LAND ROVER did a lot of things right when it launched the Freelander 2 in 2007 and since then, the British bush-bashing brand has applied a facelift and numerous running changes.

The stunning Range Rover Evoque – which owes much to the Freelander’s underpinnings and drivetrains for its existence – has also arrived on the scene with pricing that cuts across the mid- and upper-spec Freelander variants.

Looking at sales statistics, the Freelander’s popularity seems to be suffering in the wake of its more glamorous sibling – so does it retain its relevance in the Land Rover stable?