Test drive Land Rover Freelander LR2 2006 - 2009 SUV

Need SUV for 40 thousand euros

Denis Samusev, 33 years old, restaurant business, travels to Dodge Grand Caravan, wants a compact SUV or crossover, budget: 40,000
The pace of life got out of control. The diary is swollen from the meetings, the phone melted from the calls, and the tie has grown in the neck. And Dodge began to let me down: he was not very good for his representativeness, and with parking and suburban trips. In short, I need a car that will solve these problems in one fell swoop
Car Requirements:
IMAGE
The desire to have an expensive all -wheel drive car with a large clearance today, fortunately, coincides with my capabilities.
STYLE
I like it absolutely, it would seem, polar models, so I don’t want to limit myself to some certain designer.
Shodal qualities
Comfortable, not squeezed suspension, dynamics above average, moderate cross -country ability.
Economy
I'm not going to put the water meters at home either
INTERIOR
Once I had a nine. Until now, without nostalgia, I recall oak materials, rattling plastic and strange ergonomics. It seems to me that in the price category for $ 50,000, this by definition cannot be.
EQUIPMENT
Leather interior, separate climate, automatic, electric package.
How subject we are subject to circumstances! A few months ago, I did not think about any car change, since Dodge was fully consistent with my ideas about the ideal car. But the cool appearance, the sufficient power of the motor and the huge free space in the cabin could not withstand the trends of the working life, which forced the decision to buy a new car. From thought about the promising replacement of the American, the topic somehow sharply jumped into the phase of critical relevance, prompting to active actions. The requirements in the end got down to the following: I definitely need all -wheel drive, automatic transmission, a high degree of comfort in the cabin, representative appearance and dimensions of medium compactness. The engine is only gasoline, not less than 200 forces: diesel, of course, will be more poetry, but we have to serve it more often, and we still have a little good gas station. Since 1.5 million rubles allocated for the purchase were quite capable of becoming a pass in the premium segment, I decided to dig in this direction. The breeding analysis of the sentences was brought to two models: Land Rover Freelander 2 and Infiniti EX35. The prejudices that the constant all -wheel drive of one and the connected second, the tangible difference in power and the area of \u200b\u200buse, to put it mildly, does not build cars to the rank of competitors, I ignore. The main thing is that both cars seemed to their liking.
Land Rover Freelander 2
This strong -up has long attracted my attention: such Range Rover is already teeming on the roads in miniature. A prominent car, with an aggressive, unlimited design, proud article and catchy masculinity. Already with one look, Frelander 2 promises a lot. In his appearance, a call to adventures in the spirit of the legendary brothers from the glorious Land Rover family, even now, would go to G4 Challenge! And at the same time, Free has one indisputable advantage over them:
it seems to me that the model does not impose age -related restrictions on its owner. At the wheel, both the venerable head of the family and the young manager who gives hopes are equally harmonious. The technical potential for such a baby inspires respect for such a baby. This is a real small SUV with a decent clearance, a permanent drive to all wheels, assistance systems for lifting and descent, very relevant for a snowy city and summer cast-kadovskoy Open-Air.
Inside the Land Rover Freelander 2 is perceived differently: the off-road spirit here completely disappeared. But comfort, the level of equipment and ergonomics justify almost all expectations from a car of this class. Only the central console for the first the gaze is slightly overloaded with buttons, but their purpose quickly becomes clear. The presence of completely inappropriate budget plastic remains unclear.
But with this I can easily reconcile for the sake of other attractive qualities: free space in front and behind, a decent trunk, a soft suspension in volume. Or the dynamics you like, which the car cannot be occupied even with several late reactions to pressing the gas, and an active assault rifle that quickly alternating the transmission. In general, this car seems to me quite aesthetic for traveling to business meetings that are quite passable for fearless trips to nature and quite comfortable for long trips with the family.
STYLE
The classic does not become obsolete. It seems to me a big good for Land Rover that the second Frelander began to be more like the rest of the brand SUVs.
Shodal qualities
The car holds the road well, controls and slows down, but the high center of gravity and the soft suspension make it bowl on the turns.
INTERIOR
Everything is comfortable and convenient, but the decoration materials seemed to me simple to indecent.
Economy
15.8 liters in the city and 11.2 liters in a mixed cycle are seen to me with quite decent numbers. I think it is true that in fact, he will have a higher appetite.
Equipment in the standard
The abundance of electronic security systems and assistance on off -road pleases, but otherwise I do not see anything unusual.
stoinism and disadvantages
+ Classical appearance, off -road opportunities, spacious interior.
- Modesty of decoration materials.
Specifications
Mark and Model - LR Freelander 2 i6 HSE
Dimensions - 4500x2005x1765 mm
Engine - gasoline, 3192 cm3, 233 hp/6300 min -1
Transmission - automatic, 6 -speed
Dynamics - 200 km/h; 8.9 s to 100 km/h

Infiniti EX35
Modern, dynamic, stylish, compared to the British-Indian opponent, the Japanese crossover looks real frant. It is difficult to imagine in a little male dirty: the most insignificant spot on the paint will be akin to the same spot on its own trousers. Strict and perfectly stitched about baggage pants of khaki, stretched T-shirt, g-shock on the arm and high waterproof boots are generally better not to remember. NOBLESS OBLIGE in its pure form: only ironed trousers with a shirt, expensive chronic graph and leather shoes. It seems to me that in the case of Infiniti EX35, the causal relationship in the algorithm is a little man is a little lost: it is EX35 that requires the owner of compliance with the content of his impeccable form, and nothing else.
To match the exterior and interior decoration. The materials of the decoration are perfect. Excellent skin, excellent plastic, organic inserts for metal every trifle reminds of which car you are in. The stunned clock on the dashboard was especially successful in this. With the help of numerous electro -regulations (there is even pumping of lateral support ribs), the driver's seat is elementarily adjusted to my parameters.
And the system of circular review?! I have to meet the rear view camera, but so that, from four sides ... to smoke, like from Dodge, I have no need, not a single dead zone is visible to the smallest detail. Thing! In general, you will not want to get out.
On the road, the car behaves adequately and predictably. The motor through an energetic machine provides EX35 enviable traction. The crossover easily breaks down, and accelerates even at high speed as if this is the last acceleration in his life. Acute informative steering wheel provides a stable connection with the machine.
At the same time, the periodic trips that I wish, can turn into troubles for Infiniti. The road clearance of the model is small, and the automatically connected all -wheel drive is not designed for impassability in its pure form. So infiniti ex35 is, in my opinion, a typical citizen.
STYLE
The car is just magnificent! With such bright, I would even say that a screaming design, it is noticeably standing out from the gray mass of cars.
Shodal qualities
Stunning dynamics, acute handling, magnificent brakes, it is a pity that on a clumsy country road it will not be so relevant.
INTERIOR
The finishing materials are amazing, ergonomics at a height. But there is no place for itself at all with difficulty.
Economy
In urban operation mode, 15.9 liters per hundred with such a motor seem to be a drop in the sea.
Equipment in the standard
It's hard for me to imagine what else can be added here. But the most vivid impressions were left by a circular review system.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Car design, finishes, dynamics.
- Little space for rear passengers, low road clearance.
Specifications
Mark and model - Infiniti EX35 AWD Premium
Dimensions - 4635x1800x1600 mm
Engine - gasoline, 3498 cm3, 302 hp/6800 min -1
Transmission - automatic, 5 -speed
Dynamics - 231 km/h; 6.9 C to 100 km/h

My choice
In life, you can often hear words about the deceitfulness of the first impression. However, these machines in one species clearly and accurately reflect their character. Typically off -road outwardly Land Rover Freelander 2 turned out to be the same inside: constant all -wheel drive, high landing and a bunch of special systems in absentia in victory over the off -road. Yes, his dynamics is worse than the rapid Infiniti EX35, on the asphalt it is not so energetic, comfort in its salon has not been erected to an excellent degree, and the interior will easily take several glass points. But in general, Fril's representativeness is not much less, and the possibilities outside the road are significantly greater. These factors have become decisive for me when choosing Land Rover.

Author: Dmitry Tytyuchenko

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [September 2008]