Land Rover Freelander review

The Freelander is a small SUV built by Land Rover which was first introduced in 1996. The first generation was built for 10 years, starting in 1996 for the 1997 model year. Soon enough it became the best selling 4x4 vehicle in Europe, which lasted for 5 years. The first generation was offered in either a 2 or 4 door version, with the 2 door being offered in a convertible model. Various trim levels were designed to offer plenty of options based on the needs of the customers. The 2 door model, 3 if you include the rear door, was offered in an E, S, SE and Sport Premium edition while the 4 (or 5) door model was offered in E, S, SE, HSE, Sport and Sport Premium.

Engines in these early models were 1.8 liter 4 cylinder or 2.0 liter diesel. Early on the most common transmission was a 5 speed automatic, which offered plenty of options for both high speed and low speed driving. As for off-road capabilities, the Freelander was able to tackle some off-roading, but anything too difficult was best left to the Discovery. Compared to it's closest competitors, which included the Honda CRV and the Toyota RAV4, it was by far the best in vehicle to take off the road.

One of the most innovative features of this first generation Land Rover was the introduction of the hill descent control. This feature allowed full control when descending a hill and was a great feature to use during wet or slippery conditions.

In 2006 a completely redesigned Freelander was introduced called the Freelander 2. In North America it was renamed the LR2 as the Freelander suffered from poor sales. This model was based on a Ford platform, which was also used on the Ford Galaxy, Ford S-Max and also the Volvo S-80. Built in Liverpool in the same factory as the Jaguar X-Type, the new Freelander came with a new body, better off-road capabilities and more ground clearance. A 6 cylinder engine and six speed transmission became standard as well as a premium Alpine sound system. A 2.2 litre diesel engine is also available as well. With an enhanced 4 wheel drive system, the latest Landrover Freelander 2 is a capable off-road vehicle as well as a perfect vehicle for everyday driving. Between the first and second generation Freelanders, the second generation offers much more for off-road enthusiasts and with newly updated styling, it truly is a beautiful SUV.