Freelander 2 HSE Review
Freelander 2 is the Land Rover gift to the compact SUV segment. At present it is the second generation of the SUV sold in the market. The first generation of the car was sold in the European market in the year 1997 with the name Freelander. The car became the best selling four wheel drive until 2002. The last model of this SUV was sold in North America in the year 2005. Second generation SUV Freelander 2 made its debut at the 2006 British Motor Show, this second generation of the Freelander 2 is based on the EUCD platform. This new Freelander features higher ground clearance and off-road capabilities that are closer to the other Land Rover models. The only thing that this model carries from its elder sibling is the dam shell hood and the steep roof. There are number of features added to this model to make it look a bit sporty. This car is not just appealing and sporty but it is also a very safe car to drive. The car is so well engineered that it safeguards the occupants in the maximum possible way during head-on impact. There is a first in class airbag to protect the driver as well which proves that such a situation would be less fatal. The Land Rover Freelander 2 in total gets 7 airbags standard on all variants. Freelander 2 is a very successfully scaled downed version of the full size range rover from the front with its distinctive design. The deep cut crystal like headlamps upfront give maximum road visibility at night and look magnificent in the day as well. This new model of the car is available in the market in two different variants which are the Land Rover Freelander 2 SE and Land Rover Freelander 2 HSE . The Freelander 2 HSE is powered by a 2.2 Liter TD4 turbo diesel engine which churns out a power 187.4bhp and a peak torque of 420Nm. The standard features in this car include the Air Conditioner with rear AC vents for effective cooling, power steering and power windows. In the security section the car has Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) which avoids skidding of the car in case of instantaneous braking and central locking.
Exterior
The exterior of the car is designed with utmost care and one can tell the performance it is capable of delivering just by looking at it. As expected from the company they have tried their best to build the best 4WD car. Technology has always been the fore front in the Land Rover models and same trend is followed in the Freelander 2 HSE. At the front the car has two rectangular headlamps with turn indicators, between these headlamps is the stylish grille. The headlamps has Xenon bulbs which adapts the density depending on the lightning conditions. It has a front bumper in body color which is accompanied with the fog lamps. The side profile of the car is also good, it has body colored exterior mirrors and chrome door handles, the exterior mirror also have a memory function for the ease of more than one driver. There is a sunroof on the Land Rover Freelander 2 which is full size. On the sunroof there is an electric sliding front glass and a fixed glass panoramic roof. The car is available in the market in 5 different colors which are Fuji White, Baltic Blue, Firenze Red, Indus Silver and Santorini Black.
Interior
The interior of the car is in dual tone while we can choose among the two color available for the seats which are Ebony Windsor Leather and Almond Windsor Leather. Quite a number of places have been designed with the Dark Chestnut Finisher (wood effect) trims. The design of the dash is very contemporary and the quality of material used are very solid and meant to last. . The exterior mirrors also have a memory function for the ease of more than one driver. There is a sunroof on the Land Rover Freelander 2 which is full size. On the sunroof there is an electric sliding front glass and a fixed glass panoramic roof. At the base the car has premium carpet mats which goes with the interior color design.
Engine Performance
the Land Rover Freelander 2 HSE is powered by a TD4 turbo in-line diesel engine which produces a displacement of 2179cc. This 16 valve engine has CRDI fuel supply system with compression ratio of 16.5:1 and a bore x stroke of 85 x 96 mm. The engine is capable of producing a power of 187.4bhp at the rate of 3500rpm and a torque of 420Nm at the rate of 1750rpm. The mileage delivered by the car is 12.35kmpl which is pretty good. This diesel engine can readily accelerate the car from 0-100kmph in just 9.5 seconds and can touch a top speed of 190kmph. The engine also has the E-Terrain technologies which is used to improve the performance of the vehicle and reduce the amount of CO2 emission.
Braking and Handling
For effective braking the car has in it ventilated disc brakes in the front and drum brakes at the rear. The company has incorporated these brakes with the ABS and EBD. It also has six speed automatic transmission with commandshift, terrain response, Electronic Traction Control which is a sophisticated stability control system that senses when wheel slip is occurring and uses the braking system to minimize wheel spin. and hill descent control that engages with the release of the foot brake and improves control on steep or slippery descents.
Safety Features
There are number safety features in the car ensure safe driving conditions. These are ABS with EBD and brake assist, front and rear airbags which deploy in case of collision, child safety locks, anti theft alarms, impact beams, traction control, keyless entry, vehicle stability control, Engine immobilizer, centrally mounted fuel tank and engine check warning.
Comfort Features
The car has a dual zone climate control. The instrument cluster is green back lit and has an information display between the two dials. You get information of the fuel left in the tank, odometer, instant fuel consumption etc. The seats are very comfortable and the driver’s seat is electrically adjustable. There is ample space for the rear passengers as well. The rear seats are 50mm higher than the front which allows the rear passengers to get a glimpse of the road as well. For starting the engine the car is provided with a push start and stop button, there are front map reading lamps, map pockets, load space cover, rear center armrest, front driver and passenger armrest, smokers pack etc..
Pros: Good off road skills, brand value
Cons: Price
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