The term soft-roader is given to 4x4 vehicles with limited off-road ability, which is why calling a Land Rover Freelander a soft-roader seems a little unfair. With a permanent four-wheel-drive system and short overhangs a Freelander makes light work of the toughest terrain.

Introduced to the UK in October 1997 it was Land Rover’s first “small” 4x4 and the public lapped it up. Chunky looks, competitive pricing and strong residual values gave the car a great start to its life.

But underneath those rufty-tufty looks the car soon built a more fragile reputation for reliability. Many owners tell stories of whining gearboxes, blown engines and failed transmissions.

When Ford bought Land Rover in March 2000 executives were quick to assure buyers that under their stewardship quality problems would become a thing of the past.

And Ford was quick to make upgrades. Within months the Freelander had two new engines to sit alongside the existing 1.8 litre K-series, the first a 2.5 V6 with a five-speed steptronic gearbox, the second a BMW-sourced diesel. With 112bhp the diesel Td4 was quieter, smoother and more economical than the previous engine and at last endowed the vehicle with enough torque to pull its maximum permissible tow weight of 2,000kg.

Second-hand Td4s hold their value well, so you may be tempted by the 1.8 petrol, which produces a very similar 117bhp, but buyer beware. A fault with the head gasket has been reported on several 1.8 litre vehicles, and while Land Rover will look at individual cases sympathetically, it’s best to avoid cars that haven’t already had the work done.

Despite Ford’s promises, build quality has remained patchy, and taking your prospective Freelander for an extended test drive is essential. You should check for transmission noise, a particular problem on early Freelanders, by putting it in neutral and freewheeling at about 50mph. Freelanders also have a particular desire to eat front tyres, caused by the permanent four-wheel drive’s viscous coupling. Revised transmission ratios on recent cars have reduced but not removed this problem.

If you intend to drive off road then the excellent hill-descent system is worth hunting down. Standard after July 1999, it is complimented by traction control, both working through the ABS system.

On three-door models Land Rover offers a choice of traditional metal roof, folding soft top and removable hard back. Check soft tops carefully around the roof seals and clip areas, and the PVC rear window for scratches. The hard-back model offers near-metal-top levels of quietness, but remember the roof will need storing when not attached and that’s going to need a garage.

Buying a Freelander privately can be fraught with danger and with repairs relatively expensive it’s essential to have the car checked over professionally. Buying from an approved Land Rover dealer ensures a minimum 12 months’ warranty, and it’s worth paying extra to extend this when possible.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model: Land Rover Freelander Td4
Engine: Four cylinders, 1951cc
Power: 112bhp
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel: 37.2mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0 to 62mph: 13.2sec
Top speed: 102mph

Tailgate: Check that the electrically operated glass window works smoothly

Rear seat: Bench seat can be replaced by two separate seats but passenger capacity is obviously reduced

Boot: Underfloor storage area prone to water ingress particularly on early cars

Gearbox: Low gearing on first gear removes the need for separate high/low ratio gearbox. Five-speed auto with 'command shift' (sequential manual shift) standard on V6, optional on Td4 diesel

Tyres: Early cars prone to heavy tyre wear, and nothing can be done about this

Air-conditioning: Check for musty smell which can signal problems

Engine: Some 1.8 K-series engines have developed problems with the head gasket. Safest to buy one that has already gone wrong and been fixed

Fuel consumption: BMW Td4 diesel capable of averaging over 35mpg

Warranty: Buying privately can be risky if the car is outside original three-year/60,000-mile warranty

Hill-descent control: This function is integrated with the antilock braking/traction control system

THE ONE TO BUY

Land Rover Freelander 2.0 Td4 GS five-door, 2001 Y-reg with 30,000 miles. Pay £13,995 at a dealer with warranty or £12,500 privately

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...

2002 51-reg Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0TD 5dr
2001 51-reg Mitsubishi Shogun 2.5TD 5dr
2001 51-reg Toyota Rav4 2.0D-4D GX 5dr
2001 Y-reg Daihatsu Fourtrak 2.8TDX 3dr
2000 W-reg Isuzu Trooper 3.0TD 5dr

VALUES: Land Rover Freelander 2.0Td4 GS 5dr

Three-door models worth £800 less than five-door models. 1.8 petrol worth £1,250 less than equivalent diesel. Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. 'Trade' is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; 'retail' is what you would pay a dealer