MOTORING journalists are a miserable lot most of the time - quick to criticise and sparing with praise - but seldom has a vehicle prompted as much enthusiasm as the Freelander. Land Rover's new baby has fired the press pack's imagination like no other vehicle this side of a Ferrari, with some even threatening to part with their own cash to buy one. Such rave reviews occasionally have more to do with hype than hard facts, but in the Freelander's case, the plaudits are thoroughly deserved.

Land Rover is the first manufacturer to succeed in producing a genuine off-road vehicle with proper manners on the road. It has most of the off-road ability of full sized mud-pluggers but none of their thirst for fuel - costing more or less the same as an upper medium class car to run. Available in three and five-door body styles with a convertible or 'softback' roof on the former, the Freelander is powered by perky 1.8-litre petrol and torquey 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines. Standard specification could hardly be described as generous for the asking price, but essentials such as a security system and power steering are fitted to all models.

Prices start at ú15,995 on the road for the base three-door, but by the time you've added hill descent control and one or two other goodies, the price will hit the wrong side of ú17,000.