Flagship Freelander sails well

And we know there will never be a better Freelander because the model is due to be replaced next year by the Discovery Sport.

Most manufacturers produce special editions during a model's run-out period, and in this case it's the £35,995 Metropolis which builds on the previously top-of-the-range HSE Lux with premium Windsor leather, electrically-adjustable seats, a panoramic sunroof, xenon headlights, a reversing camera, premium metallic paint, gloss black interior highlights and new 19in alloy wheels.

Launched at the Windsor Horse Show, it heads up a completely revised Freelander range, with new trim levels and power train options. It should boost Freelander sales at a time when the popularity of compact SUVs is still growing, as is the choice and sophistication of the competition.

That said, the Freelander 2 already has the advantage of being instantly recognisable as a product of the iconic marque, with styling cues taken from the Discovery and of course, the Range Rover. For many that makes it an object of desire, and does secondhand values no harm at all.

The 4x4 Freelander is a serious off-roader, but it's also roomy and comfortable everyday transport on the road: and in the case of the Metropolis downright luxurious. It's the ultimate Freelander, in a range which has been moving further upmarket with each successive revision.

Driver and passengers can relax in the plush leather and in air conditioned comfort, while enjoying the same high-powered surround sound system fitted to top Jaguar models. A central colour touch-screen provides compact and easy-to-use controls for the satnav, audio and Bluetooth telephone systems.

It is, naturally, powered by the top engine in the range, the 190PS, 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel which can take it from a standstill to 62mph in under ten seconds and average a little over 40mpg.

The smooth and responsive automatic transmission is standard: you have to concentrate to even feel the changes which adds to the car's upmarket feel.

That feeling is echoed in the interior: not just the Metropolis extras but the styling cues on the instruments and controls which just scream Range Rover.

A previous makeover simplified the switchgear, removing for example the big 'Terrain Response' knob so that there's now just one switch allowing you to scroll through a menu of settings which govern how the gears, throttle and steering respond best in any given conditions.

Land Rover prides itself on the superior off-road capabilities of all its cars and the Freelander is no exception. But long gone are the days of the Series I's rough ride resulting from the necessarily beefy, long travel suspension. Now they have to compete with the comfort and ride quality of their less versatile rivals on the road where, let's face it, SUVs will spend most of their time.

The Freelander soaks up the bumps, with a smooth, saloon car-like ride while the engine is refined and quiet. High-speed cornering in a high vehicle like this inevitably means some body roll, but it's not enough to cause discomfort.

If the original Freelander was the baby of the range, the Freelander 2 is the teenager because it grew in all directions, so it's now not all that far behind its more expensive siblings in terms of room for five passengers. The 755 litres of boot space makes it useful family transport and by folding down the three rear seats you can extend that to 1,670 litres. The towing limit is 2,000kg.

Electric windows and mirrors, split/fold rear seats, rear parking sensors, and electronic safety systems such as dynamic stability control are standard across the new Freelander range, which consists of five models.

All are now powered by the same turbo-diesel engine, with three trim levels (including Metropolis) – the other two both come with manual or auto gearbox options. The new line-up starts from £27,765.