Land Rover has given the Freelander 2 a bit of a facelift for 2013 with an upmarket push, new trim levels and more equipment.
We’ve been expecting Land Rover to give the Freelander 2 a facelift for 2013 – even though its only two years since the last one – to keep it fresh and able to stand alongside its trendy younger sibling, the Range Rover Evoque.
What Land Rover has actually done with this facelift for the Freelander is blur the lines even more between Land Rover and Range Rover, with a push upmarket for the Freelander 2. But that’s probably the best way to go until Land Rover redefines its range as the all new models roll out over the next few years.
On the outside, the 2013 Freelander 2 gets new Xenon LED lights front and rear with a new signature graphic for the running lights, brighter chrome for the grill and fog surrounds and a choice of three new colours – Aintree Green, Havana and Mauritius Blue. It doesn’t sound much, but it makes the Freelander look sharper and more cohesive.
But the bigger changes are reserved for the inside, with the messy centre console we expected Land Rover to change in the last round of updates two years ago now getting a slick look with a lot less buttons and a lot more style, with the manual handbrake gone in favour of an electronic job and the Terrain Response controls moving back behind the gear lever. All very Range Rover.
With the radio controls gone from the centre console, moved to the new 7″ Infotainment Touchscreeen (with new Land Rover Graphics it seems), the layout is much more pleasing with a CD slot, quick access buttons for stuff like menus, door locking and hill descent, and a simple round clock.
Other changes include a new 5″ colour screen squeezed between the main instrument dials on the dash, key docking gone in favour of proper keyless, a rear view camera and a ‘Say What You See’ voice control for most of the main functions, like Audio and SatNav, and the new Meridian sound system the Evoque has in either 380W or 825W flavours depending on which Freelander trim level you opt for.
And talking of trim levels, Land Rover has added another two trim levels to confuse you even more when you head off to buy, for a new total of six.
The Freelander S is the entry-level with cloth seats and a pretty basic spec, with you needing to opt for the GS to get leather. The Freelander XS gets gloss black grill surround, 17″ alloys and a bit of a body kit and the new Dynamic trim gets a full body kit, gloss black highlights, sports seats and 19″ 10-spoke alloys with a paint finish.
The Freelander HSE remains with wood trim and more toys – like Panoramic Roof, and 825W Meridian Sound – with a new trim level above – Freelander HSE LUX – throwing in Windsor leather, Grand Black Lacquer trim and a set of 19″ alloys.
Engine options remain the same, with 2.2 litre diesel offering 148bhp in the TD4 and eD4 versions with a more interesting 187bhp in the SD4 versions.
The 2013 Freelander 2 goes on sale in October with prices up a touch (no details yet), and Land Rover are giving the new Freelander its first public outing at the Moscow Motor Show next week.
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