Both models offer excellent interior appointments, reasonable trunk space and outstanding off-road capability. Seating for five is standard as well, with a surprising amount of rear seat space provided in the 3-door SE3. The only choice is whether you prefer a fixed roof design and four side doors, or two side doors and the option to remove the rear portion of the roof for true open aired driving. Either way, the Freelander is sure to impress with its design and careful attention to detail.

A potent 2.5L, DOHC V6 engines produces 177 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. For a medium sized 6-cylinder, the engine supplies strong throttle response and plenty of power to accelerate onto a busy highway. Torque is maximized at low rpm, giving it a beefy advantage for off-road driving.

The Freelander runs on regular unleaded fuel, placing it ahead of several of its competitors. With a fuel tank capacity of 16.9 gallons, the baby Rover achieves a maximum range of approximately 355 miles.

A 5-speed automatic transmission provides reasonably smooth shifts, offering a locking torque converter, Sport/Normal shifting and manual gear changes.

In an SUV such as the Freelander, it is critical to offer a suspension that can multi-task. For this reason, Land Rover graces it with a fully independent system. MacPherson struts with lower control arms and long-travel coil springs make up the front suspension, while in back the lower control arms are replaced with trapezoidal links.

Long-travel coil springs are an important reason why the Freelander is such a great off-road vehicle. Ground clearance is excellent, allowing it to go where many other, much larger and supposedly tougher SUV's, wouldn't dare tread.

The Freelander has permanent all-wheel. It offers further refinement to the suspension with IRD, (Intermediate Reduction Drive) and VCU, (Viscous Coupling Unit). Four-wheel traction control is also standard, making this a hard package to beat.

If there is a downside to all this technology and ground clearance, it is only that the Freelander suffers in tight corners, requiring 3.2 turns lock-to-lock. While this may not pose a problem when negotiating dirt roads off the beaten path, it is an annoyance while attempting to maneuver in tight parking spaces. Be prepared to give yourself a little extra space when parking the Freelander.

To stop the Freelander as quickly as possible, power assisted front disc brakes and rear drum brakes work together with all-terrain ABS, EBD, (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and HDC, (Hill Decent Control). Wheel sizes are 16" on the SE model and 17" on the SE3.

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