Mark Andrews drives Land Rover’s most fuel-efficient model ever

Land Rover has launched its most fuel efficient vehicle of all time in a bid to prove that 4x4s can be both green and economical.

The Freelander 2 TD4e is the world’s first off-roader to feature new technology which automatically shuts off the engine when the car comes to a halt, such as in a traffic queue or at a junction.

The new stop-start system, which is the result of an £800 million investment by Land Rover/Jaguar in green technology, is activated when the car stops with the gearbox in neutral and the clutch pedal raised.

It automatically restarts when the clutch pedal is depressed again.

A bonus is that if you accidentally stall the car, it automatically restarts when the clutch is pressed.

From May next year, all manual diesel versions of the big-selling Freelander range will be equipped with the new system, leading to a 12 per cent improvement in fuel consumption.

This translates into a claimed 42.2mpg for the extra urban cycle, taking into account various road conditions, or 31mpg around town.

Land Rover has not fared especially well in reliability surveys over the years, and project manager Phil Whiffin stresses that great care has been taken to ensure the system has not compromised durability.

Components such as the starter motor and the battery, which will be subjected to extra wear by the more frequent stopping and starting, have all been upgraded.

Other fuel saving devices include an indicator light telling the driver when to change gear, and improvements to the engine management software, as well as tyres specially designed to roll more smoothly.

The system proved remarkably vice-free across London during busy traffic – including a tour of that natural habitat of so many 4×4′s, Chelsea – cutting out unobtrusively without any judder, and restarting quickly and smoothly.

And although most owners will probably not want to get the plush leather-clad interior too dirty, a brief run around a makeshift off-road circuit at the Battersea Power Station redevelopment site shows why Land Rover is still a brand that is revered for its off-road prowess, tackling situations which one is unlikely to meet in everyday life.

As Land Rover’s biggest-selling model, and many people’s first introduction to the marque, the success of the new Freelander is crucial.

And with so many jobs in the West Midlands depending on Land Rover, it is important for the region, too.

By Mark Andrews