Let us take a look at one family of Brits living in California--Land Rover--by way of another--the Osbournes. The Range Rover is the Ozzy of the Land Rover clan: been everywhere, done everything--the real deal. The Discovery is wife Sharon: also been everywhere but wouldn't have gotten there without you-know-who. The four-door Freelander, which debuted here late in 2001, is daughter Kelly: happy to peddle her famous name but a bit wanting in the talent and authenticity de-partments. The newly arrived two-door Free-lander SE3, then, is son Jack: functionally identical to his sibling but, well, goofier.
The Freelander's look, first sketched way back in 1992 by Gerry McGovern (now Lincoln's design chief), remains reasonably fresh, although ergonomics and materials are behind the times for such a high-end brand. The 2.5-liter, DOHC V-6 produces 174 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, paired only with a five-speed manu-matic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive. The transfer case is of the single-speed variety, but the range of off-pavement possibilities is broadened by four-wheel traction control, all-terrain ABS, and Hill Descent Control. On a fairly tame trail drive through the crusty Nevada desert, our little SE3 did its green oval proud.... Read full article