The Valeter wrote:

Whilst it would include some options that weren't available on the Freelander (TV, heated rear seats, bonnet airbags to name 3) it came out at £45,500 & I have just remembered the panoramic roof is an option so I dare say that's another £1000.

The Valeter wrote:

I feel quite happy now I drove my Metropolis away for £34,000 precisely including roof rails, boot mat & all round mudflaps.

I can only see the SD4 option on the UK builder

I had a bad experience with a sunroof years ago, it put me off for life, so I'm not too fussed about it not opening. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

j77 wrote:

I had a bad experience with a sunroof years ago, it put me off for life, so I'm not too fussed about it not opening.

I ordered my FL2 on its launch date, but having examined the DS on its launch date, I must admit that I am very disappointed. Other potential customers in the showroom also expressed their disappointment. Maybe the new Defender will be worth waiting for?

For those that are interested, when my one arrives I will do a comparison between the two, loads pace etc, I will borrow my old mums Fl2.

May be useful to see it in photos rather than figures in a brochure. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

Thanks J77. Nice one.

The Valeter wrote:

When I went on the DS builder today there was the option to specify the Si4 Petrol engine. Dealer I spoke to recons both engines would be sold, the present producing the 190BHP & the ingenium doing the more economic 150BHP. Can't see that myself, why would you have 2 diesels?
No prices for anything though on builder. I rang a dealer just out of interest to see how much the equivalent spec Discovery Sport HSE Luxury would cost to match as close as possible a FL2 Metropolis.
Whilst it would include some options that weren't available on the Freelander (TV, heated rear seats, bonnet airbags to name 3) it came out at £45,500 & I have just remembered the panoramic roof is an option so I dare say that's another £1000.
I feel quite happy now I drove my Metropolis away for £34,000 precisely including roof rails, boot mat & all round mudflaps.


That said the Discovery Sport IMO from the rear looks better than the Range Rover Sport as the lower bumper diffuser on the RRS looks like a sticking plaster wheras the DS looks just right. Nice Landrover car but Range Rover pricing.

DennisV wrote:

Thanks for the info Mav.

According to Whatcar 'Volvo UK has added the petrol-powered T6 variant of its new XC90 to the model range. Since orders for the seven-seat SUV opened in October, Volvo UK has been surprised by the number of customer enquiries for petrol-powered versions. The T6 is equipped with a 316bhp, 295lb ft version of the new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Drive-E engine...'

That should push it along at a respectable pace!

I hope LR follows suit (not necessarily at that high power level) because if the XC90 gets the petrol engine no doubt the XC60 will get an adequately powerful petrol engine in the not too distant future?

I see what you are saying Mav re spec & price. That said I would never had paid £40K for a Freelander (made that assumption as soon as the HSE Lux went on the builder site) let alone Plus £40K. Another reason I won't pay £45K+ for a Discovery Sport. That is more than I paid for my Evoque Dynamic Lux in 2012 & that was a Range Rover!! (Past) Freelander 2 HSE 2010 MY In Rimini Red.
(Past) RR Evoque Dynamic Lux Si4 In Firenze Red.
(Past) RR Evouque Pure Tech in Barollo Black with bespoke Firenze Red colour coding.
(Present) Freelander Metropolis 2015 MY In Santorini Black with Ivory Premium Leather.

The Evoque isn't a Rangie though. It's a shortened chassis FL2 with a different body! The only Range Rover parts it shares with a Range Rover is the Range Rover bonnet and tailgate scripts

Sadly LR's will get more and more pricey over years in a couple of decades time 40k will be cheap for an LR no doubt  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

I think it's beautiful, and I shall visit the dealers on the way back from the opticians. WALLO.....
BE GOOD......IF NOT BE CAREFUL!

Well, I'd been looking forward to the opportunity of seeing the Discovery Sport and at the weekend had a good look and a drive as well. Since its announcement I've been sold on the idea of a "Freelander with extra boot-space" as that is the only thing that lets the Freelander down in my opinion. Yes, the price hike would stretch me but it would be worth it.

However, after looking, driving and considering it, sadly I think my mind has been changed:
The vehicle looks and drives great. No argument with that at all, but.......

The boot space, is bigger, about 4" wider at the narrowest point, and no suspension intrusion, but the floor is not flat; seemingly to gradually slope upwards the further forward into the vehicle you go, and it needs a solid base to stop small items from falling down the gaps between the various sections.
The tailgate opening is the same (maximum) height as the Freelander......in the middle. The rounded top of the tailgate opening seems to reduce this height considerably. - just imagine trying to get a big box in the back.

The spec of the SE versus the SE Tech is a little bemusing. I feel that a lot of "standard" features have been removed from the SE and added to the SE Tech to justify the price difference: Auto Headlights and Rain-Sensing wipers are ten-a-penny these days on fairly basic cars. A vehicle in this price-bracket should have them as standard.

I just don't understand why we are forced to have the +2 seats. It is NOT a 7 seater. The salesman admitted they were fine for only up to about 5'2". Yes, maybe if you're a very flexible 5'2" stick insect. - Mrs Duck is 5'3" and wasn't even going to attempt it. Salesman just couldn't seem to understand my gripe that I'd have to pay for 2 extra seats that would never get used. His reasoning was that I could just leave them folded flat. Yes, I could but I still have to pay for them. Other vehicles, for example a Santa Fe have them as a £1200 option. I'd rather have £1200 in my pocket and more storage space......

......or a full size spare wheel. What's all this malarkey about working a compromise between a can of foam / space saver / different types of towbars? Do LR actually do any market research? How many Freelander buyers opted for the full-size spare, and how many use the vehicle for towing? Hands up who would, by choice, tow with a space-saver? Errm, no-one asked me either.

I've always viewed the LR / RR vehicles as.
Defender Utilitarian,
Freelander / Discovery All round compromise between utility and luxury,
Evoque, RRS, RR Luxury.

I see the Discovery Sport as more of an "Evoque Estate". So surely it should be badged as RR not LR?
It just feels like they have tried to push this vehicle into to a gap that is labelled "Poor Man's RRS", deserting the vast Freelander market and leaving it open for another manufacturer to take advantage of.

So in conclusion, I feel very disappointed by a great car that seems to not know where it's aimed at. In trying to cover lots of bases, and going for a new market, I just think that Land Rover are in danger of missing the big target. It will undoubtedly sell - just look at the Evoque - but just think what could have been.

Me? Well it's currently looking like I'll keep my Freelander. Mrs Duck can use that for her short commute which will keep it's mileage down, and I swap her car for something I can use in my job. We'll still have the Freelander here for towing the caravan and boats etc. Oh, and saving a wedge of money into the bargain!


Lucky Duck

Hopefully if there are many people with the views above & they are valid views though I opted for a spacesaver seemed stupid not to but will likely keep Freelander residuals fairly high. (Past) Freelander 2 HSE 2010 MY In Rimini Red.
(Past) RR Evoque Dynamic Lux Si4 In Firenze Red.
(Past) RR Evouque Pure Tech in Barollo Black with bespoke Firenze Red colour coding.
(Present) Freelander Metropolis 2015 MY In Santorini Black with Ivory Premium Leather.

j77 wrote:

For those that are interested, when my one arrives I will do a comparison between the two, loads pace etc, I will borrow my old mums Fl2.

May be useful to see it in photos rather than figures in a brochure.

LR NUT wrote:

The Evoque isn't a Rangie though. It's a shortened chassis FL2 with a different body! The only Range Rover parts it shares with a Range Rover is the Range Rover bonnet and tailgate scripts

Sadly LR's will get more and more pricey over years in a couple of decades time 40k will be cheap for an LR no doubt