Meet the extending family

It's a clear indication of the rise in style, that it now equates in importance to practicality in the topic of discussion even for the most practical of vehicles.

As Land Rover celebrates its 55th anniversary, even the most utilitarian market segment is dominated by models designed more for fashion than farming. We've come a long way since the first Defender traversed hill and dale. It's regal flagship the Range Rover may be able for the rough and tumble, but its sharp looks is arguably what persuades owners to part with roughly €100,000. Therefore, when it came to reworking the baby in the bunch, the Freelander, design cues were taken from the Range Rover.

The most striking feature of the reworked model is the new twin pocket-style headlamps and rear light clusters, and new body coloured bumpers.

Now six-years-old, the baby Land Rover remains a pretty rugged off-roader for its size, and the new cosmetic changes should keep the sands of time at bay for a few more years.

Sticking strictly to the road, we tested the new model and were surprised to find the 1.8-litre petrol the best fit in the new shell.

It was the keenest of the power options, nippy around town without the deeper note of the more utilitarian two-litre diesel version. Considering that many Freelanders end up running from shopping centre to school gate, the extra fuel economy of the diesel model should be judged in the cold light of average mileage. However, given past sales experience, the diesel two-litre will outsell the two petrol models (1.8-litre and 2.5-litre) by a country mile.

While keen to retain its practical image in its rural heartland, the Ford-owned marque, part of the Premier Automotive Group (PAG), nonetheless recognises the changing tastes in urban Ireland. Regardless of the anti-SUV backlash, many suburbanites still desire the extra height and feelings of security associated with SUVs.

But they want to mix this with the more nimble nature of the smaller models, hence the popularity of the likes of the Freelander. So, getting to the point, Land Rover has introduced a Sport derivative, sitting on larger 18-inch alloy wheels, a more road-orientated suspension and 30 mm lower to the ground.

It may fall foul of critics of town-bound SUVs, but on an aesthetic criteria the extra inches on the wheels look far sharper than the 15-inch counterparts on other derivatives. Given the dominance of diesel, the Sport package is only available on the diesel model for the moment.

Prices for 1.8-litre petrol range from €29,790 for the 1.8 E three door to €41,790 for the HSE five-door. The two-litre diesel starts at €33,360, up to 41,880 for the five-door Sport. The 2.5-litre top of the range HSE costs €46,860.