The Detroit News's view

The idea of an affordably priced Land Rover — if you think $32,500 is affordable — holds plenty of appeal, especially among current and former owners of the legendary British utility vehicles who would love to drive something just a little smaller and perhaps more frugal.

Now owned by Ford Motor Co., the well-known SUV manufacturer has a reputation for building capable and bulletproof, if somewhat stodgy, vehicles. Its new Freelander, the so-called “baby Land Rover,” was designed back in the 1990s and has been on sale for several years in Europe.

The Freelander only now is making its way to North America — long after most other compact competitors — with a design that’s too expensive, too thirsty, too underpowered and, amazingly, too small for many Americans.

He: I’ve been waiting to drive the Freelander ever since I saw it at the European shows back in the mid-90s. And it’s been a long time since I’ve been so disappointed in a vehicle, perhaps because my expectations were so high. I’ve driven and appreciated many Land Rovers over the years, from the Defender to the Discovery. Until now, I hadn’t tested one that I couldn’t wait to give back.

She: Funny. I credit the Freelander with helping to patch up a minor family squabble. Remember how I stomped out of the house after a few words with son number two? I jumped in the Freelander to cool off and, boy, did I ever. It was a frigid night. The optional $300 heated seats took forever to warm up. The cabin heat itself was just as slow. I stopped to get some hot coffee. And where do you put it? In that stupid cupholder that pops up out of the top of the instrument panel. The cupholder opens anemically, and whatever you put in it blocks the view of the road. Home was looking better and better. So I turned back. And that’s not good. I know a lot of women consider their personal vehicle to be something of a sanctuary. I didn’t get that sensation that night in the Freelander.

He: Good thing you came home. I was worried about running out of peanut butter and jelly. But I know what you mean. I could never get comfortable in the Freelander, especially when I was driving. I always felt like I was perched on top of the driver’s seat rather than settled into it. And there is no height adjustment — in fact, no power adjustment at all. Consequently, my head brushed the ceiling and I had to scrunch down and crane my neck to see traffic lights through the windshield.

She: I had to scrunch down, too, and I’m a lot shorter than you are. But you’ve got to admit Land Rover got the looks right on its baby-ute, especially the cabin. I thought the beige, leather seats with black trim were very sharp. So was the beige-and-black steering wheel. It gives you the feeling you’re about to take off on safari. I kept wanting to wear my leopard-print scarf and khaki shirt. So in an unexpected way, the Freelander is an excellent fashion accessory.

He: Fashion-schmashion. I was appalle d by the pedestrian level of quality in a vehicle that costs more than $30,000. The most egregious example was the poor fit of the instrument panel — the outer edges were way out of alignment. But you can see other trim pieces that don’t fit well — something I’d expect to find in a $10,000 vehicle.

She: Well, I guess they put their money into the amenities, like the standard in-dash navigation system and Harman Kardon premium audio system. There are plenty of other standard goodies, including air conditioning and a neat power-rearwindow.

He: To be fair, the Freelander has some admirable qualities — just not many of them. There is ample cargo room in the rear, and lots of storage spaces here and there. The vehicle has great all-weather traction, like most of the Land Rovers we’ve driven. And the five-speed automatic transmission, built in Japan by Jatco, is very smooth. The ride quality is surprisingly good for such a compact design, which I credit in part to the oversiz 7-inch wheels and tires.

She: I’d recommend this to the SUV buyer who wants something different. The person who feels like she sees too many Ford Escapes and Honda CR-Vs on the road. By the way, is there really a Freeland? Or was that the country in that silly Marx Brothers movie?

2002 Land Rover Freelander HSE

Anita’s rating: (Acceptable)

Paul’s rating: (Subpar)

Likes: Lots of storage space. Good all-weather traction. Smooth five-speed automatic transmission. Decent ride quality. An affordable Land Rover (relatively speaking). Nice fashion accessory, especially the interior (Anita).

Dislikes: Overpriced — doesn’t look or feel like a $32,500 vehicle. Better competitors cost thousands less. Spotty assembly quality. Dated and generic exterior styling. V-6 is small and underpowered. No side air bags. No power seats. Foolish and potentially dangerous location for cup-holder. Difficult to find and decipher some controls. No height adjustment on driver’s seat. Insufficient head room in front seat. Mediocre fuel economy. Noisy on freeway.

Vehicle Type: 4-door, 5-passenger utility vehicle

Price: Base, $31,575; price as tested: $32,500 (inc. $625 destination charge)

Engine: 2.5-liter V-6; 174 hp, 177 lbs.-ft. torque

EPA fuel economy: 17 mpg city/21 mpg highway

12-month insurance cost, estimated by AAA Michigan: $1,537 (Rates may be higher or lower, depending on coverage, driving record.)

Where built: England