2012 Land Rover Freelander

Land Rover Freelander

Land Rover’s Freelander slots right into that spot for South Africans who want an SUV badge that actually means something, but can’t stomach Defender or Discovery price tags—or parking woes. Against the Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Ford Escape, the Freelander feels less “school run” and more “let’s see if it rains on Sani Pass this weekend.” Thanks to its traction control and terrain response, it’s got proper intent, not just marketing fluff. Every one of the eight listings you’ll find is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel, either badged TD4 or the gutsier SD4, spread across automatics and manuals. Pricing kicks off at R119,900, tops out at a fairly punchy R329,950, and the real action hovers around R137,500—so unless you’re hunting for that lone high-priced example, it’s an accessible ticket to Land Rover ownership. Most buyers will land on the SD4 HSE automatic, with three cars between R139,500 and R159,900, spanning 2009 to 2015. Here’s the thing: with an average mileage of 184,679 km, you’d better have a proper plan for servicing, because Land Rover doesn’t do cheap parts, and that’s the point. Entry-level money buys you the TD4 HSE, from R119,900 to R129,900—one of the few ways into the badge for less than what you’d pay for a decent used Polo. No new stock exists; this is strictly a used affair now. So why buy it over a RAV4? For some, it’s the four-wheel-drive hardware that still gives the Freelander a sense of purpose, making it a rare find for those who actually leave the tar, on paper at least.