I think we all agree that JLR made a mistake when they stopped production of their entry level Freelander leaving the bulbous and heavier Disco Sport as the entry vehicle. I was watching, Harry's Garage this week when he was testing the new Range Rover Sport that has gained in all directions Size, Weight & Price, and it started me thinking what JLR could have improved and updated on the Freelander. So here goes. Keep the shell the same, improve the sound insulation, up date the dash, Mild petrol hybrid, strengthen Haldex, electric tail gate, built in dash cam, 9 speed automatic and better head lamps for a start. If there's some thing I've missed just add it on.
Only in our dreams of course

Last edited by OLOSTEVE on 22nd Jan 2023 4:54 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Galvanised subframes! 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented

LWB version to allow for a 7 seater / bigger luggage capacity.

Increased towing capacity.

Diffs and haldex fitted with drain plugs.
Improved fuel efficiency, the 9 speed gearbox might help with that?

Bigger infotainment screen for apple car play - but keep proper buttons for stereo / heating controls.

More USB points.

Definitely standard fit xenon lights, suppose they'd be laser lights by now?

That will do for now, there's not a massive list of things I need that I don't already have in my Freelander 2. If I could buy a new one today I'd be at the dealers door. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Another vote for more luggage capacity , it is woeful . One of the only reasons I parted with my FL2 was that it was a struggle to get all the kit for a few days shooting or fishing safely stored in the boot if you had a party of 2 or 3 , so another 100mm width would be a good idea . Also for a a vehicle with off road capability , storing the spare wheel under the boot floor which might mean all your kit dumped in a field during a wheel change - a pretty daft idea , so I’d have liked a swing open rear door like an old Shogun or 90 , with a rear mounted spare .

Crying shame that the FL2’s original designers and builders FoMoCo aren’t bringing the new Bronco to the U.K. as that would be a good shout at a replacement! 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Having had 3 modern SUVs over the last decade, I wouldn't say the Freelander is bad at all by comparison.
It's definitely not noisy on the road as our Ford Kuga, VW Tiguan and Mazda XC5, all of which were more noisy at motorway speeds, the Ford was quite horrendous.
Boot space on the Freelander is comparable with the vehicles mentioned above.
Infotainment system is old by comparison, but still sounds good, although the Bose systems in the Tiguan and CX5 were slightly better sounding, but not by much.
Headlamps are average, mine being a pre-face lift has H7 dips and separated H7 mains, so they are acceptable.
The Kuga had the worst headlamps I've ever driven with, they were truly awful, the Tiguan had pretty much the same as my Freelander, with H7s for dip and main.
The CX5 had auto cornering LED headlamps, which were absolutely awesome, unless your were coming the other way, as we used to get flashed a lot by other road users.

Out of the 4 vehicles, the Freelander definitely gives the most commanding driving position, which is something that all LRs do, and they have a soul too, which very few cars seem to have.

I did like the Mazda CX5, it was a good all round car, but it didn't have a soul, it was just a car and a good car at that. I'd have another if the opportunity arose but would I swap a CX5 for my Freelander, I'm not sure I would. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate. The family car.
2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Gone.
2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE. Gone.
Audi A5 convertible, my daily driver.
1972 Hillman Avenger GT, the project.

My sister has an Evoque. I know which car runs rings around the other. Let alone all the other dribble! Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

"LWB version to allow for a 7 seater / bigger luggage capacity."

In nearly 60 years of motoring I can honestly say I have never seen 7 people in a private car outwith groups of lads going to the pub.
[/i] MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

The previous much beloved and missed Disco 2 was often in demand for its 7 seat ability needing only one car rather than two for family outings. Versatile for school and scout group duties also. When our kids were small they loved to travel in the 3rd row of seats, which made it a bit quieter up front too! Not a must have feature but very useful. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

I like the Freelander as it is.

I would not want it any bigger, the boot is a bit tight, but I like the way the rear seat folds to give you a solid, FLAT, floor.

The driving position, and visibility is the best that I have had in any car I've had, and you can see a long way up the road, above most cars.

My late model Metro has decent lights and most extras I need, and I have mixed feelings about having any more electronic driving aids.

The biggish diesel engine suits it well, and has the sub-10sec 0-60mph that I normally look for in cars.

I confess that my wife choose our first Freelander XS, mainly on its height and and colour, and I just checked its performance, driving position, and that (as it was a diesel) it had an autobox, and agreed. It, like many FL2, came with lots of extras, upgraded seats, winter pack, 19in posh wheels, and so on.

Before that I normally drove 2ltr (mainly company) cars of similar performance, my last being 2ltr Turbo Petrol Vauxhall Signum. If left to my own devices I would have most likely carried on with that type of car.

But I'm glad I did not, and I was so pleased with my FL2 XS, that after 5 years I started searching for the latest, most equipped FL2 I could find and luckily I found it in my Metro with just 16000 miles on clock. (and White for my wife)

I believe that the FL2 will become a modern classic. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

I agree with what IanMetro says, its suits my needs, however I am a bit concerned about parts availability for the long term future? I can get any part I want for my Defender now over 22 yrs old somehow cannot see FL2s developing the same following due to the short production run, hope I am wrong?  2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented

MartynB wrote:

Another vote for more luggage capacity , it is woeful . One of the only reasons I parted with my FL2 was that it was a struggle to get all the kit for a few days shooting or fishing safely stored in the boot if you had a party of 2 or 3

Rommel wrote:

Galvanised subframes!

tenet wrote:

"LWB version to allow for a 7 seater / bigger luggage capacity."

In nearly 60 years of motoring I can honestly say I have never seen 7 people in a private car outwith groups of lads going to the pub.
[/i]

Lightwater, priorities are wrong, should beer not be first item then pack everything else, minding to keep it easily accessible

IanMetro wrote:

I like the Freelander as it is.

I would not want it any bigger, the boot is a bit tight, but I like the way the rear seat folds to give you a solid, FLAT, floor.

The driving position, and visibility is the best that I have had in any car I've had, and you can see a long way up the road, above most cars.

My late model Metro has decent lights and most extras I need, and I have mixed feelings about having any more electronic driving aids.

The biggish diesel engine suits it well, and has the sub-10sec 0-60mph that I normally look for in cars.

I confess that my wife choose our first Freelander XS, mainly on its height and and colour, and I just checked its performance, driving position, and that (as it was a diesel) it had an autobox, and agreed. It, like many FL2, came with lots of extras, upgraded seats, winter pack, 19in posh wheels, and so on.

Before that I normally drove 2ltr (mainly company) cars of similar performance, my last being 2ltr Turbo Petrol Vauxhall Signum. If left to my own devices I would have most likely carried on with that type of car.

But I'm glad I did not, and I was so pleased with my FL2 XS, that after 5 years I started searching for the latest, most equipped FL2 I could find and luckily I found it in my Metro with just 16000 miles on clock. (and White for my wife)

I believe that the FL2 will become a modern classic.