Review of the new Land Rover Freelander TD4_e

A series of revisions made to the standard diesel Freelander has resulted in Land Rover's Freelander TD4_e. Stop/Start technology, a gear shift indicator, low rolling resistance tyres and numerous other arcane tweaks enables this model to achieve 41mpg on the combined cycle and 179g/km CO2 emissions. Not groundbreaking stuff but a step in the right direction.

Recently mainstream car manufacturers have rushed to produce green standard-bearer models that can be wheeled out when their commitment to forestalling our planet's demise is called into question. If any manufacturer needed just such a vehicle, it was Land Rover. The British marque's product range is bristling with hefty 4x4s powered by big, thirsty engines but now there's also an environmental saviour in its midst. Next time a band of beardy environmentalists descend on a Land Rover dealership with their angry placards and carbon neutral sandals intent on chaining themselves to the nearest Range Rover V8, the sales manager will be able to calmly invite them inside for a Fair Trade coffee and pacify them with the Freelander TD4_e.

4x4 vehicles have had a bad press where green issues are concerned and as a producer of nothing but 4x4 vehicles, Land Rover had begun to look somewhat vulnerable as a result. The British marque hit back and after impressing commentators with its environmentally-focused Land_e and LXR concept cars, it pulled the covers from The Freelander TD4_e production model that brings a collection of low emissions technologies to customers.

The headline-grabbing feature in the TD4_e Freelander is its intelligent Stop/Start system. Such technology is becoming increasingly widespread in production cars and Land Rover's take on it couldn't be easier to use. The idea of a car's engine cutting out and restarting again as it sees fit might be disconcerting for some but in the Freelander, the driver retains some control. When the vehicle is stationary and the gearbox is in neutral, releasing the clutch stops the engine.

"The Freelander TD4_e is a useful step on the road to a greener future for the brand.."

When it's time to pull away, simply depress the clutch and it restarts. It means that the TD4_e Freelander becomes a zero emissions vehicle while other cars are still chugging away at the traffic lights or waiting for a traffic jam to move. The Stop/Start system is turned on automatically when the ignition is turned on but can be deactivated by the driver at the flick of a switch. As its name suggests, the TD4_e uses the 2.2-litre TD4 diesel engine from the standard Freelander range but a series of modifications have been made to boost its economy.

The four-cylinder common-rail diesel engine has been re-mapped in the TD4_e for optimum efficiency but this has been achieved without cutting power or torque. A gear shift indicator has also been installed which prompts the driver to select the most appropriate gear to maximise economy and lower emissions. Finally, the Freelander's tyres are special low rolling resistance items which reduce friction on the road surface. Some may question how these will impact on the standard Freelander's impressive off-road traction but it's the TD4_e economy figure that will be of most interest to buyers and the tyres contribute significantly to it.

Externally, there's little to point to the environmental qualities of the TD4_e and that might deter those who like to crow about their personal battle against global warming. The styling is conventional Freelander and, as a result, one of the most handsome compact 4x4 shapes around. The links to the Discovery couldn't be clearer but the Freelander has a lower, more pugnacious stance than its family-sized relative.

Compared to the first generation Freelander, this MK2 model 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 has 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. The interior is a somewhat unusual mix of very high quality materials with some surprisingly cheap plastics.

The environmental angle adopted by the Freelander TD4_e should give it an edge with buyers sensitive to the way that 4x4 vehicles used primarily around town are perceived. Where other manufacturers can look elsewhere for their profits, Land Rover doesn't really have anywhere else to go and so it's in the brand's interests to peruse the green direction in an attempt to shed the polluting image that 4x4s are saddled with, often unfairly.

The technologies and modifications employed by the TD4_e model enable it to return 41.3mpg on the combined cycle, a respectable saving compared to the 37.7mpg you get with the standard TD4. At the same time, emissions are reduced from 194g/km to 179g/km. It's not enough to promote the Freelander to the ranks of the most efficient family vehicles on the market but considering its size and by the standards set by other compact 4x4s, it's a respectable performer.

Land Rover needs to improve its environmental image and the Freelander TD4_e is a useful step on the road to a greener future for the brand. The car follows the lead of other manufacturers in utilising a package of modifications that together, have a useful impact on its economy and emissions. Stop/Start technology will generate the column inches but the low rolling resistance tyres and other features all assist the Freelander to its 41mpg combined economy figure.

4x4s do get a bad press when it comes to environmental issues but if Land Rover is to continue to prosper in the future, it will need to be at the forefront of giving its specialist market sector a greener image. The TD4_e looks to be a step in the right direction.

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