Land Rover’s wake-up call to rivals

• ROAD TEST – LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2 SD4 HSE LUX

IF there’s a car company riding the crest of a wave right now it’s Land Rover.

The technology being developed by the brand’s engineers on Merseyside and the Midlands is setting a new standard for the motor industry.

The Liverpool-built Range Rover Evoque and Freelander 2 models are testament to that progress, the latest versions of both coming with a raft of new innovations and smart features.

While a premium overhaul turned the company’s most affordable SUV into a mini Range Rover, the Freelander has continued its march upmarket into 2014.

And among the safety initiatives is an intelligent electric parking brake which adjusts brake force according to the slope the vehicle is parked on.

In fact the system is so clever it even takes into account whether the brakes are hot or cold. If hot, the system ‘wakes up’ periodically to ensure clamping force is not lost as the brakes cool down.

Then there’s Passive Start which replaces the key docking system, meaning that as long as the key is somewhere inside the car, the engine starts at the touch of a button.

Another fresh feature for Freelander 2 is the rear view camera, which also has a hitch assist graphic superimposed on the screen showing the position of the tow ball.

And the new ‘Say What You See’ voice activation set-up prompts the driver visually with the required voice commands for controlling the audio, sat-nav, climate and phone systems.

Freelander buyers can choose from two diesel engines, a 2.2-litre 150PS TD4 and 190PS SD4 with four-wheel drive.

The tested model was a top spec HSE Lux SD4 automatic which boasts an official Combined fuel consumption figure of 40.4 miles per gallon.

Solid, comfortable and enjoyable vehicle to drive with its premium leather-swathed interior, this version averaged 32.8mpg in mixed but mainly urban motoring.

For those like to sample the rough stuff the Freelander can wade through water up to half a metre deep or negotiate various loose surfaces.

That’s down to the latest computerised Terrain Response system,
with its settings for varied conditions from grass and gravel to mud and ruts.

Need to head down a steep slope and the standard Hill Descent Control will take care of business – just press the button, take you feet off the pedals and the Land Rover will make its own way down.

A leap of faith, sure, but it works every time.

What you get with the Freelander is a vehicle of spectacular ability and innovation – with the image to match.

Prices are from £23,705 for the 2.2 eD4 S two-wheel drive model.