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<title>Land-rover Freelander Manual 2008 (81/100)</title>
<link>http://www.ebuga.co.uk/land-rover-freelander-ii/land-rover-freelander-manual-2008/3340</link>
<pubDate>2008-06-19 20:45:40</pubDate>
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<guid>cars-3340</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Land Rover LR2 shares a new 3.2-liter straight six engine with various Volvo models. In the small Land Rover it's good for 230 horsepower. The only transmission available is a manually-shiftable six-speed automatic. This powertrain provides adequate but less than thrilling acceleration, as it must contend with 4,255 pounds of mass. (For a compact SUV, the LR2 is heavy.) As in the Volvo XC90, at low speeds the engine feels a bit soft. I recall the six sounding better in the Volvo, perhaps courtesy of a less restrictive exhaust. 

I've found the handling of other Land Rover models, even the "Sport," to be squishy and vague. Perhaps the relatively compact LR2 would deliver sportier handling? Well, no. The LR2's steering is vague, with little in the way of feedback, and its responses are slow and imprecise. Especially at speed, the body leans much more than in competitors from BMW and Acura. Reactions to quick steering inputs are far from confidence-inspiring, with much more "wobble" than I expect in a European vehicle. Perhaps the suspension must be soft for best compliance when off-roading, but if this is the case then the trick "terrain response system" needs to include adjustments to the shock absorbers. 

My LR2 test drive did not include an off-road segment. The LR2 includes no transfer case with low range gearing, but Land Rover promises impressive off-road capability nonetheless. A "terrain response system" lets the driver adjust the traction, stability, ABS, and throttle controls for different types of terrain. The electronics include a downhill assist control, which automatically maintains a slow, steady pace down steep declines. The ground clearance, approach angle, and departure angle are up to the task. And skid plates have been fitted, though I cannot attest to their adequacy. 

The flip side of the soft suspension is that ride quality is much more absorbent than in an Acura RDX or BMW X3. Relatively low noise levels also contribute to driver and]]></description>
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