new Freelander sits in the premium compact SUV class and comes with a full-time 4x4 system. On the centre console of its “Command” driving position, you will find a dial for its Terrain Response™ system. With four settings – general driving, grass/gravel/snow, mud ruts and sand, the convenience for drivers to adjust the drive to suit terrain conditions is commendable.

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If you enjoy lounging in the car or splashing through mud pools in the jungle whilst listening to your favourite jazz or rock tune, you will definitely appreciate its 14-speaker Dolby ProLogic II 7.1 surround sound system. As a bonus, an auxiliary MP3 audio socket is available as standard on every new Freelander 2.

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Just because you are seated high up with a ground clearance of up to 210mm doesn’t mean you feel like falling over every time you make a turn. Its independent front and rear suspension performs brilliantly to make the 1,770 kg (kerb weight) SUV feel like any other road car.

Sadly though, we did not get to test out its off-roading capabilities during the launch. But that does not mean we won’t get to.

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The moment you get in, take a seat and adjust yourself comfortably, you will get the sensation that this vehicle definitely has a certain dignity in the way it presents itself to you. It is decorated with pride rather than with suspicious, guilty looking bits and pieces. Gone are the days of old when people on the streets used to think that Her Majesty was a little wonky enough to prefer the marque.


Ultra-high strength steel is used in the construction of the monocoque body of the Freelander 2. Dual-phase steel, which requires special production technique, is used in key areas such as the front windscreen pillars and the lower side sills.

To further reiterate how tough it is, it has a wading depth of 500 mm, a frontal approach angle of 31°, a ramp break over angle of 23° and a rear departure angle of 34°. Its turning radius will also allow you to make proper U-turns, with its circle of 11.3 m.


If you are one of those who care about how green the leaves on the bougainvilleas must be or how many pink-banded giant platypuses there are left in the world, then it’s best that you take a bus. Land Rover seems to care. That’s probably why they have been involved in conservation projects around the world such as The Born Free Foundation, the China Exploration and Research Society and The Royal Geographical Society, amongst others.

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More importantly, the Freelander 2 is significantly larger overall in comparison to its older brother, with notable increments in passenger space as well as improved build quality. At a price of $168,888, including COE, that’s in the territory of other luxury SUVs such as the BMW X3 and the Volvo XC90 2.5T. And it still looks to be quite a tempting option.

Credits: Kr0n