Hi All,

I have placed an order for a FL2 HSE in Canada for delivery in April. I have been reading all of the reviews in the various magazines etc and I have to say that almost everyone has negative comments on the build quality of the interior. Especially when making comparisons to vehicles like the X3 and even the new CRV.

A couple questions for the group as I will not be able to lay eyes on one for several more months at least:

1. For those of you in the UK, have you seen or driven one of these yet? What is your impression of the interior build quality? AutoCar really dished the plastic and "cheap-feel" of the dash and I am wondering how accurate this is.

2. How would you compare it to the Disco3? Is the dash and cabin quality similar or is the FL2 noticeably less refined?

Thanks in advance for any insight you may have.

Cheers!

k

My initial impression of the pre-production vehicles we saw at the London Motor Show in July was that the overall level of fit and finish was good - definitely on a par (if not better than) the D3.

There were some plastic quality issues around interior components (mainly the keycard slot) which I hoped (assumed?) were simply pre-production issues - it will be interesting to see how the production vehicles have solved this as I cannot believe that they were the finished articles.

Quality, look and feel of the interior is very good. Better than the D3 as its not as utilitarian (robust ??) in its design.

There are a few 'cheap' feeling areas but as in the RRS they are not really that noticeable unless you look close or start to maul them.

A league or 100 above the out going one.

This is one of my main concerns too and I'm reluctant to put money down before I see the interior. The interior quality of the RRS and the D3 especially are way too low compared with competition. I would assume the new Freelander will also lag rivals, but not by as wide a margin as the RRS and D3. The level of quality should not be compared with the previous Freelander, but rather with competition.

I have seen the interior quality at a customer preview event at ascot. the main dash area is certainly a lot more sophisticated and upmarket and the overall abience of the interior is certainly more premium than the D3 which can be a bit blocky. I thought the light coloured variants looked very inviting

I have a FL2 XS model. The only issue I have with the interior of the car is the housing around the steering wheel column where the upper and lower halves of this surround will not click into place. I did not notice this when I picked the car up so it will mean a visit back to the garage to get resolved. Other than that I think the finish is very good.

Hi there,

Despite the electrical issues I have had with my early release car (which landrover are now having back and giving me a replacement) the fit and finish is great. I visited the local BMW dealer and was shcked how poor the X3 and X5 were. Bland and drab in appearance with flimsy loose controls on the heating and stereos, lack of space in the X3 and X5 not much better. Freelander 2 and RR sport are very very similar in interior style. The freelander 2 is way above the old league it was in. A car journalist in UK said "if you wake up one day thinking you are an onion you will buy an X3 as they are so poor at everything they do". Freelander 2 didnt get best small off road car for nothing. You will be pleased my friend!!

Clarkson's X3 Review This is why I decided not to buy an X3. (That and I didn't think I was an onion.)

QUERCUS wrote:

The interior quality of the RRS and the D3 especially are way too low compared with competition. I would assume the new Freelander will also lag rivals, but not by as wide a margin as the RRS and D3.

### 2007 Freelander 2 HSE i6
stornoway grey
black leather