Land Rover Freelander LR2 test drive since 2009 SUV
Gills in the desert
About five years ago, when I happened to try the smallest Land Rover on the move, I got out of the steering wheel with slight bewilderment. Why is this, not the fastest, not the most convenient and far from the most practical 4x4 crossover made its way to sales leaders in Europe? And in general, why on earth was he called a freeender? I traveled around Moscow and the region for several days, but I did not understand the English humor. Do not forget that in Morocco in settlements there is a speed restriction of forty kilometers per hour, and the STOP hexagon is placed even where we have a sign of giving way. Do not ignore it and keep the limit attention. Local roads are only deserted at first glance. There are donkeys and children everywhere. In order for every journalist to reach the meaning of what was said, the Briton conducted the briefing before the test drive, pronouncing each syllable in the teacher’s manner, and for more convincing, he held his index finger raised upward.
Like this. You make two air travel to find the land with hope of driving through the famous Moroccan pebbles, and you are met by a hard speed limit, a stop at every intersection and donkeys-partisans. The growing pessimism did not overcome the chip key from the brand new Freelander 2. For some reason, I immediately recalled the former frile, which, in my opinion, had a balance of advantages and disadvantages, about 50 to 50. Yes, the car was interesting, stylish and, as they say, with idea. But if you evaluate EN from the practical sides, then the functionality of the British crossover was not on top. As, however, the level of comfort. Small advantages in patency were not leveled by the best dynamics, controllability and efficiency in the class. It is clear why the most sophisticated motorists, aimed at acquiring a universal-impleased, eventually, without a doubt, leaned towards old disco. And those who were looking for a jeep for city jungle found their happiness in the person of a powerful comfortable foreman with a turbo engine. If Freelander 2 is ideologically remained where the predecessor, between the city and the village, his chances are zero ...
However, the front type of new cars, in two lines of shining under the Moroccan sun, returned a positive worldview. Freelars became tangibly larger and more solid, they do not look simpler even among the Range Rover Sport aristocrats (cunning British probably specially parked these models nearby). The massive plastic body kit that the old Frelander was so fertilized, designers gave eclectic forms. And it is now painted in the color of the body (only along the lower edge, in the most vulnerable places, the body kit retains the appropriate type of rubber fecal). Spectacular details are remembered: intricate lighting technology, embossed wheel arches and paired knitting knuckles, gills in the style of the same Range Rover Sport. Freelander was eliminated from the outbuilding of the stern, but retained the catchy family line - the radiator grill advanced forward. And how they processed the interior! The proprietary high commander landing is no longer an empty phrase. In each internal details, Freelander 2 guesses the style of a large road car. Soft plastic, skin, restrained matte metal tint, open spaciousness and thoroughness - this is what environment you find in the HSE salon. The ALPINE development audio system with a nest for connecting the iPod sausages overhaul, but does not sound superficially - it even has the listening of the classics. In the back row of seats, there was a noticeably larger space. And the trunk now accommodates 755, not symbolic (for the station wagon) 546 liters. Frileh is simpler, with a fabric salon, slightly loses in the decoration, but the difference can be seen only in direct comparison.
It seems that the British novelty is really ready for competition with much stronger rivals. If earlier Freelander was in the same niche with the popular X-Trail or CR-V, now the British decided to repel the clientele from the best glamorous crossovers like BMW X3 and Lexus RX. The German outside and inside will not seem as folding as the new Frelander. And I don’t even want to do the second comparison: everyone is good at the Japanese, but he is completely deprived of adventure shocking. And the last observation. Freelander 2 looks good both in cold or monochrome colors (Izmir, Stornway), and in the frivolous orange Tambora or Rimini ruby. And try to present competitors in any other outfit, except for black, gray or silver. It turns out? That's the same.
The trip to the gasoline version I6 did not disappoint. The new frile is more precisely steep, it sways less (thanks to a completely processed independent suspension), although management, as before, is slightly lacking acute and transparency. Acoustic comfort is no worse than that of a car of thousands for 40-50. The power of the six (by the way, it is in line, is located transversely and more powerful by almost a third of the previous V6) is enough for the eyes for a sharp start and for additional acceleration on the highway. What did they say about forty kilometers per hour? Between Moroccan villages we grabbed far over a hundred forty, scaring donkeys and Bedouins with a herd of 233 horses. The characteristics of a sequental six -speed machine are selected surprisingly successfully, and in a sports transmission mode they switch without delay. Gas to the floor - and you are immediately imprinted with force in the back of the chair.
The 4x4 system on Frelander 2 is not in vain christened rational and undeveloped. The use of the Haldex interdose coupon does not allow you to name such a full -wheel drive constant. But the British, together with Swedish experts, thoroughly improved his work algorithms. A reasonable transmission is controlled by electronics, has a much less response time and provides continuous regulation and transfer of torque to the rear wheels. The Freelander 2 and the Terran Response electronic system expands all -terrain qualities with four motes modes - this technology was borrowed from the older Land Rover models. I was impressed by a 2.2-liter turbodiesel in combination with manual transmission. It has become tangibly more powerful, less noisy and gives a huge moment of 400 nm in a very wide range of revolutions, which is why it is perfect for urban or highways. But to touch the car from a place in the fourth gear - a trick that easily made a diesel of the previous disco - he cannot do it. At revolutions below 1500-2000, the thrust is weakened. Enchanted rudders forced to work with gas and a pitch in a racing style. And the start on the sand generally looked from the side of the circus number: you twist TD4 to the ringing and-Alla-Op! - You abruptly throw the clutch. The car twitches with force, like from a whip, but jumps out of a trap. By the way, a gasoline model with a machine gun did the same procedure without straining at all: pressed on the gas, touched, flew ... a free -flying apparatus.
Text Ruslan Tarasov, photo Land Rover and author
Land Rover Freelander 2 i6
Gasoline engine, 6 in a row
Working volume (cubic cub) 3192
Power (L.S. at rpm) 233 at 6300
Moment (nm at rpm) 317 at 3200
The permanent drive is complete
Gearbox automatic, 6-speed
Length/width/height (mm) 4500/1910/1740
Mass weight (kg) 1770
Maximum speed (km/h) 200
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 8.4
Fuel consumption, medium (l/100 km) 11.2
Price in Moscow from $ 52,000
A source: "Autopilot"
