CarAdvice tests Land Rover’s “most fuel efficient” SUV
August 11, 2009 by Paul Maric
In total contrast to adventures of some of the CarAdvice team, we’re currently testing what said to be Australia’s most fuel efficient SUV – that’s if Land Rover’s claims are to be believed.
Land Rover have developed a stop/start system for its diesel Freelander2 range which it claims can reduce fuel consumption by some 20 per cent. We’ve been driving the car for just over a day now and the results are most certainly impressive.
Average driving seems to have netted us a regular consumption figure of 6.5-litres per 100km (even with the somewhat lead-footed Paul Maric at the helm) – down from the regular Freelander2 TDI’s figure of 8.5L/100km.
Our usage has been an almost exact 50/50 mix of peak hour urban driving and highway driving.
The stopping and starting of the diesel motor was a bit of a concern, but it appears to be even less apparent than that of the Lexus RX400h that Road Test Editor Matt Brogan has been driving. So stay tuned for the full results in our upcoming road test.
Print it: 
Can’t wait for the review, this is also the cheapest LR, and finally a Freelander with manual. Should be good.
I wonder how much of the 20% reduction in fuel usage is actually directly apportioned to the adoption of a manual-only gearbox. Given that (I would assume) a huge proportion of the Freelanders sold are auto’s, I can’t see an increase in fuel economy enticing buyers to start driving a manual (as the stop-start function is only available with a manual gearbox)…
FYI, my VW Tiguan (Diesel 6sp manual) also gets in the ballpark of 6.5 litres… When the car is stopped, the engine obviously does not switch off, but the computer read-out for fuel consumption changes to show 1 litre per 2 hours, some something similar. So, if the engine did switch-off, that\’s how much would be saved.
Be interesting to run this one against the Scout…
Wow, 3 people disapprove of me looking forward to the review, my apologies for not hating on LR. People really don’t seem to grasp the purpose of the approve/disapprove comment system. Its not ‘I disagree with your opinion’, its ‘I don’t think your post is appropriate/constructive’.
David, the Freelander 2 previously was only available in auto (in Australia) , so I’d say a fair part of that saving would be the change to manual, however as stop-start is standard with all manual FR2’s, its hard to say how much the stop/start tech saves by itself.
David:
You’re right, it’s only available in the manual for the moment.
The auto is on the way, which will certainly capture a greater portion of the market.
I [many] am not a big fan of LandRovers, i think you can buy better and more reliable from other brands.
Of course you can like them, all for freedom of choice.
You been warned!
Range Rover, Bentley and Skoda are my favourite car brands.
David/Tom
“This is a significant improvement on the 7.5L/100km achieved by the TD4 manual”
…. so the improvement from the stop/start system is about 10%, with the rest attributed to the manual ‘box.
Kia Sportage 2.0 turbo diesel manual six speed got 5.18 liters per 100klms. RACQ Economy test Adelaide to Sydney.
Is putting it in caps lock meant to emphasize the utter garbage you just posted? Do everyone a favour and don’t post here again.
TS, 5.18 on an interstate highway trip VS 6.5 combined cycle, suggests that the Sportage may be lagging behind.
Isn’t the Sportage FWD city car VS the Freelander AWD and a decent offroad/towing capability?
D.E,
Correction Sportage AWD 2.0 liter CRDI six speed manual 4.36 litres/100km Adelaide to Sydney. Dont forget Sportage does not have the stop/start……Yet. will tow 1,600kg, off road i assume is just as good.
TS, That was 07, but the MY09 Sportage is FWD only isn’t it.
Freelander has genuine off-raod credentials and 2000kg braked towing capacity.
Im sorry but the Land Rover is an altogether better drive than the Sportage, MUCH more stylish, more fun to drive, safter and well worth the extra price you pay for the extra vehicle you get.
The Sorento is a nice car, but the Sportage isn’t worth the dough… why even compare them?
Land Rover aren’t particularly…uhhh…survivable… but their 4WD’s can 4WD better than any other european jazz and cheaper too, plus they’re worlds better than anything american. Japanese may do proper reliable 4WD’s better, but compared to Land Rover, they’re boring and bland.
I wouldn’t buy a Land Rover simply because im scared a wheel’s going to fall off, but hey, ill admit its one hella capable and beautiful car.
And when I talk about Land Rover, I talk about the entire line up, they’re all great.
(i still dont trust them!!!)
Mr Truth
You seem to have left your Caps lock on its the little button between the Shift & Tab buttons dude!
TomR, I think you hit the nail on the head. The Land Rover and Kia cannot be compared in the same sentence in terms of driving quality and off road capabilities, and although I would LOVE to have one as they seem to be a beautiful car, the concerns with reliability continue to damage the brand of LR. I really hope that we are just being old-fashioned and that the new cars are A1, but only time will tell I suppose…
The Salesman, you wouldn’t happen to sell Kia’s by any chance would you, as no unbiased person would compare the off-road credentials of a Land Rover vs a Kia without having a giggle…
D.E,
Sportage is currently available as a FWD 2.0 liter 4cyl petrol. AWD 2.7 V6 and 2.0 liter diesel AWD. (MANUAL ONLY)
David,
I have been with Kia for 11 years. My original reference was to fuel economy only. I used Kia as a reference point for obvious reasons. Landrover are boasting their new found economy on stop/start technology when at least one other company has achieved better results without it.
“off-road credentials of a Land Rover vs a Kia without having a giggle”…
According to several third party references Kia Sportage is just as capable off the road as Landrover Freelander, do you have a specific reference as to why some might giggle?
Salesman, i have been with LR for 3 years now and, on all the training days and 4×4 courses i have not once come up against a Kia in an off road situation.
LR only make 4×4s, they do not make cars.
I think the TD4e will be a great addition to the range and will only become more and more refines as time goes on.
Cheers
Buddy
Salesman, and the new model? FWD only isn’t it?
Either way, official fugures put the Sportage manual diesel at 7.1 l/100km and the Freelander TD4e at 6.5 l/100km combined cycle.
The Freelander is more powerful, safer, a better drive, better off road and generally a superior vehicle. It IS also more economical. It is however quite a bit more expensive, so you do get what you pay for.