Land Rover Freelander 2.2 TD4 GS auto

Read the Land Rover Freelander 2.2 TD4 GS auto review by Practical Caravan's experts when you are trying to decide what your next tow car should be

Verdict

It is a stable, comfortable and competent tow car.

Pros

There is an airy feel to the cabin
Ride comfort impresses

Cons

None

The second generation Land Rover Freelander has been around for a few years now, but still holds its own against newer rivals.

Towing

This Freelander has clearly been designed with the needs of tow car drivers in mind. The 150kg noseweight limit is much higher than most mid-sized 4x4s, and the towing electrics are easy to access.

Whereas most German 4x4s are stiffly sprung for the sake of sporty cornering, the Freelander makes comfort more of a priority. Bumps in the road are smothered with an ease which would amaze an Audi Q5 owner, for example.

Don’t confuse soft with sloppy. The Freelander is still controlled enough to make a stable towcar, remaining firmly in charge of the caravan through our lane-change test.

Acceleration when towing is determined rather than quick, especially on versions fitted with an automatic gearbox like our test car. The Freelander pulled a 1215kg caravan from 30-60mph in 15.5 seconds. The engine feels a little flat at low revs, but pulls more strongly from around 2000rpm.

Space

Inside, the Freelander is competitive with its rivals for cabin space. Whereas an Audi Q5 or BMW X3 has shallow windows, the greater glass area in the Freelander makes for a much airier feel, especially in the back seats.