2007 Land Rover Freelander 2 review
November 14, 2007 by Karl Peskett
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2 Review
Test car: 2.2 SE TD4 Automatic
CarAdvice Rating: 
Options Fitted: Metallic Paint – $1500, Sunroof – $3300
Recommended Retail Price: $51,990
by Karl Peskett
“All hail the mighty cow.” They’re the best invention ever. Not only do they give us milk, cheese and yoghurt, but we also get meat from them. And there’s nothing like chowing down on a good slice of bovine flesh.
Oh yes, I almost forgot; they also give us leather. And the hide for your hide in the new Land Rover Freelander 2 is just wonderful. Soft, cool and comfortable – it’s how seats should be.
We took a 2007 SE TD4 model for an 1877km lap around Western Australia’s south-west. Leaving Perth, our destinations were Busselton, Augusta, Walpole, Denmark and Pemberton. Being a rather lengthy trip, some supplies were required. A baby seat, pram, toys, nappies – were all included – and that was just for me.
The Land Rover swallowed up all our luggage, proving that mid-sized doesn’t have to mean small. The twin sunroof arrangement meant plenty of light came into the black over ivory interior, and the glasshouse was tall enough for superb visibility. My 18-month-old son was able to see out easily, preventing the boredom (and screaming) of four-hour driving stints setting in.
Tags: Land Rover Freelander 2
It’s a LR, beware.
its an excessive amount of money for what is basically a jazzed up soft roader. But hey for some reason people haven’t noticed how much land rover have jacked up their prices between models (compare prices of a landrover discovery before and after the latest model was launched, up to a 15k difference between comparable models!)
A RAV4 cruiser L will cost you $51K with similar features to the Freelander 2. Drive a RAV and then Freelander 2 and if you’re honest – you’ll go the Freelander 2. The RAV is not a comfortable car – not sure about the new model though.
Well said Reckless1!!!
$52k….LOL, they are on DRUGS!
Freelander should be free, the upkeep on them is mindblowing
DO NOT TOUCH IT
Cheers
F-0
IM SURE THEY ARE A GOOD CAR WITH A GOOD ENGINE..BUT!! THE
RESALE IS SHOCKING!!!!!! and service and parts will kill you,thats why no one wants one second hand out of warranty..SO BUYER BEWARE COP A BIG LOSS ON RESALE OR COP
IT LATER IN LIFE ON SERVICE REPAIRS AND PARTS…
Hmmm Volvo/Ford components…yeah, so whats the difference with LR in 2007 compared too 1995 again?
Mid $40’s you would buy a Mazda CX7 every time, its the BEST SUV on the market.
1/2 the price of a X5 and twice the car
Here @ C/A they are going to test it,,,,,,,,one day!:-)
Cheers
F-0
Some people want a car that can go offroad Frugal One… The Land Rover is actually capable in this area, unlike the CX7.
Reminds me when i use to go and do hard core 4×4′ing
A fellow L/C owner had written on top of his windscreen…
“LandRover support vehicle” LOL
Yes, they are good off road, but to much of a head ache and even the army had to fit ISUZU 4BDI engines to try and get some sort of reliabilty in them….says it all!!
Cheers
F-0
I had a Disco 2,did 285,000 kms selling cattle properties. I’ve just bought a LR2 diesel, done 11,000 kms in 3 weeks and think its great. Very comfortable to drive, excellent economy (7.2-7.4 highway).
So far, well done Land Rover
I owned freelander 2003 v6 from new. i almost spent more than 10000$ in service and repairs. i recently traded it for meager 12,000$.Please for god sake dont buy it. even the newer versions they sorce their parts from all around. Now the company is for sale as it is making loss to Ford.some Indian company is buying it- God save them.
I took the gamble and bought the HSE diesel.
Great on fuel,terrain response makes you feel in control,on the highway good torque and comfortable.
Enjoy owning it so far,no regrets.
Frugal One,
SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………………about the Mazda CX-7 its not that good!. Terrible fuel economy!Crap off road (captiva petrol better off road) and parts and services arent cheap!!!!!!!!!!!
There is one thing that the cX-7 should get praised for and its the exterior styling………..and thaT IS IT!! ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I test drove the new Freelander 2 TD4 SE and I was so damn surprised by that diesel engine! The torque is sensational! I certainly agree that you shouldn’t floor it……it’s got too much good grunt at 2-3000RPM! I’ve had LCs (great truck but new one so pricey!), Patrols are shit, would love a Rangie Sport…..but the Freelander is so much car, so well packaged, so comfortable and very impressive. Now just to buy it and put a DP Chip in it….hello 136kW and 442NM! Great car! (I hope)
Just what I like to hear. Another satisfied diesel convert. I just wish other would jump in a modern diesel to prove what they are capable of. Glad you’re satisfied with the LR and the diesel.
All cars looses value almost the same, you only realise this when you try to trade your car. The Landrover Freelander is beautifull, almost more beautifull than the X5.
anyone got an opinion on pajero (SWB) vs freelander 2?
Yeh buy the Landie and boycott the Japs due to the whaling
I bought the freelander 2 5 months ago in Singapore. I am very happy with the car, it is great to drive, plently of room for my dogs and my stuff. It is a nice looking car inside and out. Back home we had a vogue and a sports and I thought this car may disappoint to drive but you still feel like you are driving a big comfortable car. They are expensive and resell I’m sure won’t be good but no car we have ever sold has been great. I will enjoy driving this car.
Congratulations Sonya,
Glad your enjoying the freelander 2,
If yours is a diesel expect to pay for the fuel cheaper there than in Australia.(sydney)
I paid $1.36 per litre the other day,have paid $1.51(country price),$1.48 and $1.40 cents per litre..
In the early Eighties the diesel was 10cents cheaper as dad used to own a Holden Gemini SL/X,then the price went up and up.
Better to post late than never. I’ve had a SE diesel for two months and I’m very happy with it. The torque is just fantastic, I think I would have trouble going back to a petrol engined car.
I think time will tell about it’s reliability. It’s 4WD capabilities have impressed me already in the limited off roading I have done. People say it is expensive but show me another SUV for $52K that is 5 star NCAP, diesel and has decent off road capabilities.
Purchased a Petrol Freelander HSE 6 months ago. Had Range Rover Vogue before that. Freelander has just as much in common with Range Rover including brilliant ride & fantastic resale. Sold my Vogue for $99,999.00 after 3 years and, as Im moving overseas for a year, just sold the Freelander for $49,400.00 after 6 months. Bought it new for $56,790. Couldnt be happier.
I’ve been looking around for a car that has 5 star ANCAP, turbo diesel for fuel savings and long term reliability/towing with good off road handling around the $50k mark. Also to fit a family of 5. After extensive research, the only option is the Freelander2.
Yes, they have greatly improved the car overall and have the car critics praise in general to testify to these changes.
The car looks great and may not perfect to drive in some peoples opinions, but what car is? For me, it is the best choice to fit my specific criteria. Also, turbo diesel equals better resale.
The Mazda CX-7 is crap in comparison. Poor off road and 19L per 100k around town just doesn’t cut it.
I have been driving Land Rovers for 20 years they have had problems but boy since Ford bought it have they got it right. My company has 10 Diso 2 2.7 diesels and I will challenge anyone to beat them off road in the right hands perfect blend of size and agility, some have now done over 300,000K in 3 years and nothing except good maintenance. We have 2 Freelander 2s both done over 100,000k now and been brilliant. Please dont even bring CX7 into it, if you hit a bump bits will fly off, French might make good wine but they cant build cars. Oh and we run all our Land Rovers in China were I live, and believe me our roads alone test anything. Well done Land Rover you got it right at bloody last
Great feedback. I like to hear more about your LR experience in China.
Better looking than generation before!
After 11 years driving Discoverys (two D1 XS and a G4 D2 for the last 4 years), I have just bought an XS 2.2 Td4. The first 1500 km have been just geat with good economy (7 l/100km) and lively performance. The trim package is smart and comfortable and the exterior is very smart. The convenience factors such as Bluetooth phone link and remote features are really good. I’ve yet to try it hard off-road but an earlier test drive over the Land Rover Experience course showed the Freelander to be a clever and capable car. Note that its not small either; the door mirrors are closer to my garage door than Discovery II!
So interesting to see that these comments start out all negative ( just go check out the report on the Disco3 ), and then become more and more positive toward the end. As usual it’s mostly those smart-ass know-it-all armchair experts, that don’t even own a Freelander2, that are moaning the hardest !!
I bet they don’t even know the difference between 1 and 2.
And then there are those guys I hate most – those arrogant bastards that drive those codenamed cars with all the chrome and gutters for exhausts, X3, X5, Q7, and so on …
I’m not saying all drivers of these cars are pricks, but most of them are. I KNOW these are good cars, but once an idiot like that gets behind the wheel of one he instantly turns into what he would like to think is a GOD. Must be terrible having such a bad case of inferiority complex that your whole being is defined by the car / badge / bling that you drive. Without your precious little car you are NOTHING !!
Manufacturers of these bling mobiles know how their simple little minds work, so they keep on adding more horsepower. You see, the amount of “respect” these f%&@knuts THINK they deserve is directly proportional to the horsepower output of their bling mobiles. If you empower one of these fools with too much horsepower, he will eventually kill someone as well as himself because he thinks he’s invincible.
I would rather be seen in a “piece of crap” Landrover than being associated with one of those clowns. They can’t even go where the Landy can go. They can go fast but I can go ANYWHERE.
I am currently in the market looking for a SUV. Have so far checked the Freelander 2, Tiguan and the to be released Audi Q5 and XC60 Volvo on internet, it would be interesting to see the market trends as far as the prices go in 2009. Guess I will wait.
Also interesting is to see the difference between US and our Ausie prices its ridiculously more expensive here. Given that the US market is larger but we are paying so much more than the Canadian prices too, the Canadian market would be similar in size here. Wonder where all this extra money is going?
It just P… me off to see the difference, are the accountants looking at 10 year older exchange rate?
I have been a Freelander owner since 2001. Had no problems except for our service (or is it non-service) capabilities in the Capital. My daughter and I survived being T-Boned in a motor vehicle accident recently. The guy who ran a red light and slammed into our front passenger door is still in hospital with broken limbs. The ambos and Police commeneted on how well my car came through except the chasis was damaged by the force of the impact – the other car was completely smashed. I am now test-driving other cars and must say we just have not been able to find anything to match the Freelander 2 – not even the conventional Merc C series which is my second choice – but likely to buy the Freelander petrol rather then diesel despite the sales guys trying to talk me into the D. The car saved our life and despite all the doom & gloom reports/reviews performed very well for us. I have also owned Fords, Holden and a LandCruiser on a rural property but the Freelander comes out tops for me.
Can some one tell me why in Australia the FR2 SE and HSE models are lower speced than the one is UK, US & Canada, barring the full leather vs half leather seats.
Though I believe it may hv improved over the previous model, I am sure the VW Tiguan, Audi Q5 & the XC60 will offer extremely tough competition. They (LR) will hv to offer some more value for money in Australia to attract customers…hint to Aus-LR: See spec sheets for SE & HSE overseas models.
Seems bias either side in most of the discussion above.
From the owner of a few Rangies, I’d like to make a few observations:
WorkEm talks about French making good wine but then is dishing their car making prowess, yet failing to realise the the diesel motor he praises is really a PSA Peugeot Citroen motor. Yes Ford bought in via land rover group but it is really just a refined version of the 2.5ltr motor that worked so well in the 605. (I was getting 7 ltr per 100 km as speeds of 130kmH in France on holidays years ago) So WorkEm not sure what your on about here?
Charles, mate can’t fathom what your saying as I have long suffered that very criticism your levelling at others due to being a Rangie owner. Despite regularly using mine in the Hight Country of Sth East Aus.
I agree with the fact Diesel is the way to go and only now are they starting to put decent motors in LR products for the job. Still need to fix this problem in the Defender.
But sadly I must agree with the running cost and resale value. Any honest person that looks at the market can see the terrible drop that LR products have compared to other similar products. (There can be individual exceptions but get a hold of a Glass Dealers Guide or similar and make your own assessment).
Admittedly I used my vehicles for the sort of 4wd’ing that LR brag about but don’t expect their owners to actually do, but reliability and cost of maintenance is a sad joke.
Luckily I could source industrial parts which were often superior to the Original LR product and up to a 20th of the price.
I met the LR Engineering Director when he came here for the Rugby one year! He was not interested at all in knowing what real life was throwing at a true (in my opinion) 4wd.
I’m afraid that token value only is paid to real off road ability. Freelander2 is ok for tracks, but don’t try going down a clay slope using your electric gimmicks or you’ll find out what the spare parts price catalogue looks like!
Having said all that our govt bodies have taken away access to most tracks that posed a challenge and therefore the sense in this and other all wheel drive vehicles is increasing. The car that is right for one doesn’t fit the criteria of another, so fair comment that this vehicle may fulfill your needs but it wouldn’t make the trips I do.
I see a boast that it crossed the simpson, well that’s not much of a boast I have seen nissan skylines 2 wheel drive with limited slip diff and a 1.5 inch lift do that also. Mind you try it after rain between the springs and the bore with 2 foot of water most of the way and your in for a treat, something my old 2 door rangie did with aplomb to get an injured motor bike rider to medical attention.
comeon LR give us a bit more clearance and at least one extremely low gear to rely on and a bit more wheel articulation.
cheers
This is the 2nd hottest looking Land Rover.
I’ve been driving my freelander II TD4 for 4 months.
It is really an amazing car.
Nice leather interior, glas sunroof, very comfortable seats.
Very good behavior on the road. You can drive quite sporty with this car. Accelerates quite good for such a heavy car.
Also very comfortable on the highway.
Lot’s of space, even for 5 people. Big trunk.
The only drawback is the fuel consumption. Around 10.5 liters per 100 km is quite expensive with the high taxes in Europe.
A friend of mine had a bmw x3 before buying a freelander 2. He likes the landrover a lot better.
Luckily I also choose the landrover. I was in doubting between the two for a while.
Besides that, is a car I can definitely recommend.