ONCE the rising star of the Land Rover stable, the Freelander has largely had to live in the shadow of the outrageously successful Range Rover Evoque.

I well recall the original Freelander’s fanfare launch at the British Motor Show back in 2007.

Universally praised, it went on to become the biggest seller for Land Rover And when the Solihull company decided to update its successful Freelander, you just knew the change would be for the better.

While the Freelander 2 has retained its predecessor’s silhouette and is still obviously a Freelander to look at, exterior-wise the car takes many cues from the Discovery 3 and Range Rover Sport. From the spangly-looking grille and side vent borrowed from the latter, to the jewel-like LED headlamps and sheet metal of the former, the overall look does much to convince you of the car’s premium sector aspirations.

With the shift up a class comes an increase in all the major dimensions over the outgoing car. Although modest, the effect is obvious, with head, leg and elbow room all increased.

Unlike the outside, the Freelander 2’s practical, posh cabin bears virtually no resemblance to that of its predecessor.

The Freelander 2 has Land Rover’s unsurpassed Terrain Response system, which informs the vehicle to adapt to mud, sand and the like through various electronic aids. The first thing you notice when entering the Freelander 2’s contemporarylooking cabin is a new centre console. The original Terrain Response dial has been replaced by switches, and a shutter reveals additional storage space.

The improvements also run to the serious hardware – the Freelander’s four-wheel drive system continually adjusts to the prevailing conditions.

You might not have a low-range gearbox like on bigger models, but this system is surprisingly adept.

Its cabin is more premium than some genuinely upmarket rivals, and the various creature comfort options – upholstery, audio, sat-nav – will be familiar to owners of Range Rovers and Jaguars.

Cabin space and safety are improved with the introduction of an intelligent electric parking brake which adjusts brake force according to the slope the vehicle is parked on. The system is so intelligent, it even takes into account whether the brakes are hot or cold. Despite being operated by a single switch, the electric parking brake may still be used as an emergency brake, automatically selecting the most stable braking method by employing skid prevention techniques.

More convenience comes in the form of Passive Start which replaces the key docking system –as long as the key is somewhere inside the car, the engine starts at the touch of a button.

Another new feature for Freelander 2 is rear view camera capability. The view from the back of the vehicle is displayed on the Infotainment screen with dynamic lines representing the boundaries of the vehicle and your predicted path as you reverse.

The new ‘Say What You See’ voice activation system will prompt the driver visually with the commands he or she needs to speak in order to control functions in the audio, optional satellite navigation, climate and phone systems.

Factor in the three engines on offer – a 2.2-litre diesel 150PS TD4 and 190PS SD4 and 3.2-litre six-cylinder petrol motor – and it’s clear that the Freelander is no lightweight. It’s actually a rather potent machine.

The range has now been extended with new, sporty Dynamic and luxurious HSE Lux derivatives, allowing for features such as a 825W Meridian surround sound system with 17-speakers for concert-like experience a 7in colour touch-screen to control audio, phone and navigation systems Entry level to the range is the Freelander S with cloth seats as standard. The GS comes with full leather, while the XS has been enhanced with distinguishing detail features such as a gloss black grille surround and the 380W Meridian sound system. The Dynamic version has a full bodystyling kit, and a gloss black finish to fender vents, grille bars and grille surround, complemented on the interior with three colourway choices of sportthemed electric leather seats. New and unique to the Dynamic in the UK are 19in ten-spoke alloy wheels with a painted finish.

The HSE is enhanced with wood interior trim and features a wide range of standard equipment including: panoramic sunroof, memory function for the driver’s seat and door mirrors and a surround sound audio system.

Predictably, the diesel motor is the most popular. Quiet and refined, it pulls strongly at all speeds and proves especially useful when you need to trickle along a slippery path or down a challenging slope.

What you’ve got with this Freelander is a very capable car. Yes it will do the school run, but it can do a whole lot more. Slot the gear stick into sport mode and you will make seriously quick progress.

When it comes to on-road handling dynamics, the Freelander 2 is top tier, thanks partly to the outstanding body stiffness. A structural undertray on the front subframe contributes to this, increasing steering precision, while the Freelander 2’s four-point engine mounting aids engine stability and increases driving refinement. A full range of stability systems provide a further safety net for the occupants.

It’s refined at speed, easy to manoeuvre around town and can be specified with all manner of tempting creature comforts.

If you’re considering an Evoque, then check out the Freelander 2 first. You will find yourself with a difficult choice to make.

Fact File

Land Rover Freelander 2 SD4 HSE

PRICE: from £23,705

ENGINE: 2.2-litre turbo diesel developing 190PS

TRANSMISSION: six-speed automatic, driving all four wheels

PERFORMANCE: maximum speed 118mph, 0-60mph 8.7 seconds

ECONOMY: 40.4 mpg combined

CO2 RATING: 185g/km