Sporting the New Family Face

The smallest Land Rover, the Freelander, has just received its second update in five years (first since arriving in North America). What's prompting the frequent redesigns, you may ask? Increased competition and aging are two of the most appropriate answers that could be given at this point, but it's actually a little bit more than that.

The small Land Rover Freelander continues to evolve, and has recently undergone its second update in five years. (Photo: Land Rover)

For 2004, the Freelander will be sold all over Europe for the first time. Changes have also been brought on by suggestions (read complaints) from the two of Freelander's largest markets, the U.S. and Canada.

On the outside, the smallest Land Rover continues to evolve. A family resemblance now trickles down from the top-tier Range Rover, past the recently restyled Discovery onto the little Freelander, featuring large, clear multi-lens headlamps. These bright and powerful beams deliver 70 percent increased intensity for enhanced visibility.

Many of the past downfalls of the Freelander have been updated, including the maligned interior. (Photo: Land Rover)

The front bumpers have also been revised, now featuring integrated fog lamps at each corner. Two strips of black trim run vertically downward and match up with the lower fascia trim. The wheel wells, side sills and rear bumper have also been revised. Also, the previously bumper-mounted brake lights have been shifted to a higher position reducing damage caused by minor bumps.

Though it's nowhere near as upscale as the Discovery, and not even on the same planet as the Range Rover, the updated Freelander improves many of the original interior's downfalls. The cabin was actually the worst part of the last generation Freelander, with cheap tinny materials and substandard controls that were difficult to operate. As a result, its general ergonomics and material choices have been upgraded, with the obvious hope of coming close in quality to its soon-to-be-released upscale BMW X3 rival - not to mention Jeep's full-load Liberty.