Test drive Land Rover Freelander 2000 - 2003 SUV

Land Rover Freelander 1.8

Feylifting is a sure sign of growing up model. The decision to carry out this difficult operation is made, as a rule, in two cases: either the model will soon leave the stage, or it will be waiting for a long and happy life on the conveyor. I would like to believe that for Land Rover Frelander, the facelifting will not become in the fall of life, but will begin a new stage in the life of a British SUV.

700

Seven hundred changes made to the appearance and interior of the younger Landy are designed to strengthen the renom of the car as the only premium. For this purpose, the updated car is as close as possible to the Range Rover and Discovery, and this, of course, benefited him. Freelander was clearly not enough branded solidity and self -confidence, he went to the anterior lighting technology and for a black plastic bumper, combined with a radiator grille. Everyone, of course, understood that such a solution was practical when driving off-road, but Land Rover lovers in the soul hoped that Freelander would still change. I had to wait almost seven years, but the most patient fans waited in the wings and gladly met, in fact, a new car. We will not engage in scrupulous calculation of changes, but pay attention to those details that radically changed the appearance of the small Land Rover.

First of all, the face of the car became different. The headlights are made in the spirit of Range Rover with two light elements and transparent glasses. The first positive moment that can melt the ice in the souls of recent skeptics. The new bumper is now partially stained in the color of the body, as well as the grille of the radiator, and its monolist is a thing of the past. On the new car, the front bumper consists of several parts, which is not only more interesting from the point of view of design, but also increases the maintainability of the part, which often takes an impact on off -road. Someone will say that Freelander has lost his face, and will be categorically wrong. The little SUV finally got rid of the infantility, for which he was often criticized, and this is the new nameplate on the trunk door, made in the spirit of large models, which replaced a cheerful sign of corporate flowers, as well as the changed the back lighting equipment. Outside, from now on, everything is likely!

And what's inside? There are also enough new ones here, although familiar details remained abundant, such as, for example, as many as two glove boxes or the hood opening handle from the front passenger. The instrument panel is made according to the modular principle and, being absolutely symmetrical, as part of the production it easily changes from the right to the left-handed, it is only worth changing the airbag and a combination of devices. The salon is finished rather hard for a thoroughbred car with plastic, and seats with dense high -quality skin. The optimal landing will be able to find a medium -sized driver, but it will remain tall to complain about the lack of seats in height and put up with the fact that the head rests on the ceiling, but the density of stuffing and lateral support deserves flattering reviews.

The interior marks a new combination of devices with large dials dressed in decorative rings. Devices are better read and raise the mood of their obvious sports. True, the tall driver sees them only partially the upper part of the scales blocks the steering wheel. Functional keys disappeared from the trump card of the device, a place for them was found on the central console, which, in turn, became more friendly to the driver. The matured Freelander got rid of another cargo of the past windows at the end of the front armrest. Large keys are grouped into the block on the driver's door, and plugs remained on the armrest, the purpose of which was shrouded in secret. The Hill Decent Control system is now turned on the button at the base of the gearbox lever, and not the ring on the handle, as before. In general, with the exception of several national features, the interior gives the impression of a well -worked corporate product. It remains only to start the motor and check the small Land Rover in the case.

On asphalt and not only

Freelander is supplied to our country only with gasoline engines, which are two for this car. The base is considered a 1.8 liter engine with a capacity of 117 hp, working with a mechanical 5-speed gearbox, and also offers a 2.5 liter V6 (see No. 12, 2001). Since the launch, the four begins to grunt clearly and persistently continues to do this with an increase in speed. The motor would be happy to be quieter, but in order to stay in the stream, it must be constantly spinning to 5000 rpm, closer to the peak of power. At these moments, the engine begins to make sounds more characteristic of sports cars than for a status SUV.
But you should not stamp the negativity on the heart of the car with all its noise, it honestly performs the task, even despite the long -term and poorly listened clutch pedal and the gear mechanism far from perfection. On the highway, the car, swaying on a soft suspension, allows the owner to relax a little, but if there are extraneous objects in the form of small pebbles or crushed ice on the asphalt, then they will surely drive along the rear wheeled arches, returning the driver from the world positive sensations to the world of Russian roads.

When buying Freelander as a car for traveling to the country, you should immediately take care of off -road shoes for him. The Bridgestone Duler tires hold on to asphalt perfectly, but they can’t contrast anything near Moscow, not to mention the directions of the Russian hinterland. The viscous coupling and the anti -boom system that forms the basis of the all -wheel drive transmission so that the sitting in the salon has no doubt in Freelander belonging to the great British off -road legend. Even on road tires, a car with enviable perseverance climbs a snow parapet and overcomes a track river tangled by trucks. He fights to the last until the tires have yet lost its clutch, and the driver did not part with the thought of overcoming another obstacle.

It is pleasant to realize that the soul of the real Land Rover is in the body of the all-resistant, although it will still not be possible to repeat the exploits of the G4 Challenge participants in this car due to its purpose. There is no bohemian Range Rover in it, but he also went far from the deliberate simplicity of Defender. He moved from the category of his beloved child to the category of a full -fledged member of the family. Of course, like any Land Rover, updated by Freelander, they have been expensive 25 thousand euros for the basic package, but the car of this brand was and remains proof of social status and the host of a subtle European taste.

Some technical characteristics of Land Rover Freelander 1.8
(manufacturer data)
Dimensions, mm: 4380x1805x1760
Base, mm: 2555
Front/behind, mm: 1535/1545
Diameter of the turn, m: 11.6
Engine type: 4-cylinder gasoline 16-valve
Working volume, cubic meter. SM: 1795
Max. Power, L.S./rpm: 117/5500
Max. moment, nm/rpm: 160/2750
Transmission: mechanical 5-speed
Tires: 215/65 R16
Max. Speed, km/h: 160
Acceleration time 0-100 km, s: 11.8
Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km: 8.1/9.8/12.9
Top volume, l: 64

Maxim Rakitin
 
 
 

 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine