LAND ROVER FREELANDER2

If there's one car that sums up the arrogant, yet deluded, attitude of the British automotive industry it's this. The Land Rover Freelander 2. Now you'd be forgiven for thinking this is the old car, but it's actually 'new from the ground up'. How you can tell is beyond me, as it looks like an 1980's brick with some glittery paint. To call this car underwhelming to look at would be a gross understatement, yet if you believe any British journalist then you'd view it as the small SUV of the moment. How a car more utilitarian in design than suburban equates to it being the most attractive of it's segment is rather confusing. The whole ethos of a small, premium cross-over is to provide all of the rough, go anywhere image of a cumbersome 4WD in a smaller, city-friendly package which appeals to younger, more fashion-conscious buyers. A big part of this brief is environmental-friendly efficiency and car-like dynamics, yet it's hard to see where the Freelander2 ticks these boxes.

There's nothing aerodynamic about this shape whatsoever. Just imagine the fuel burnt up lugging this thing up a hill against a strong wind? That big, flat nose will hit more resistance than Britney Spears trying to get her kids back. So not only have they forgotten to style the thing, they've also created a shape that will surely generate a lot of wind noise and weaken economy. The chassis is all new, and also underpins the upcoming Volvo XC60, the Ford Mondeo, and future S60. Yet they've turned a highly capable platform to a wishy washy boat. Suspension settings are far too soft, and the Freelander leans into corners more than what's acceptable for a car of this size. A BMW X3, one of the Land Rover's prime rivals, has more in common with a car than an SUV, such is it's poise and control. Ok, the ride is rather horrible, but something had to give if a cross-over is to have the dynamic ability of a saloon. One suspects that the people who these small SUVs are directed at would much rather a firmer ride than a body that leans like a bus.

The Freelander was on display at the Brisbane Motor Show and the one impression people had of the new SUV is how dated it is inside and out. Inside  is particularly disappointing. There are far too many buttons and dials sitting on a cluttered and messy dash that already looks ten years old. Build quality really isn't good enough for a car that is arguably too expensive as it is. The door trims are hard to the touch, and if perceptions are correct, many plastics and surfaces won't last as long as is needed. Of course, this is all history repeating itself, as the original Freelander from 1997 had an abysmal interior, and an even worse reliability report. You'd have thought that Land Rover would've learnt their lessons from that car, but clearly they haven't. Instead you're treated to what they and the British motoring press label as a quality interpretation of a robust, yet luxurious, British SUV interior. Well if that's in fact true, then it's a rather embarrassing reflection on British car makers.

It's interesting, isn't it, that the British are so hopeless in objectively reviewing cars when one of their own is involved. This thing gets 5 stars, wins comparision tests, and sits at the top of the small, premium SUV pile as far as the British are concerned. They're more than willing to criticise the X3 for it's firm ride, yet they can't construct a suitable arguement for the Freelander2 without making blatant lies. It's a shame that this patriotism clouds their judgement. Look at what some honest soul searching did for Jaguar. The XF was born. Hopefully Land Rover can get a dose of reality before they become irrelevant. They'll certainly need to with excellent competition like the BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Citroen Cross-Over and upcoming Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK. The upcoming LXR concept is a small sign that they just might bring themselves into the 21st century before it's too late. Fingers crossed.