The most junior Land Rover fully deserves its considerable success. It handles very much like a car: only the raised ride height and macho cabin design reveal you're in an off-roader. The 1.8 petrol engine lacks refinement and feels very dated, and the 2.5 V6 option suffers from disastrous fuel consumption; the 2.0-litre turbodiesel (the same engine as used in the BMW 320d) is definitely the one to go for. The five-door station wagon is the most practical body; three-door versions suffer from leaks and it takes too long to remove the roof of the soft-top. Secondhand values remain impressively high, making the Freelander a very good private buy.