Baby Land Rover for the real world

It all further adds to the Freelander's appeal, a Range Rover for the real world. All versions get a roomy and solidly built cabin and the latest engines boost the baby Land Rover's environmental credentials.

In second generation form, launched back in 2006, Land Rover's Freelander really had to step up a gear to take on a host of mainly Japanese rivals. It did, establishing itself near the top of the compact SUV sector, unchallenged off road and a force to be reckoned with on-tarmac too, especially after an efficient stop-start system was introduced in 2009.

Even so, by 2010, cheaper versions of this car were losing sales to pretend offroaders from the Qashqai 'Crossover' class, while top models were being threatened by ever plusher and pricier compact SUVs from BMW, Volvo and Audi. Land Rover's response arrived for the 2011 model year, this car, a very much improved Freelander2.

Though the styling tweaks are minor, the under-bonnet improvements to the 2.2-litre diesel engine aren't, offering a smoother feel to mainstream TD4 buyers, plus the option of extra power for those needing it.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine that powers this Freelander is available in two guises. The TD4 we look at here is the 148bhp version that comes as standard with an automatic gearbox and Stop/Start technology which cuts the engine when the Freelander is stationary to save fuel. The automatic transmission is available as an option and, unusually, also comes with Stop/Start technology on the TD4. Go for the more powerful 187bhp SD4 version of the 2.2 engine, however, and the automatic gearbox is standard.

All of these models come with all-wheel-drive and Land Rover's excellent Terrain Response system for off-road driving. This clever set-up with different modes for the different terrains the Freelander might encounter goes a long way towards excusing the car's lack of a proper low-range transfer case. This system acts almost like an off-road expert sat alongside you, selecting the best traction mode for any given terrain type. No rival has anything quite like it.

All of which leaves only the two-wheel-drive eD4 variants which effectively break Land Rover's longstanding policy of only producing 4x4 cars. Times change and the advantages of 2WD are felt mainly in the improved efficiency of the car.

This is the second generation Freelander, a car that's been through more styling revisions than most. The latest models can be identified by a flatter nose courtesy of a redesigned front bumper with square holes for the fog lights cut into it. It moves the grille up in line with the large oblong headlights for a cleaner, more modern look that still has that Land Rover chunkiness. The cabin has smarter instrument dials than previous models but the wide centre console that puts its tactile controls within easy reach remains.

Compared to the original first generation Freelander, this MK2 model, launched in 2006, is 50mm longer, 109mm wider and 32mm taller but the wheels have been moved further towards each corner, freeing up another 105mm in the car's wheelbase and making rear seat accommodation a whole lot better. Weight crept up to over 1,900kg in the process but a parallel improvement in safety and refinement is a transaction most customers will be willing to accept. Quality-wise, the interior is a somewhat unusual mix of very high quality materials with some surprisingly cheap plastics. It's better than you'd expect in a mainstream compact 4x4 but perhaps not quite of the standard you'd find in the Freelander's premium-badged German rivals.

There are four trim levels offered - S, GS, XS and HSE. With the 2WD models added to the mix, there's a large differential between the top and the bottom but Land Rover will see that as an opportunity to attract a broader clientele. Most craven badge snobs will likely ignore the stripped-out S entry model, created mainly to give the Freelander an eye-catching starter price.

The optional Premium Pack adds leather trim, electric front seats and premium floor mats.

A little like the mighty Range Rover in the luxury 4x4 class, the Freelander has always felt like a breed apart next to compact 4x4 alternatives. The breadth of capabilities that the baby

Land Rover has at its disposal means it has something subtly different to offer than the vast majority of its rivals. The Freelander's mix of quality and honest practicality set it apart and the latest cars add greater efficiency into that rare mix

The Freelander takes some beating. Opt for a 4x4 model and it will be good off the road as well as on it.

There's a well-built and roomy cabin and with the introduction of front-wheel-drive variants, the range is varied enough to appeal to a wide audience.