What's it like?
When you think 4x4, you think Land Rover, and the Freelander 2 certainly wears the badge with honour. With its supple ride and sophisticated four-wheel-drive system, the Freelander is equally at home on Tarmac or in the rough: it's the perfect compact SUV. The Freelander 2 isn't quite as accomplished as its bigger brother, the Discovery 3 – and you don't have the option of seven seats – but it's still a highly desirable and practical vehicle.
The Freelander's ride smoothes out all but the worst road surfaces, and there's plenty of grip through bends. A vehicle of this size and height is always going to lean when cornering, but it's never excessive. Even though you get some wind noise at higher speeds, and the large wheels increase road noise, it's still a refined and a proficient motorway cruiser.
The cabin is well presented and feels solid, the driving position is comfortable, and forward vision is excellent, too. Front passenger space is plentiful, but taller people in the back will be left wanting for kneeroom. The boot is smaller than most rivals' and the loading lip is too high off the ground, making it tricky to load.
What are the running costs?
The 2.2 diesel has an official average economy of 37.2mpg, but you may struggle to achieve that in reality. What Car?'s long-term test Freelander managed an average of only 32.8mpg.
Road tax isn't cheap, with CO2 emissions of 194g/km for the diesel and 265g/km for the petrol. With road tax charges targeting vehicles that produce higher emissions, costs look set to rise throughout the car's lifetime.
You'll pay a lot for servicing, too, but it's worth sticking with Land Rover dealers as their stamp will help shore up resale values. Get quotes from different regions of the country and consider travelling if the savings are worthwhile.
Insurance is similar to rivals', with the diesels starting in group 12, rising to group 14 for the petrol models.
Which one should I get?
Unless it's really cheap, you should avoid the 3.2-litre V6 model. There's nothing wrong with the way it drives, but there are hardly any examples available and real-world petrol consumption will cause many sleepless nights.
The 158bhp 2.2-litre diesel is a much better option. It's a bit flat at lower revs, but has enough pull to feel frisky once it's on the move. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a smooth automatic option. It suits the car well, so is worth looking out for.
The Freelander is equipped with alloy wheels, air-con and a CD player as standard. The GS model gets climate and cruise control, rear parking sensors and Land Rover's Terrain Response system, which allows you to alter the four-wheel-drive system for various driving conditions. XS trim adds electric front seats and an upgraded stereo, while SE comes with satellite-navigation and a CD multichanger. HSE gives you leather upholstery, while HST models have different body side mouldings, a roof spoiler and 20-inch alloys.