WHEN Land Rover decides to design a car it enters the soul of the driver. It addresses all the functional and engineering conundrums to produce a vehicle that drives as well on the rough as it does on the smooth. But more importantly it is able to tap in to the psyche, the primeval, the indiscernible something that makes us human beings.

To its loyal customers Land Rover is much more than mere metal and plastic, it's an extension of their characters. So the next time you see one at the wheel of a car with the tell-tale oval green badge, look more closely and you will see a man or woman in search of adventure.

The voyage may be taking them only down to the shops for the week's groceries or to the office, but the glint in their eyes tells a different story.

It's a jungle out there and whatever the surroundings, they are on safari, or trying to cross the Kalahari Desert, or to forge a mountain stream. They may be in the car park, but while they are in their Land Rover their spirit is further afield.

The Freelander, of course, is no exception to this rule. Every inch of its rugged exterior cries adventure, from its chunky proportions to its purposeful lines. For the baby of the bunch it's a big vehicle, not too large to handle, but sizeable enough to give it road presence.

It looks every bit the Land Rover, with styling cues that date back more than 50 years, and yet it is a modern, fresh interpretation of them. It looks strong and tough and capable of tackling the terrain it was designed to take on.

Clever use of colour, texture and materials extends this theme inside.

The interior looks like it will last forever and survive the toughest trials. The switches are large and solid, and the bold shapes and contours give the impression of utility without ever approaching the austere. The cabin is wonderfully spacious and all who ride there tower above the masses.

Freelander is designed for drivers who pride themselves on being individuals and again Land Rover scores by recognising this and producing an accessory catalogue running to 66 pages, so they can tailor the car to their personal tastes. You may see plenty of Freelanders on the road, but few are exactly the same.

All this adds up to create an unstoppable image of a go-anywhere vehicle - and being a Land Rover there is the technical clout to back this up.

The 2.5 litre V6 under the bonnet churns out a healthy dollop of good old-fashioned power, 177PS and a lusty 240Nm of torque at just 4,000rpm. That's enough to catapult it to 60mph in 10.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 113mph.

It is also enough to pull the vehicle from the mire and tow the heaviest of loads. Yet on the extra urban cycle it will achieve almost 30 miles per gallon.

Off-road, it will tackle 30 degree slopes and wade to depths of 400mm, thanks to ground clearance of 186mm at the front axle, 214mm at the rear. The clever Hill Descent feature uses the anti-lock brakes to restrict speed down steep slopes to a maximum of 5.6mpg without the need for a low ratio gearbox. Freelander also boasts excellent degrees of axle articulation allowing it to traverse the roughest of ground.

On a bumpy road in the Yorkshire Dales, a ploughed field of a route ideal for testing suspension to the full, Freelander excelled. The road, near Richmond, has brought tears to my eyes in the past as the jarring transfers to flesh and bone. Yet even at a reasonable speed the Land Rover soaked up everything beneath it, flattening out the bumps and absorbing the punishing undulations.

In normal conditions all this is forgotten and the Freelander just gets on with the job. It is easy to drive, particularly with the Commandshift automatic transmission.

In normal mode this operates like a very accomplished auto, with seamless changes and responsive kickdown. Knock the lever to the right and the driver has more control and is able to change gears manually by pushing the stick forwards or back.

For the ultimate feeling of adventure, the three-door comes with a detachable rear hardtop. A couple of levers here a couple of switches there and the whole rear section can be lifted clear in seconds for that true open-air feeling.

Just the thing for a sunny day, while the rest of the vehicle revels in bad weather conditions giving the driver a huge degree of security when the climate turns inclement.

So Freelander is more than just a car it's an experience, there to be enjoyed by those who delight in driving and love life.

Updated: 13:45 Friday, December 13, 2002