Ironic that this most British of SUVs is named after the Free Land, eh? Because the Freelander doesn't come with any land, and at $25-$32K, it's certainly not free.

However, consider the name to be evocative of freedom of movement and traversing land; suddenly you have two concepts that more than describe the nimble and charismatic Freelander. After all, being a Land Rover means that it wouldn't get out the factory door without everything it takes bound across terra firma and terra not-so-firma alike. Being a Land Rover also means that it simply must deliver the kind of luxury accoutrements that we have come to expect from any automobile from the Motherland. And finally, being a Land Rover means that it will feature a generous helping of good ol' British eccentricity, as evidenced by its eensy taillights, stack-o-boxes dashboard and ergonomics that, um, take a little learning.

But what are the British if not learned? Certainly, they've learned something about passenger-coddling and off-road athletics. Do they have any new tricks? Well, not in the engine compartment, where the old 175-hp V6 still does its best to move the heavy little Brit around over the river and through the woods. Opting for a manual shifter help both fuel economy and performance. But something that is new this year is the addition of a soft top, two-door model, with a rear roof section that folds back behind the rear seats in much the same way as the Suzuki Vitara or old ragtop Isuzu Amigo. A generous helping of fun, to be sure. Such cards, those Brits.