Land Rover Freelander 2 2.2 SD4 GS 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The 2.2 litre diesel engine produces 190bhp at 4000rpm and 309lb-ft of torque, getting the Freelander from 0-62 mph in 9.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 118 mph. The engine is both powerful and refined, making for an excellent driving experience.

Steering is also very accurate and well weighted and the suspension is taut without being uncomfortable. This limits body roll in bends, giving a very enjoyable ride.

The off-road ability of the Freelander is also very good thanks to its four wheel drive and makes this car versatile and suitable for all road surfaces.

The Freelander 2 is a very good looking car and the cabin feels very light and airy, with the driving position elevated to see over most traffic. Unfortunately the dashboard is a little confusing but it is well trimmed and luxurious.

Stnadard equipment is very good and includes keyless ignition, power steering, central locking, electric mirrors and windows, 17 inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, climate control, a terrain response system, automatic headlamps with powerwash, front fog lamps, rain sensing wipers and rear parking aids. There is also an advanced audio system with single slot CD player, nine speakers as well as MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity.

For an extra £550 you can have a metallic paint finish added to the exterior and leather seats cost an additional £1840.

The front seats offer great leg and headroom for occupants, but the rear passengers only just have enough legroom, which means long journeys could be uncomfortable. However, the rear bench seat has been raised to give a better view of the road ahead and when it comes to the boot the Freelander is virtually unrivalled. The car offers 755 litres of space when the seats are in place, putting it ahead of all of its rivals.

Folding the seats down gives you a total capacity of 1,670 litres. The interior also has plenty of additional storage spaces and cup holders.

The Freelander received the full five stars in the NCAP crash tests for occupant safety and this means safety levels are high. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for reliability and the poor reputation Land Rover has in this area means many buyers may be concerned about investing their money in a model which could prove expensive to maintain.

The £28,260 price tag is high and running costs are not great either. Fuel efficiency is 40.4 mpg on the combined cycle which is adequate for a car in this class and carbon emissions of 185g/km put the car into tax band I. That being said, the costs are similar to those offered by family saloon cars and this means, for those after a 4x4, they could be relatively attractive.

Overall the car is a good rival for the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo X60 thanks to its performance credentials but concerns over reliability are strong and this could be a major deterrent to buyers.