‘Stop-start’ just the start

The green Freelander is no token eco-car but the first step in Land Rover’s environmental plan, writes Iain Dooley

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IT STANDS to reason that if you are not moving you shouldn’t use any fuel. It has taken the car industry some time to reach this conclusion, however. And, like buses, if you wait long enough, suitable solutions all turn up at once.

And that’s what happened – cars boasting “stop-start” technology are increasing in number. They are pretty good, too, and can deliver some welcome savings.

This is all very well. Having cars that cut out at traffic lights and restart time after time is great for the environment and your wallet. What about the so-called bane of the green lobby – 4x4s?

If ever there was a class of vehicle that could do with the technology it’s the SUV. Granted, the massive uptake recently of diesel-powered models has been a good thing, but wouldn’t it be great to be able to sit silently at traffic lights in your high-rise 4x4 alongside people in those oh-so-worthy eco tin boxes?

Thanks to Land Rover, you’ll be able to replicate this feeling from the spring in the diesel version of the firm’s Freelander. You don’t need to be a genius to realise that the technology is more suited to town driving than cross-country jaunts, but then 4x4s are rather plentiful in built-up areas.

According to the boffins at Land Rover, the aim was to ensure that the whole Freelander experience was left alone. Having to adjust your driving style or press a button or three would be a definite no-no. The whole thing should be seamless. And so it is: you come to a halt, engage neutral, foot off the clutch, the engine stops. Reverse the process when it’s time to move again and the Freelander’s 2.2-litre diesel fires into life. There’s no pause, no clatter and definitely no drama. A host of clever engineering tricks and improved soundproofing see to that.

You might have spotted the reference to changing gear. The thing is, adapting the technology to a car with an automatic gearbox is a little tricky, so the only option right now is to ship the stop-start gubbins with the six-speed manual cars for the time being. The Land Rover boffins claim an auto option is possible, but you are going to have to be patient. From the UK perspective, the petrol V6 doesn’t figure in the equation anyway.

With the practical demonstration a walk in the park, it’s time to crunch the numbers. For many, it will be all about the CO – too high and the taxes will start to hit your wallet big time. You wouldn’t think that sticking an “e” on the end of the model name could make a difference, but it does – CO drops from 194 to 179g/km and the combined fuel economy figure has been upped from 37.7 to 42.2mpg.

There’s potential to save more than just a few hundred pounds per year. With little certainty that diesel will remain at supermarket price-match rates for ever, every little bit helps. And while it’s difficult to put an exact figure on the savings made when in stop-start traffic, a 20% saving has been mentioned.

Helping you achieve such savings is a change-up light in the car’s instrument display, politely reminding you that a higher gear would be good for economy. The display also provides useful messages if you are not doing what you are supposed to: getting the gearshift-neutral sequence wrong when you need to pull away from a stop. Of course, you can also turn the whole thing off, which can be useful when you are shunting back and forth when parking. And don’t worry, it won’t leave you stranded – the system won’t work if the engine is too cold or there’s not enough battery power to keep the lights, air-conditioning and the like running.

Continuing the principle that the fuel-saving technology shouldn’t impact on the driving experience, the Freelander TD4_e behaves just as you would expect when driving off-road. It copes with terrain that would make rivals blush; steep inclines, drops and super-slippery surfaces are no match for the Freelander’s talents.

With its ability to save fuel when stationary, this Freelander is a welcome first attempt by Land Rover. By admission, the company is all too aware that the global car market is changing. Smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles will become the order of the day for the masses.

If, however, you want or need something more dynamic and capable, there’s no reason why you should be unduly punished for your choice of motorcar. The Freelander TD4_e demonstrates that a compact, desirable and refined SUV can have a place in the motoring world. And with this being merely the start of Land Rover’s adventure into the green unknown, great things are promised for future products.

For now, when the TD4_e model is launched along with a modest range-wide refresh, there’s no doubt that Land Rover’s Freelander will be better equipped to deal with the changing climate and its numerous rivals.