The 2014 Land Rover Freelander 2 might be part of the same group of SUVs that also includes the Volvo XC60 and BMW X3, but the Freelander has a trick up its sleeve that its road-focused SUV peers can’t hope to match: as with anything wearing the Land Rover badge, it has genuine off-roader capabilities. And even though you might not always need to use them, it’s nice to know they’re there. The chunky styling inside and out appeals, too, although most of its rivals are better to drive on the road, and there have always been question marks over the car’s reliability.

Strengths:

Drives well on the road and off it
Reasonably practical cabin
The Freelander 2 is a very stable tow car

Weaknesses:

Reliability is not a strong point
Unpopular front-wheel-drive model lacks the off-road ability of a proper Land Rover
The 3.2-litre petrol is exceptionally thirsty

Is the 2014 Land Rover Freelander 2 better than the 2014 Volvo XC60?

A 2014 Volvo XC60 is a more practical car in terms of its interior functionality and usability, and it feels a touch more refined on the road than the Freelander, but the Land Rover offers a rugged go-anywhere style that’s really quite hard to argue against.