land rover Freelander road test reports and car reviews

Land Rover Freelander 2.2 HDI HSE 2007

This is the biggest pile of sh**e i have ever owned. It has given me nothing but trouble since day one. I think I could bath my son in the passenger footwell after a night of rain, that’s how bad the leaking is. The seats have jamed twice on me and it takes for EVER to heat the cabin up. The only good thing about it is the engine, which isn’t even Land Rovers, its a Peugeot/ Ford hdi engine!! Stay well away if you even want a half DECENT car. Buy a RAV4/ CRV, VITARA, X TRAIL, TIGUAN or even a Kuga if you want a nice reliable and easy to run small 4x4

Land Rover Freelander SE 1800 petrol

I bought my Freelander second hand having done research that advocated a cautionary approach. The vehicle was on at top book price for its year and on face of it appeared to be value for money. However, alarm bells were ringing about the mechanical and electical history of Freelanders in general so I forked out for extra warranty cover in addition to the usual dealer post sale assurances. I’m so glad that I did! I do a working commute of around 50 miles per day to my local office but am ocassionally required to travel anywhere in the country. I purchased a 4x4 because my work does take me into areas, weathers and terrains that require the capabilities of this sort of vehicle and as a health care professional I cannot contemplate any circumumstances where I fail to attend a client. Reliability of transport is therefore an essential part of my professional portfolio. I am presently faced with another four years - the length of the finance deal - of uncertainty with this vehicle. I have been running the vehicle for 8 months and in that time it has been off the road three times for repairs. At this moment in time it is off the road for for repair of the head following a water leak that was only discovered during a routine service. Luckily I have a very good relationship with my dealer as I have bought all my cars of him in the past. He has been good enough to provide me with transport so that I can continue with my work. Would I buy another Land Rover? Nope! If I performed to the same standard as my vehicle, I would be struck off (not to mention sued)!

Responses to this review

Sorry to hear about your problems with your Freelander. My first petrol Freelander, a 2000 Lxi, also needed a Cylinder Head Gasket after 50,000 miles otherwise it was problem free over 4 yrs. I now own a 2054 petrol Freelander which has covered 40,000 trouble free miles over 3 years and even if the head gasket needs to be replaced at 50,000 miles I feel that it has been good value for money - Edward Green from Durham

Land Rover Freelander tdi 2002

No No No. It will break down. I had two with over 100,000 miles each (company cars, not my choice). Very good handling, tough off-road but too high first gear and lack bottom end for towing or off-road work. Very poor ventilation/demisting, noisy and sooo unreliable.

Land Rover Freelander xei 2004

I bought this car as an ex demo with 2,000 miles on clock from a main dealer. In the 4 years I have had it, it’s practively lived in the garage:- 2 replacement clutches, hydraulic clutch failure, both window regulators in drivers and rear drivers side door faulty, new steering rack, stereo speaker in drivers door, 2 replacement headlights on drivers side and rear nearside taillight replaced due to water leaking in, rear tailgate window leaked, washer bottle cracked, ’god knows how’, new exhaust, forward mount of the rear diff replaced, 2 sets of front brake pads and on the 2nd time had to have the calipers and disc’s changed as well, new set of tyres all round, ’this car by the way has only done to date 35,000 miles, numerous headlight bulbs blown 3rd set of wiper blades. As we speak it still has to get done:- alarm imobliser fault and noisy tappet sorted. Good things about this car, looks nice and good soft roader, body wise strongly built. Would I buy another one? Not on your nelly! I’m now looking at either a Hyundai Tuscan or a Kia Sorrento, my own fault really. I did some reseach on Freelanders before I bought this and one of the main comments was that you will be on first names terms with your mechanic, and it’s true. Mine is Dave by the way, he’s not here at the moment; gone on a Carribean cruise - I think with my money!!!

Land Rover Freelander XS 2007

Still own a mark 1 (diesel) with 136k miles and no real problems encountered. The mark 2 is however a class apart in every respect. More comfortable, quieter and refined than many a prestige saloon- speaks volumes for the engineering /development team entrusted to overcome the mark 1’s unenviable reputation. Have now covered 30k trouble free miles-oh by the way new cars tyres last twice as long as the original as well as having vastly superior handling.

Land Rover Freelander Td4 HSE 2008

As a motoring journalist I was fortunate in being able to try all the 4x4s on lengthy road tests - if only everyone could they would come to the same conclusion. The Freelander2 was head and shoulders above the competition in both, value, engineering and its delightful new sophisticated interior. I still love it to bits and it tows delightfully.

Land Rover Freelander 2.2 diesel SE 2007

Just love the Freelander 2. Off and on road it is brilliant. Just a pity that the colour range is a bit uninspiring. I have the tamboraflame (orange) seen on most Freelander publicity but no longer available. Such a pity. When we see other Freelander 2’s in this colour the other car occupants invariably wave at us and us at them. Silly maybe but this car is fun so why not enjoy!

Land Rover Freelander 2.2 TD4 2006

I do actually use the Freelander both on and off road and this is why it was worth spending a little extra money. I own a farm and the fields become difficult terrain when the rains come and the CR-V and Rav4 just wouldn’t be able to cope.

Land Rover Freelander

The latest shape Freelander is a lovely car. MUCH better that the previous shape. Still quite a rare site on the roads too at the moment. Very pleased.