Land Rover Freelander 2 (2006 – 2015) Review

Land Rover Freelander 2 (2006 – 2015) At A Glance

3/5

+Bigger than original Freelander. 2.2-litre belt cam diesel. Incredibly good off-road. Robust interior. More fuel efficient 2WD model from 2011 with no rear diff to fail.

-Not as sharp on the road as other 4x4s. High number of automatic transmission, steering rack failures and camshaft failures on 2.2 diesel. Epidemic of rear diff failures.

Insurance Groups are between 19–26
On average it achieves 81% of the official MPG figure

The 2006 Freelander 2 is a big improvement on the original Freelander the comparison between the two is like chalk and cheese. Land Rover addressed the criticisms of the original model to produced a great compact 4x4 that's composed on road but still as capable off-road as you'd expect of a Land Rover. That's down to an advanced intelligent 4x4 system that optimises traction and fuel economy, along with Land Rover's unique Terrain Response dial up system.

It's in the cabin where the improvements are most noticeable. It's now far better built, more refined and has a hardwearing feel. True other 4x4s this size may have a more modern interior, but there's a robustness about the Freelander 2 that reflects its rugged nature - after all this is no 'soft-roader'.

Like the larger Discovery model, the Freelander 2 is genuinely capable off-road and deals with amazingly difficult terrain with ease, even on standard road tyres - that's not something you can say of a BMW X3 or an Audi Q5.

This does have its downside, as the Freelander 2 isn't as sharp on the road as other 4x4s. It's certainly not wallowy or soft, but it lacks the responsiveness of some rivals, but then none of them can match the Land Rover's all-terrain ability.

The engine line-up includes a 3.2-litre petrol but as you'd expect this is a rare sight. Nearly all buyers go for the strong 2.2 TD4 diesel. In 2009 a stop/start version of this was introduced which saw CO2 emissions reduced to 179g/km and economy improve to a claimed 41.3mpg.

In September 2010 the Freelander 2 was facelifted with a new grille, lights and bumpers, but the big changes came under the skin. The 2.2-litre TD4 engine was replaced by a new unit (the same size) which is available in two outputs of either 150bhp or 190bhp and all manual models come with an engine stop/start system as standard.

A 2WD model was also launched, available in the UK from January 2011, which is badged the Freelander 2 eD4. It's the most efficient Land Rover ever produced, with claimed fuel consumption of 47.2mpg and CO2 emissions of just 158g/km.

Land Rover Freelander TD4_e 2009 Road Test and Video

Real MPG average for a Land Rover Freelander 2 (2006 – 2015)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

81%

Real MPG

19–43 mpg

MPGs submitted

1333

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Can I use a small trailer without lights during the day?

"Do I need to have lights on the trailer if used in daylight hours taking things to local tip? Car towing a Freelander so car indicators could be seen over trailer."
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 determines the lighting requirements for all road vehicles, and the regulations for trailers vary depend on the size and the age of the trailer, but the minimum requirement is two red sidelights, two red stoplights and two red reflective triangles fitted to the rear. A number plate must be fitted and illuminated, and it must have amber indicators which have a flash rate between 60 and 120 times per minute, as well as visible or audible confirmation in the car that these indicators are working.
Answered by David Ross

How can I update the navigation on my Land Rover?

"I have a 2012 Land Rover Freelander with built in sat nav. Obviously it’s not picking up many of the current new roads so needs updating. The price from Land Rover is over the top, are there any reliable updates available to purchase? As an alternative is it possible to install software that will replicate Apple air play through the existing screen so that I could use either Bing or Google maps which are both constantly updated?"
There are third party suppliers that offer sat nav updates, so we would suggest looking for a reputable retailer that specialises in navigation systems or in-car entertainment. It is not possible to update the system software to offer Apple CarPlay. This would require a new audio system to be installed which would be considerably more expensive than updating the maps.
Answered by David Ross

Which Freelander 2 is best for reliability?

"What's the best Land Rover Freelander 2 model for reliability?"
The Land Rover Freelander 2 is considerably more reliable than the original Freelander, although that's not saying much. It still has a patchy reliability record, so the version that is likely to cause you the fewest problems is the 2WD TD4 version. Although this means doing without four-wheel-drive, it also eliminates the likelihood of problems with the four-wheel-drive system.
Answered by David Ross

What is the best 4x4 for £10,000?

"I have moved to Devon where the roads are hilly and windy. I would appreciate your suggestion for a 4x4 which has a high driving position (as opposed to 4x4 cars), good spacious feel in the cabin (don't really care about the size of rear seats) that can handle the narrow lanes etc but could also handle and be comfortable on the odd long distance motorway journey. Ideally a small version of a Discovery, without the technical problems! And if I was thinking of a Land Rover 2 in the end because there's no other alternative, what would you advise? All for £7,000-£10,000."
We'd recommend a Honda HR-V or Toyota RAV4. Both ought to be very reliable models suited to your needs. Alternatively, a Land Rover Freelander 2 isn't a bad option. It'll probably need more maintenance than Japanese alternatives (check it's had the 10-year service including the cam belt and we'd recommend a Haldex service). Buy carefully, though, and it should be much more reliable than a Discovery of the same age.
Answered by Andrew Brady
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