Land Rover Freelander 2 TD 4 HSE

Specifications

Price: £30,960
Engine: 2.2-litre diesel
Performance: 0-60mph in 10.9 seconds, 37.7mpg
CO2: 194g/km:
Worth considering: BMW X3, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4

Land Rover is facing a lot of uncertainty at the moment. First, its activities are focused on the market for 4x4s, a sector which, after several boom years, is less fashionable than it was because of environmental concerns. Second, Land Rover's owner, Ford, is considering several bids for the company, and could end up selling it.

My guess is that Land Rover will survive these problems. There have been difficult times before, but what's kept Land Rover going is its ability consistently to come up with hit products. Just think of the original versions of the Range Rover, the Discovery and Freelander, which all took the company into new, lucrative market segments. And when the time has come to update its cars, Land Rover has always followed the same successful recipe – substantial under-the-skin improvements while retaining the best of its styling themes.

This latest version of the Freelander is no exception. It looks similar to the first Freelander in almost every respect but it's a fair bit larger. Pretty much everything under the skin is different, though, reflecting a well funded development effort under Ford's ownership.

The cabin of the Freelander 2 is an impressive affair, the best aspect of which is Land Rover's so-called Command driving position, which means that drivers have a raised view of the road similar to that offered by the company's larger models, a feature that distances this car from the " soft" off-roaders with which it competes on price. It also has much of the off-roading kit fitted to bigger Land Rovers as well. There is no air suspension or low range transmission, but the Freelander 2 offers other technologies such as Hill Descent Control and, on most models, the Terrain Response system that allows drivers to select the best settings for given conditions via a simple dial.

On the road, the Freelander 2 performs well for a vehicle of this type. The strong diesel engine gives it an unexpected liveliness and the well-sorted suspension means this can be exploited to achieve impressive journey times.

Our test car, the top HSE model, carries a list price of more than £30,000. That looks high, but let's not complain too much because it represents the sort of premium pricing that might allow a new owner of the company to justify keeping production at UK sites.

If, like me, you're a bit of a cheapskate, you'll be interested to hear that the basic Freelander 2 – which has fewer trimmings but shares most of its mechanical bits with our test car – costs a little over £20,000. That looks like a bit of a bargain to me.

If you would like to take part, email motoring@ independent.co.uk or write to: The Verdict, Features Department, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, giving your address, phone number and details of the car, if any, you drive. For most cars, participants must be over 26 and have a clean licence.

Ian Pearce, 49, full time parent/housewife, Glaisdale, Yorkshire

Usual cars: Mercedes E300TD Auto and Freelander TD4

Judging a book by its cover, I decided I was not going to like the 2. The 1 has a distinctive style, the 2 looks bland. However, the 2 is superior in every other way. The ride is smoother over bumps, yet it doesn't feel as ponderous on faster bends. Noise levels are noticeably reduced. At 70mph, it feels smooth and refined. The dashboard initially seems a little overwhelming but everything is in order of priority. The interior styling is also a big improvement. There's plenty of life left in our 1, but when replacement time comes I won't waste time looking at anything else.

John McNally, 63, entrepreneur and mentor, Alnwick, Northumberland

Usual car: Mercedes A-Class

The first thing is that the Freelander 2 seems bulkier than its predecessor. Cream upholstery is a strange choice for an all-terrain vehicle. There are myriad switches and controls, not very well laid out; will they ever all be used? The Freelander has the power and technology to cope with Northumberland's hills and roads. The heated front window is unusual, and helpful for a northern winter. The driving position is comfortable and noise from the diesel engine hardly noticeable. However, my business objective of keeping motoring costs as low as possible would not be met with this. The search continues!

Martine Dunn, 40, voiceover artist, Tadcaster

Usual car: Peugeot 205 XLS (1.6)

I was thrilled to be asked to test-drive the new Freelander. Although big, the drive is smooth, steering never feels heavy, and the comfortable driver's seat, like a leather throne, even has a heater. I found the cabin extremely user-friendly. Visibility is excellent, with the minor exception of a blind spot caused by the wide window pillar on the driver's side. The gearbox is a dream and boot size ample. For me, the best features are its display panels, and its crowning glory is the built-in navigation system – efficient and clear. For those of us who use the car as a workhorse and travel long distances with full loads, this does the job without fuss and with a touch of style.

Compare over 65 car insurers and get £25 Cash back through Independent Compare