Land Rover Freelander review

Overview

The Freelander 2 is worth a look if you want a compact-by-Land-Rover-standards 4x4 for mixed roads and do not need the size or systems of a newer premium SUV. The 2013 facelift Dynamic reviewed here is the 190 PS SD4 with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. A Dynamic body kit alone does not identify the engine: the range also included other powertrains, including the two-wheel-drive eD4. This is original desk research using the period specification and independent buying advice, not a RoadMatch road test. Shop for the right condition first. The youngest-looking one in the photos is not necessarily the one that has had its expensive maintenance done.

Exterior and interior

The later Freelander 2 keeps its upright roof and broad glass area, while the Dynamic grade adds dark exterior details and a more elaborate body kit. Land Rover’s UK launch material identifies its 19-inch wheels and distinctive seat colour combinations. Those are equipment clues rather than a reason to overlook kerb damage or scuffed lower trim. Check the sill mouldings and bumper edges where replacement or repair may be obscured, and inspect the wheels for damage and tyres for matching specification. The facelift cabin’s revised controls are a useful daily advantage over the earlier layout. Try the seating position and mirrors yourself: a high driving position is helpful only if you can place the car comfortably.

Practicality

The five-door body and relatively square rear opening give this Freelander an advantage over some swoopier crossovers for bulky loads. Land Rover quotes 755 litres with the rear seats upright in its late-generation brochure. We retain that as its own loadspace measure, not a promise that it beats every newer SUV measured to a different line. Bring your regular luggage and test the shape under the cover if you want to keep it hidden. The five-seat layout is simple, but try your child seats and check how far they move the front seats forward. Inspect the boot floor and surrounding trim for water, as well as damage from shifting tools or animal crates.

Driving experience

The SD4 automatic is better suited to a relaxed, steady pace than the Dynamic badge implies. The two independent used guides make a stronger case for versatility and ease of use than for buying it as a sporty alternative to a hatchback. On a rural drive, try a sequence of rough patches and gentle bends to see whether the suspension remains settled and quiet. The factory 19-inch specification makes tyre choice and wheel condition especially relevant. Four-wheel drive is useful if access roads turn slippery, but it is not a substitute for suitable tyres or cautious driving. Buyers who never encounter poor surfaces may find a lighter, front-drive crossover cheaper to live with.

Performance

Land Rover specifies 190 PS and 420 Nm for the 2.2 SD4, paired with a six-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. Its 9.5-second 0–62 mph figure should not be mixed up with the separately published 8.7 seconds to 60 mph or either TD4 figure. The appeal of the extra power is having some margin when carrying passengers or joining quicker roads, not a licence to ignore age-related mechanical wear. Observe how the automatic selects drive and reverse when cold, then how it changes gears once warmed. If you intend to tow, confirm the specific car’s documented limits, hitch and intended loaded trailer mass; the power badge is not a towing permission.

Fuel economy

The 40.4 imperial mpg combined figure is the period NEDC laboratory value, not a comparable modern WLTP result. Our running-cost illustration assumes 36 mpg; local runs, slow work on poor surfaces and towing could leave a buyer below that. Short trips also weaken the case for an older diesel even if the purchase price is appealing. Look at the cost over your actual annual mileage rather than imagining a long motorway run as the normal pattern. This SD4 is listed as Euro 5 in the UK launch table. Use the registration with the relevant clean-air checker before treating a regular route as charge-free; diesel age and badge are not sufficient evidence.

Reliability

At this age, maintenance records and a proper inspection are more informative than a model reputation. Ask a specialist to identify any rear-driveline hum, judder or loss of four-wheel-drive function, and to inspect for fluid leaks, suspension wear and diesel emissions faults. The purchase conversation should include documentary evidence for timing-belt work and fluids, against the actual service schedule for that VIN. Test it from cold, then check it again after a drive. A seller’s claim that a noise is a normal trait does not remove the need to diagnose it. These are inspection priorities, not a failure-rate estimate, and the limited-confidence editorial score should not be used to predict an individual car’s life.

Safety

The linked Euro NCAP assessment is for a left-hand-drive Freelander 2 TD4 S tested in 2007. It is useful historical generation context, not a separate 2013 Dynamic SD4 test or a fair comparison with a modern protocol. Land Rover’s facelift release describes the stability systems fitted at the time; that does not establish what has been repaired or maintained since. Inspect belts and restraint anchorages, verify that the airbag and stability lights perform their normal start-up checks, and check for evidence of structural repair. Use the government recall service and confirm outstanding or completed work against the VIN. Buyers who specifically want newer collision-avoidance technology should choose on verified equipment rather than the period reputation.

Technology and features

Land Rover’s period UK Dynamic equipment guide identifies conventional cruise and rear parking assistance. Treat the presence of heated seats and a reversing camera as individual checks rather than standard entitlements from the badge. Period Bluetooth or a colour screen is not Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. A retrofit could provide modern phone projection, but only count it after testing your handset, the microphone and the steering-wheel controls. Also try the electric parking brake, both keys and the blower at every setting. Better to establish that the everyday functions work than pay more for an old navigation unit whose map coverage and update support you have not checked.

Running costs

The £5,000–£9,000 purchase range is a November 2026 planning band, not a live valuation. At 8,000 miles and assumed 36 mpg, diesel at £1.55 per litre gives roughly £1,570 of fuel. A £350–£500 tax contingency and £650–£1,400 for servicing, MOT and consumables put the routine total around £2,600–£3,500. Use the registration to check tax and obtain a personal insurance quote. The allowance excludes depreciation, finance and substantial repairs, so keep money aside for a catch-up service or an unexpected driveline job. An example with documented belt, brake and tyre work can justify a higher asking price than a visibly tidy car with vague maintenance history.

Advantages and disadvantages