When you're late to the party—not just fashionably late, mind you, but four years late—you'd better be charming, be dressed to kill, and have a damn good excuse. In this case, the soiree is the burgeoning American compact-SUV market, and the latecomer is the Land Rover Freelander. Respecting the sensibilities (or lack thereof) of sport-utility-crazed American consumers, the company didn't bother exporting the diminutive Freelander until a competent V-6 engine had been developed. Or, to put that into British terms: "Terribly sorry, old chap, I've been up to my bollocks in the clag and couldn't find me wellies!" Considering the corporate ownership parade that Land Rover has been dealing with lately, we'd buy that excuse, and we'd buy their latest sport-ute, too.
The Freelander brings class and style to an otherwise pedestrian category of light-duty, carlike trucks. Equipped with a manu-matic transmission, rack-and-pinion steering, and a four-wheel independent suspension, the Freelander doffs its nameplate's heralded off-road prowess in favor of on-road usability. Yet, thanks to decent wheel articulation, the little juggernaut still can scramble its way over all but the roughest terrain. Grip enhancers such as an all-wheel-drive system and Hill Descent Control divert the driver's attention from the fact that the little 'Lander lacks a traditional low range in its transfer case.
To anyone who wants to venture off the pavement, we say buy a bigger truck. To the rest of you, welcome to the party.