2WD Freelander vs rivals

Front-drive Freelander is the most eco-friendly Land Rover yet. Does it have the measure of crossover rivals from BMW and Kia?

Photos: Otis Clay February 2011

Can the best 4x4 by far make the transition to two-wheel drive? Land Rover is a firm favourite with the country set, but rising fuel prices and tax costs are affecting everyone, which explains why the off-road brand is dipping its toes in the water of the crossover class.

The latest Freelander 2 is the first-ever two-wheel-drive Land Rover – and the brand has made some minor styling adjustments, too. With a weight saving of 75kg over the 4x4, plus stop-start, it claims fuel economy of 47.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 158g/km.

Rivals come thick and fast, as the crossover sector is brimming with talent. Kia can’t match Land Rover’s prestige, but it’s enjoying booming sales and the new Sportage is arguably its best car yet. The two-wheel-drive version comes packed with kit, a seven-year warranty and boasts concept-style looks. The 1.7-litre CRDi flagship is the cheapest car here.

If you want a desirable badge and reputation for success, look at BMW. Its off-road credentials were established by the X3 and X5, while the X1 crossover arrived last year. In sDrive 18d trim it has a sporty RWD chassis, while EfficientDynamics technology promises to slash fuel bills.

A few thousand pounds is all that separates our trio on price; will the Freelander sink or swim?

For an alternative review of the latest Kia Sportage visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk