Land Rover Freelander more luxurious - and affordable

Since hitting showrooms just over a year ago the stylish new Range Rover Evoque has been a runaway hit, selling close to 150,000 globally.

By comparison, the second-generation Freelander compact SUV, on which the Evoque is based, has attracted just 140,000 customers worldwide since 2009.

So it’s no surprise that Land Rover is hoping to impart some Evoque magic on its now aging, entry-level SUV, which was launched in 2007 and remains the second slowest-selling Land Rover in Australia after the Defender.

Now on sale in Australia, the 2013 Freelander II has benefitted from what the British SUV brand describes as a “premium overhaul”; essentially a mild facelift that adds the Evoque’s ‘Ecoboost’ petrol engine as well as other equipment and interior enhancements from the baby Ranger Rover.

With six variants now differentiated by trim level rather than type of engine, the Freelander II is also better value for money, with the entry-level turbo-diesel variant reduced by $1690.

The all-wheel drive Freelander line-up now kicks off at $42,300 for the base 110kW turbo-diesel TD4 - the only Freelander available with a six-speed manual transmission.

Pricing for other six-speed auto-equipped variants remains largely unchanged, while a new premium diesel model, the 2.2 SD4 HSE ‘Luxury’, now tops the range at $68,400.

As previously reported, the 110kW TD4 and 140kW SD4 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine options are continued for MY13 Freelander, but the 171kW/317Nm six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine has been ditched for the 177kW/340Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol.

Boasting 6kW more power and 23Nm more torque than the old six-cylinder, the new engine also emits 14 per cent less CO2 emissions (224g/km), is 40kg lighter and has longer service intervals.

Officially, it also slurps less fuel (9.6 versus 11.2L/100km) and is 0.1 seconds faster to 100km/h (8.8 seconds), according to Land Rover.

Exterior-wise, styling tweaks extend to revised headlights, tail-lights and grille, and a “new signature graphic” for the daytime running lights, plus three additional new colours.

Inside, the facelifted Freelander benefits from a new-look dashboard and centre console, with Evoque switches replacing the dial for the Terrain Response system. Also contributing to the classier and less cluttered look is a new intelligent electronic parking brake and keyless starting.

Up-spec variants also gain a new seven-inch touch-screen display with updated sat-nav system, rear-view camera and voice-activated prompts, as well as 11- or 17-speaker Meridian audio systems.

As before (but unlike the entry-level Evoque), the MY13 Freelander II misses out on a two-wheel drive version available in other markets.

Standard features on the entry-level TD4 now include eight-speaker CD/DVD audio with five-inch touch-screen, Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity, air-conditioning, cruise control, 17 inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, front foglights, Terrain Response system, hill descent control, cloth seat trim and full-size spare wheel. The six-speed auto adds $2300.

The mid-range SE variant (available with petrol or 110kW or 140kW 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine) adds an auto transmission, reversing camera, climate-control, leather seat trim, front armrest with storage compartment, leather multi-function steering wheel, 18-inch alloy wheels and 11-speaker Meridian audio.

HSE-equipped Freelanders get Xenon headlights, auto wipers, electric leather-clad front seats, sat-nav with seven-inch touch-screen and 19-inch alloys, while the new range-topping HSE Luxury also comes with eight-way electric seat adjustment, superior leather trim, premium carpet mats and 17-speaker Meridian sound.

Options across the range include a panoramic sunroof ($3300), while metallic paint adds $1700 and premium paint $3400.

Land Rover Australia will be hoping the latest facelift revives interest in the five-year-old Freelander, which faces increasingly stiff competition from upmarket rivals including the BMW X3, Volvo S60 and Audi Q5; not to mention the smaller, more stylish Evoque introduced 12 months ago.

With 798 sold to the end of November, Freelander sales in Australia are down by 28 per cent in 2012. During the same period 2338 Evoques were sold, making it the best-selling Land Rover here currently and one of Australia’s top-selling premium SUVs.

The facelift comes less than two years after the last Freelander update, which included revised turbo-diesel engines and styling tweaks.  Land Rover says its entry-level model will receive another equipment update in 12 months time, before the Freelander is replaced by an all-new ‘baby’ Discovery model in 2015.

Look out for our first drive of the new Freelander 2.0-litre petrol Si4 soon.

2013 Land Rover Freelander pricing (plus on-road costs):
2.2 TD4 manual $42,300
2.2 TD4 SE auto $54,100
2.2 SD4 SE auto $56,600
2.0 Si4 SE auto $55,600
2.2 SD4 HSE auto $64,500
2.2 SD4 HSE Luxury auto $68,400

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