Review of the new Land Rover Freelander Sport

The Land Rover Freelander isn't cheap in any guise but it pays to remember this car's capabilities compared to its compact 4x4 rivals. Comfort, refinement and off-road ability are real strengths and in Sport form, a host of extra styling accessories boost the car's visual impact and its value proposition.

Ever heard of the Range Rover Sport? It's a more energetic, and accessible, alternative to the grand old Range Rover luxury SUV, a pair of fancy trainers to the Range Rover's designer green wellington boots if you will. Should the same product naming logic be applied, this would make the Land Rover Freelander Sport a racier, more affordable alternative to the normal Freelander. Well, it is and it isn't.

What we're dealing with here isn't a completely different car in that way that the Discovery-based Range Rover Sport is compared to the blue-blooded Range Rover. The Freelander Sport is a special edition version of the Freelander but it does bring sportier looks and a more attractive price to the compact 4x4 party.

Like the rest of the modern Freelander line-up, the Sport model comes exclusively with the 2.2-litre TD4 diesel engine. The lack of choice shouldn't deter buyers, though, as this is a decent common-rail injection unit. The Freelander is no lightweight in the context of the wider compact 4x4 class but the 158bhp engine can propel it with acceptable verve. Whether the Freelander Sport can live up to its athletic billing with a 10.9s 0-60mph time is another question but the 400Nm torque output certainly provides enough muscle for the composed driving experience which sets the Freelander apart.

The ride quality in the Freelander is the benchmark to which the other smaller 4x4s must aspire. Whether it's being asked to negotiate a pothole-ridden B-road or cruise up the motorway for a few hundred miles, the baby Land Rover takes it all in its stride. It's a little behind the curve in terms of its handling prowess and there are better options if you enjoy pitching your car into corners with feeling but that's partly a product of Land Rover's insistence that a Freelander should be able to hold its own off-road too. All Freelanders get intelligent four-wheel-drive and all bar the entry-level models have the ingenious Terrain Response system which allows the car's various driver aids to be simply tweaked according to the terrain being negotiated.

"A compact 4x4 it may be but the Freelander shares the comfort and practicality of many larger 4x4 products..."

]The Freelander is quite an elegant sight as compact 4x4s go. There's a clear lineage in the design that can be traced all the way up the Land Rover range to the Range Rover. This is an integral part of the car's appeal and the Sport model caters both for those who favour a more aggressive look and buyers who would prefer to leave the classy lines unmolested. The Sport can be ordered with or without a Body Styling pack that substantially changes the car's outward appearance. It includes exhaust pipe finishers and bumper extensions to the front and rear.

The cabin of the Freelander Sport gets a special two-tone black and grey colour scheme with the 'Sport' logo embossed into the head restraints of all five seats. There are also special carpet floor mats bordered with contrasting piping. In general, the Freelander feels large and well assembled from behind the wheel. Some of the less prominent plastics are not of the best quality and the centre console controls aren't particularly well laid-out but there's lots of space front and rear with a high seating position that brings a good view out.

Positioned in the middle of the standard Freelander range, the Sport special edition model is sure to attract the attention of customers. The big decision is whether or not to choose the Body Styling package which comes at a £1,250 premium but also includes full leather trim where versions without the styling extras make do with a leather and cloth mix. The Body Styling pack models are only available with Lago Grey paintwork but there's also the option of Santorini Black for those who settle on the normal Sport. All Freelander Sport models have 19" Diamond turned alloy wheels, body-coloured exterior trim, a roof spoiler, plus body and side sills that visually draw the car closer to the tarmac but won't help its ground clearance when off-roading.

Getting on for 1,800kg in weight, the Freelander is substantial for a compact 4x4 but its 2.2-litre diesel engine helps take the edge off running costs. It's mated to Land Rover's Stop/Start system which turns the engine off when the vehicle is stationary and the gearbox in neutral to save fuel which further aids economy in real-world driving conditions. For the record, combined cycle economy is measured at 42mpg for the manual cars with emissions at 179g/km.

Unlike the Range Rover Sport which is a model in its own right, Land Rover's Freelander Sport is a special edition version of the Freelander. It does, however, share the Range Rover Sport's focus on a more dynamic appearance and also sets out to bring customers additional value for money. Buyers can chose whether to indulge in the Body Styling pack that ups the Freelander's visual impact a couple of notches or stick to the standard Sport which is no ugly duckling itself. Upgraded cabin trim also features as do the core Freelander qualities of space, ride quality and refinement.

A compact 4x4 it may be but the Freelander shares the comfort and practicality of many larger 4x4 products. There are better options if your priority is sharp handling and entertainment through the corners but few are as relaxing to use day in and day out as Land Rover's baby and there's genuine off-road prowess thrown in.

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