Apologies if this has already been covered elsewhere on the forum.

My 10 day old FL2 SD4 is in Stratstones for its 1000 mile (already!) complimentary health check today, and I have been loaned a brand new GS TD4 Auto with 17 miles on the clock (well, it was at 9am anyway!)

Having taken it out to Southend and back today, I have noted that not only is the TD4 seemingly a lot quieter both in the cabin as well as engine noise, the average MPG is at 42.8.....whereas the highest I have had in the SD4 (also an Auto) without ragging the nuts off it is circa 34.

There is also not a hugely noticeable difference in torque/power, but being brand new I haven't taken it over 85 today. Has anyone else who has driven both engines had similar experiences? I can't get over the reduction in noise firstly, and was wondering if it was to do with the fact that my HSE is leather and the GS is fabric, and whether this was acting as an additional soundproofing....most of all the average MPG has really surprised me!

I would be interested to hear others opinions on either point raised here.

Cheers in advance... Foraging near Gaydon....
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MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles

The only thing I can think of is the cloth seats are possibly absorbing noise, we have leather sofa's and in one room, wooden flooring, we had to get thick curtains, rugs etc to kill the noise, its certainly plausible.

I had a C class Merc before the SD4, with leather, the SD4 is much quieter than that was, it is a cloth spec GS.
I can get over 40 easily on a run but tumbles in town to around 34, at 68 mph it will do over 40 easily, at 72 mph it drops to 38, so depending on the run you do it can make a big difference.

Torque on both TD4 and SD4 is the same - 420Nm.

Official combined fuel consumption for TD4 and SD4 is the same at about 40.4 - based on EU approved methods not real driving.

Acceleration 0 - 60 mph will differ by about 1 second between SD4 and TD4.

Others have suggested TD4 auto is smoother on gear changes than the SD4 but not sure why that should be the case as the gearbox is the same.

Noise in cabin has been mentioned before and I think some Freelanders are noisier than others. Also has been said the TD4 is quieter but again no obvious reason why apart from a few less horses galloping under the bonnet.

Could be the wheels? The GS 17s have a larger profile tyre than the HSE wheels. Freelander 2, 2014 Dynamic SD4 Santorini Black

Last edited by jon_a5 on 12th Oct 2012 11:18 am. Edited 1 time in total

Interesting - almost the opposite to what I experienced.

When I had my GS SD4 in for REP issue, I was loaned a new (25 miles on the clock) HSE SD4 which had 19" wheels and found it noticeable quieter than mine.

When I had it in for its first year service, I was loaned a standard GS TD4 Auto, which I felt was noisier - and that had fabric vs the full leather in mine.

My take on the noise is its pot luck, depends on the individual engine and how well the sound proofing has been fitted.

I could feel the different in performance, but didn't pay too much attention to fuel economy.

I am so amazed that you got over 40 mpg... I rarely get below 8.4 litres/100 km (only very rarely, i.e. long motorway stretches) which would be about 34 mpg. And I still don't drive like a maniac... :/

Also, talking about noise reduction, is there a way (other than changing tyres - my Pirellis are just fine) to add or to modify the noise insulation in the Freelander?

Cheers
J It's never too late to learn something new...

how could the wheels have a larger profile wouldnt it throw the speedo out? When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car

SD4 HSE has a sunroof
TD4 GS does not?

I have noticed that this makes a huge difference to wind noise Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

chrisdeeming wrote:

how could the wheels have a larger profile wouldnt it throw the speedo out?

but jon said they have a larger profile tyre maybe I am confused lol it doesn't matter  When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car

Sorry to confuse, I wasn't very clear, the gs has 17 inch weels and the HSE has 18 inch diameter wheels, to keep the rolling radius the same the larger wheel will have a lower profile tyre and the smaller wheel a larger one. The extra rubber on the 17 will absorb more sound and vibration than the lower profile. Freelander 2, 2014 Dynamic SD4 Santorini Black

jon_a5 wrote:

Sorry to confuse, I wasn't very clear, the gs has 17 inch weels and the HSE has 18 inch diameter wheels, to keep the rolling radius the same the larger wheel will have a lower profile tyre and the smaller wheel a larger one. The extra rubber on the 17 will absorb more sound and vibration than the lower profile.

As the EUDC fuel consumption test is conducted on the worst-case tyre size for rolling circumference, so if that is 18" tyres, then in theory the other sizes would see a marginal benefit.

Just had my calculator out and I reckon there's about a 1.5% variance across the FL2 size range for rolling circumference so that isn't a lot!

Cars can vary from model to model. The human ear, would never tell the difference between noise absorption between leather and cloth seats.

Different trim levels make a massive difference on weight and therefore performance/mpg. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

bbjoca wrote:

I am so amazed that you got over 40 mpg... I rarely get below 8.4 litres/100 km (only very rarely, i.e. long motorway stretches) which would be about 34 mpg. And I still don't drive like a maniac... :/

Also, talking about noise reduction, is there a way (other than changing tyres - my Pirellis are just fine) to add or to modify the noise insulation in the Freelander?

Cheers
J