Last Updated: 09/09/2008
LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2
If you are in the market for a van that can get you across a muddy ploughed field, there are quite a few contenders. From Iveco’s Daily 4x4 and the Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 at the heavier end of the market, to Mitsubushi’s Shogun and any number of pick-ups at the lighter end, plus of course Land Rover’s venerable Defender range continues to provide the ultimate in off-roading in a commercial vehicle.But what if your need for the rough is less extreme, if what you really require is comfortable road travel with the ability to occasionally get your wheels muddy on site? Mitsubishi again has an option in the Outlander, which can now also be had as a Citroen C-Crosser commercial. If you simply must have that green oval on the grille, then you can now also choose to get into Land Rover’s Freelander 2.
Unveiled at this year’s CV Show in Birmingham, the Freelander 2 commercial is available in S and XS trim levels, based on the similarly badged cars. Unlike the first generation Freelander van however, which was based on the shorter three door body shell, Freelander 2 comes as a five door only, which makes it a much more useful vehicle.
Power comes from a 2.2 litre TD4 turbo diesel engine, offering 160hp at 4,000rpm. This third generation common rail diesel also boasts a strong 400Nm of torque, at just 2,000rpm, which is enough to provide the commercial with real get up and go. Indeed the Freelander 2 provides a surprising level of performance and the engine is a big step forward from the 2.0 litre BMW unit in the original Freelander.
Land Rover also makes some bold claims about fuel consumption for the Freelander 2, with a combined figure of 37.7mpg. While few owners will match that in daily use, low to mid 30s should be easily achievable, making this a cheaper vehicle to run than many 4x4 pick-ups with similar performance.
The engine is very smooth too, in keeping with a far higher quality feel in this second generation Freelander that almost lives up to its looks as a small Range Rover.
A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, and as with all Land Rovers four wheel drive is constant, there is no need to change between two and four wheel drive when you get to a muddy track. You do however get Hill Descent Control on the S spec vehicle and full Terrain Response on the XS. This reconfigures the engine, transmission, suspension and traction control at the turn of a dial to meet the specific needs of different ground conditions.
The HDC system on our S model worked well, holding the vehicle briefly when you take your foot off the brake pedal on a hill and then controlling the speed of descent using the brakes. If you feel the need, you can also pay the extra and opt for a six-speed automatic transmission, but expect to see consumption drop by around 4-5mpg.
At the load carrying end Land Rover has done away with the rear seats and blanked out the side rear windows, to comply with Revenue and Customs regulations. That means that you can reclaim the VAT and a driver will have a maximum benefit in kind tax charge of £3,000 on the Freelander 2.
A plywood load surface is installed, with a phenolic film surface to increase durability. This is all covered in thick rubber matting to protect both the load and the floor. There are four load tie-down points, but they are the existing four that would be in the car version, so are all at the rear of the load space.
In our S trim vehicle you get a full height bulkhead, the top half of which is wire mesh. In the XS the whole bulkhead is solid but with a window to allow you to see out of the rear of the vehicle. However, because the vehicle retains much of its soundproofing material, even with the mesh screen road noise levels are low and the Freelander is a quiet and comfortable place to spend the day.
Getting started is an interesting proposition however. Begin by offering the rather strange shaped key into the dash and it will then be pulled in like a CD. You then push an engine start/stop button on the dash to get the engine running, pushing again to turn it off. Push the key again and it is spat out at you, turning the electrical systems off. I’m not sure what exactly was wrong with a key that turns, but there you go.
As mentioned once on the move the Freelander 2 is greatly improved over the original. The ride quality is excellent and the driver is cocooned in a comfortable driver’s seat, with plenty of adjustment.
The handling is much improved too, with less of the roll and wallow associated with older 4x4s. The Freelander 2 carves easily through corners and feels totally secure on the road.
Nobody at Land Rover seemed to be able to tell me exactly what the load volume of the commercial is, but suffice to say that it is more than large enough for the type of use that would be expected of it. This is the sort of van that a site manager could happily travel between sites in, rather than a mobile toolbox for a service engineer.
There is quite a difference between the S and the XS trim levels, and so there should be with just under £5,000 between them on the price list. At £20,775 the S specification gets you 16” alloy wheels, electric heated door mirrors, a single slot CD player, an alarm system, manual climate control and that solid and mesh bulkhead.
Opt for the XS and you’ll be signing a cheque for £25,595. For that extra investment you get 17” alloys, Terrain response, front door puddle lamps, power folding mirrors, cruise control, personal phone integration, remote audio controls, cloth/leather seats, headlamp washers and front fog lamps, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, automatic climate control, an Alpine CD system and that full height solid bulkhead.
There are also a host of optional extras available that can take the price much higher. For instance our test van had metallic paint at £490, a full size spare wheel at £120 and Bi-Xenon headlamps, which will set you back a massive £995.
The Freelander 2 commercial is certainly not cheap, but it is a much better vehicle than the original Freelander van was. If you genuinely need to travel off road, but want a long distance cruiser when you’re on the asphalt, there are few vehicles to compete with it, at any price.
