Freelander goes upmarket 23 | 08 | 2012
LAND ROVER HAS opted to take its Freelander upmarket with its revisions — particularly in making the cabin more luxurious — for 2013. Prices now start at £23,700, up £1000 over the pre-facelift car: order books are open now, with first deliveries scheduled for October (see more official photos of the 2013-year Freelander).
While the exterior benefits from new front and rear lights that feature the latest in Xenon LED technology, plus a new finish to the front grille and fog lamp bezels, by far the biggest improvements are to the interior.
Watch our video of the 2013 Freelander driven in Scotland
The cabin has been given a substantial Range Rover Evoque-style upgrade, with the man addition being an all-new centre console. Housed within it is a new 7in touchscreen that controls many of the interior’s functions, including the optional sat-nav and the audio controls for a new audio system from Jaguar Land Rover’s recently appointed audio partner, Meridian.
There's also now a series of switches located behind the gear lever: these replace the dial of the Terrain Response system and frees up additional storage space. And by including a new electric parking brake, further space had been created.
All-new Range Rover revealed
There's also a new 5in colour screen located between the instrument dials in the instrument binnacle. The docking station for the key has been replaced by a keyless go system, which allows the engine to be started so long as the key is present in the car.
There's also a new rear view camera and a ‘Say What You See’ voice activation system that allows the user to control certain audio, sat-nav, climate control and phone functions using their voice.
The Freelander also gets two new trim levels. In addition to the existing S, GS, XS and HSE models, the new Dynamic trim is inspired by the success of the trim of the same name available on the Evoque.
New Range Rover spied on Mull
The Dynamic gets painted 19in 10-spoke alloy wheels, a bodykit and gloss black trim for exterior detailing.
There's also a new range-topper to the Freelander range, the HSE LUX. This gets a luxurious interior including Windsor leather seats, ‘premium’ carpet mats, a ‘Grand Black Lacquer’ finish to the interior, special 19in diamond-turned alloys and the top-of-the-range 825W 17-speaker Meridian audio system.
As far as powerplants are concerned, the Freelander's trusty 2.2-litre turbodiesel continues in two guises, 148bhp or 187bhp. The 2WD model is available with the lower-powered diesel engine.
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Jim McGill