Test drive Land Rover Freelander 2000 - 2003 SUV

Pants turn ...

The concept of a three -door car initially contains a slight hint of the owner’s egoism: they say, the main place in the driver’s car. And car manufacturers edit the rear passenger doors, bringing sedans and universals fresh in their practicality in line with the tastes of individualists.

 

The three -door Land Rover Freelander for the egoist is doubly tastier: he not only looks fresh and dynamic than his multi -door counterpart, it also belongs to a rather unusual subspecies of SUVs. This is almost a convertible! In fact, two cars in one. One for everyday year -round operation, the other for summer sorties to nature.
 
In winter, from the bad weather the inhabitants of Frryender, a plastic roof that covers the back of the body, on which passenger seats and trunk, is protecting. At the same time, due to insufficient glazing, the car interior is initially perceived only as gloomy and cramped crushing massive body racks and dark plastic. But this is a purely visual impression. In fact, even at the back there is enough space for both the head and for the legs, and, being on the gallery, you do not experience any discomfort. By the way, access to the rear seats is complicated by the design of the front seats: only the back is thrown back, and the pillow does not take any part in the relief of the fate of the rear row passengers.

 

But everything changes when he leaves. We leave the plastic top in the garage (to protect the vagaries of nature, there is a soft cloth top, listed in accessories) forces of two masculine forces enough to turn the winter three -door universal into a stylish summer lamp. And we also lower the side glasses of the doors, remove the black double -barrel hatch and forward, towards the wind and the sun!
 
In the role of the beach jeep, Freelander is incomparable: the car gives the whole gamut of convertible sensations, moreover, it makes it possible to climb into places where you can’t even think to meddle on an ordinary passenger carriage. The absence of a lowering row in the gearbox and a typically passenger engine do not allow you to call Freelander an all -terrain vehicle, but still all -wheel drive and long -term suspension will be a good help if you want to get to the water in order to lower the surfing board to the waves.

 

The three -door Freelander conquers its versatility. You can ride it every day to work and it will be one car. But on the weekend he becomes different, dropping all the excess and turning into an ideal car for the acceptance of air baths.
 

The car is provided by Autopraim.
During the test, the car is insured ASK Trust.
 
Text: Kirill Brevdo
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 

 
 

A source: Wheel magazine [No. 59/2002]