Review
Principally those miles have been covered on the motorway, though the occasions when we have ventured off-road in its primary capacity as photographer's transport, it has proved entirely drama free and surprisingly capable. In fact, covering an off-road event, where much bigger 4x4s were making heavy weather of a relatively straightforward course on account of their weight and size, the Freelander was a revelation, its nimble steering and lightness contributing to surprising ability despite the absence of low-range gears.
This proves two things, one that the heavy and expensive transfer gearing, which gives low and high range transmission, is superfluous in most 4x4s in everyday use, and two, that permanent four-wheel-drive is the answer for those who want genuine off-road performance with the minimum of fuss.
Our initial concerns that Land Rover's infamous off-road ability would be compromised by the Freelander's apparent lack of sophisticated four-wheel-drive kit have been completely dispelled, particularly as the clever Hill Descent Control device fitted to our top of the range 1.8 XEi is so successful at endowing it with most of the ability without the cost.
There are flaws in the Freelander's armoury, however, not least of which is the fact you cannot have ABS brakes on entry-level models without specifying the full ú900 HDC package. It makes the ú15,995 Soft Back 1.8i seem expensive, when ABS is an inexpensive and worthwhile option on many cars for as little as ú250.
And even though the Freelander's 1.8-litre engine does not come across as too underpowered when it comes to off-roading, with decent low-speed pull and flexibility, it feels sluggish on the road and performs with an over-vocal note that seems out of character in an off-road vehicle of this size. If ever there was a case for more power, this is it.
But the payoff for its relatively modest output and performance are running costs which match those of many premium upper-medium cars - and that's despite the reputation 4x4s have regarding high cost of ownership. A total pence per mile figure of 28.65 over three years/60,000 miles (Fleet NewsNet figures) actually beats the Audi A4 1.8 SE Avant's 29.42p largely on account of better than average depreciation figures and fuel economy that rarely drops below 28mpg: a CAP Monitor RV of 50% of original cost new (ú9,925) is among the best of any car on the market.
It's for these reasons that the Freelander is the most sensible 4x4 for the fleet market: in our 9,000 miles, nothing fell off, broke or needed repair, pointing to the quality control steps Rover has made under BMW's stewardship. If that's a reliable pointer to future Land Rover reliability, then thousands of Discovery and Range Rover owners can look forward to a rosy future. If our experience is anything to go by, that's something Freelander owners already enjoy.
Paul Clark
