Marc Mustard considers the good and bad points of the early versions of Land Rover's mini off-roader, the Freelander...

ENGINES While the 2.5-litre V6 may sound like the most tempting proposition in the Freelander line-up, it isn't. Cylinder head gaskets are expensive and the V6 chews through them like so much gum. The BMW-derived Td4 is solid and reliable and less likely to break down.

BODYWORK Large plastic bumpers front and rear are robust and don't show up scuffs and scraps as prominently as body-coloured panels. There haven't been any major rust or corrosion problems reported.

INTERIOR Play around with the electric windows and sunroof as these have been known to cause trouble. All versions should have a solid feel on the inside, so pay attention to any rattles or shakes.

DRIVING While this is obviously no sportscar it can hold its own on the open road. With the right engine, the Freelander is one of the more engaging soft-roaders. Anti-roll bar links have caused problems in the past such issues will be accompanied by lots of creaking while cornering.

IMAGE A large part of the Freelander's appeal. The Range Rover badge carries with it a lot of prestige and, while this is the baby of the family, it's still more desirable than anything from Japan. Soft-top versions are ideal for summertime boulevard cruising.

OWNERSHIP Steer clear of very early models. While many of the faults have already been ironed out, their reliability record was shocking. Freelanders won't be as cheap to service as their Japanese counterparts and insurance is likely to be fairly high.

PRICE RANGE - 2003/03, 2.5-litre V6i ES Station Wagon (auto), 10,000 miles, private sale (good condition), £12,925. 1998/RS, 1.8-litre Hardback 60,000 miles, private sale (poor condition), £3,565.

REASONS TO BUY Land Rover badge cuts a dash on the high street. The Freelander is also fairly accomplished in the rough stuff.

REASONS TO BEWARE Early models had their fair share of mechanical and electrical problems. Some power plants are more than a little thirsty.

RECOMMENDED A second generation 2.0-litre Td4 from 2000 is the best compromise between reasonable perform-ance and good fuel economy. Most of the niggling faults had been ironed out by this stage.