4x4 Freelander or XC90

[JABB]

Looking at getting a 4x4 mainly to lug kids and cope with the poor roads in the sticks.
Narrowed it to the Volvo XC90 or the Freelander 2.D5 or TD4
The Volvo is older technology and a bigger lump. The Freelander seems a better bet, but thoughts please?

[HaloGen8]

Volvo

[Willy Nilly]

JABB said:

Looking at getting a 4x4 mainly to lug kids and cope with the poor roads in the sticks.

[bga]

Freelander for me. I would rather chop my genitalia off than have an XC90 (though with 3 kids maybe castration is not such a bad idea).

[Mr Taxpayer]

Subaru Forester. Later diesel one or get an earlier one and have it LPG converted.

[JABB]

Willy Nilly said:

Thanks WIlly.
On top of the above, it will be used to do a small amount of rough shooting and moving cartridges off road on shooting estates, so not just the typical Chelsea tractor driver, but I didn't see the need to mention that.

[Mr Taxpayer]

Forester. I've kept up with military LandRovers in my 03 Forester XT and the on-road manners are better than just about any 4x4 you can name. You also get a nice washing bowl that sits in the spare wheel. Though I admit you'll loose this if you have an LPG tank in there.

If you are determined to choose between Freelander and XC90, then Freelander. Any off-roading dings won't affect the value as much on Freelander as they will on a XC90.

[anonymous-user]

What age of XC90 are you looking at? I've seen some truly eye watering bills from these and the performance/economy of the D5 is absolutely appalling. In comparison a colleague has a high mileage Freelander 2 that has been trouble free and he manages to get over 40MPG on a gentle run. I'm very wary of JLR "quality" but between those two I'd have the Freelander.

[Searider]

dme123 said:

What age of XC90 are you looking at? I've seen some truly eye watering bills from these and the performance/economy of the D5 is absolutely appalling. In comparison a colleague has a high mileage Freelander 2 that has been trouble free and he manages to get over 40MPG on a gentle run. I'm very wary of JLR "quality" but between those two I'd have the Freelander.

Our 2004 XC90 is generally pretty reliable and cheap to service.
Having said that we have been dealt a large bill this year when the starter damaged the ring gear. - Could happen on any 130,000 mile car I guess though.
Performance is poor. But happy trundling up and down the motorway.
Economy on ours (pre DPF model) is pretty good I think. 37mpg on a run, full up with holiday gear, roof box on top and sailing dinghy behind. Drops down to about 30 if the Wife's been driving it around the village.
Later models aren't as good on fuel.

XC90 quite a bit bigger than a Freelander so not really comparing apples with apples.