LAND Rover has certainly pulled its finger out over the past year or so.
The company's stunning redesign of its Discovery was threatening to eclipse the car's bigger sister, until the Range Rover department hit back with its brilliant Sport version.
Now this internecine battle for supremacy among Land Rover models has been joined by the junior of the family - the new Freelander 2.
The Freelander has been responsible for bringing the kudos of Land Rover ownership to those who previously could not aspire to it, and the new model continues this ethos with the entry-level S model diesel available for less than £21,000 on the road.
The new Freelander looks anything but cheap, though. Taking its cue from the Discovery, the new car has the same "hewn-from-solid-alloy-by-lasers" bodywork, with the Range Rover's jewel-like head and tail lamps.
Bigger in just about every dimension than its predecessor, the Freelander 2 has far more road presence than the old car, with a sharp, hi-tech look that is still distinctively Land Rover.
Inside, the Freelander 2 (pictured) feels even more expensive. The new car adopts many interior styling cues from the Range Rover - unfussy dials and a no-nonsense centre console, all executed in high-quality, razor-cut plastics.
Our TD4 HSE range-topper came fully loaded with a host of goodies, including leather seats with electric memory function, cruise control, panoramic sunroof and many other toys usually only found on more expensive cars.
Standard on all new Freelanders is the press-button start system. Instead of a key, a rubber fob is inserted into a slot in the dashboard, letting you start the car with a prod of a button. To stop the engine, prod the button again.
Spec check Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 HSE
Price: £30,935
0-62mph: 10.9 secs
Max speed: 112mph
Engine size: 2,179cc
Max power: 160bhp
Insurance group: 11
Features: Terrain Response, Intelligent 4WD, sat-nav, cruise control, push-button start, roll stability control, leather seats with memory function
All Freelander trim levels have full-time, intelligent four-wheel-drive that directs power to whichever wheels need it most to maintain traction. They also get dynamic stability control, four-wheel traction control, plus extra systems such as corner brake control, which maintains rear-end stability when braking in corners, and roll safety control, which applies appropriate braking to help stop the car rolling.
The new Freelander (on all except the base model) also gets its larger siblings' Terrain Response, which optimises the 4x4 system and electronic systems to cope with four different types of terrain - general driving, grass-gravel-snow, mud and ruts and sand - via a knob in front of the gear lever.
Land Rover offers the new car with a choice of two new engines - a 3.2-litre, straight-six petrol or the TD4, a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel.
The new Derv unit is refined and has punchy mid-range torque, making it fun to drive around town and a competent and comfortable high-speed cruiser on the motorway.
The electronic systems, quality suspension and rigid chassis mean you can chuck the tall Freelander about with no worries that it will topple over and it can make surprisingly quick progress down twisting A roads.
Like the update to the Discovery, the Freelander's makeover has been dramatic and effective and given the car a high-quality aura that singles it out.
Couple this to one of the most charismatic badges in the business and Land Rover should have a winner on its hands.
- For more information, contact Webbers Land Rover, Basingstoke, on 01256 300615.
