Test drive Land Rover Freelander 2003 - 2007 SUV

Free with a clear conscience

In the old days, hordes of Muscovites, Lada, Volga and even Cossacks covered unthinkable distances, taking their owners and all their belongings on a well -deserved rest. The Soviet man had one and for all occasions ...

Today, many Russians are able to buy a vehicle for a daily car specifically for relaxation. Given this situation, aggravated by the same seasonal factor, Land Rover, one of the most famous manufacturers of targeted equipment, brought to the Russian market a three -door Freelander with a removable top.

Outwardly, the three -door Freelander resembles a slightly reduced Discovery, as if slightly polished for better aerodynamics. And at the same time, in his appearance there is no annoying frivolity, beasts so characteristic of many similar machines. It should also be recognized that the car looks more logical compared to its five -door relative. In addition, triangular opening windows at the back row of seats in appearance is more winning the trivial rear doors, and golden metallic metallic more corresponds to the season than restrained dark tones.

Freelander may well become the head of a whole string of machines that have about the same structure of the upper part of the body: Opel Frontera, Nissan Pathfinder, Mercedes G-class, etc. All of them are made in the best off -road traditions, and their bodies actually fall under the definition of Lando: the roof is ahead of the sites ahead, and the rest of the cabin is in the power of nature. As a rule, a soft top is installed on such models, Freelander is also equipped with hard.

In the front of the roof, a hatch of two panels is mounted, which can be removed entirely or in parts. Behind the back of the right rear seat, the DJ bag is suspended - a roomy Baul, where both halves of the hatch are placed. The rear seat can have a trifle configuration (option), but it seems that four people are a reasonable limit for the capacity of the cabin.

Like a five -door version, the three -door is equipped with two motors to choose from - a four -l or 2.5 liter V6 with a four -volume (there is also a version with a 2 -liter TD4 diesel engine, but it does not officially come to Russia). Naturally, the second engine is more interesting, but you don’t have to choose - under the hood of the car we got there were only four pots.

The transmission does not have a reduced row, and the rear bridge is connected (through a viscous coupling) only in difficult conditions. There is a yellow button on the gearbox lever - by pressing it and turning it on the first or rear gear, you can safely go down from rather steep slopes. The corporate name is Hill Descent Control, it will be curious to try ...

The salon, in general, is not bad, there are only small flaws. It is inconvenient to fasten with belts on the front seats - their pretensors make them bend their back like a blochant cat. The shape of the steering wheel is very controversial for the SUV. The instrument shield could be more interesting, but it will completely arrange unassuming drivers. All controls are located competently, pedal efforts are normal.

The front panel attracted the main attention. The driver’s and passenger zones are symmetrical, the instrument shield is made according to the modular-block principle: it can be moved from left to right without losing the integrity of the general composition. On the panel itself - many recesses covered with molded rubber rugs with proprietary symbols. The hood lever is located at the feet of the front passenger - an echo of the right -handed last brand. Materials of the interior decoration - discreet tones, wash well and almost do not collect dust. There is no audio installation - basic equipment. A variety of containers can accommodate everything you need on the way.

The behavior of the car on the road with a hard coating is almost passenger, with neutral rotation. Gazing gas in a bend, it is quite possible to take the soul, especially if a thin layer of sand under the wheels. With accelerated and brake dynamics, everything is in order, ABS with sharp braking behaves very tactfully. I did not like the work of the checkpoint - there is no feeling of a clear fixation of the programs, and the levers are far from perfect. In the city, the car barely fits 14 liters per hundred, on the highway the situation is much better, especially if you do not press the gas pedal into the floor.

Freelander was shod in highway, nevertheless, we managed to easily overcome the herbaceous and rocky slopes, did not become a serious obstacle and a weak soaked soil. With a yellow button pressed, the car climbs up much more confidently, and it is a pleasure to go down. And if you climb deeper into the sand, kneading it with all the wheels, you can frolic no worse than on a four -wheeled ATV.

But the real element of the car is soil roads with a trampled coating. According to them, he is able to rush with the same success as in asphalt - the suspension practices a microrelief, without transmitting vibrations or blows to the body. It is not for nothing that in Zavodskoy Prospekt Frelander is captured moving along some country.

Sales of an open car in Russia are just beginning. The list of options is great - from decorative details to very necessary, such as fog headlights. A black plastic hatch for an additional $ 500 can be replaced with glass, also removable. The price of a three -door Frelander is from $ 26,000. In conclusion, it is worth noting that the manufacturer positions the car as SUV, and not as a full -fledged SUV, so it is better to use its older brothers to conquer serious off -road.

Without a roof

To remove the roof, you need to lower the rear window and, opening the luggage door, get inside and free a couple of latches above the heads of the rear passengers, then the same latches at the base of the rear racks of the roof. Together, raise the plastic top before leaving the hook and put forward to the right or to the left beyond the geometric boundaries of the car. There is no place for storing the top in the car, so it remains in the garage.

If the car is equipped with a soft awning, then it should not be removed back, as in most convertibles, but forward, followed by fastening on the hard cross -member of the front of the roof.

A funny impression is taking shape on the move - it seems that it doesn’t blow, but the back is open. Having folded the rear seats or seizing them altogether, it is quite possible to load the surfing board, not to mention the less cumbersome inventory. The liberated scope gives the will of fantasy, the imagination draws participation in Safari. The open version is quite suitable for television operators. The only negative side is the turbulence of air masses behind the stern. After the very first minutes on the ground, the question of the frequency of the harvesting in the cabin disappears by itself - each time upon returning to the garage.
The awning can be shook off the brush in a half -tied position, the main thing is not to damage the soft windows of the sidewalls. The arcs stretching along the body are intended not only for attaching a large -sized cargo, they are quite suitable for lovers of standing on the go with an omitted tent or removed by a hard top. The latter should be treated carefully - especially when it is removed. Side glasses are hot, not a triplex, so they will shower from the hit of any solid object. Yes, and plastic is not intended for constant dynamic loads, so it is better to keep it in the most safe place in the removed form. But in any case, the pleasure of driving in such a car is higher than minor inconvenience associated with the specific design of the top.

Text: Egor Karpunin
 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 7/2002]