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Premium,
according to Webster's, can be something of "very high
value." It also can refer to something with an additional
charge. When you keep the value equation and take some of
the sting out of the cost, what do you get? Land Rover would
like you to know it's a Freelander bargain.
Big
news for this continental bred, luxurious compact sport
utility, is a juggling of models and trim levels for '05.
The net effect, according to Land Rover officials, is lower
cost for the most popular SE model and a two-model lineup
with the sporty SE3 with lift-off hardback for kicks. Last
year's pricier HSE model has ridden off into the luxury
vehicle sunset.
Among
tweaks for '05 is an available premium package for the SE
-- including leather interior, crystal clear harman/kardon
six-disc CD sound system, plus more -- that raises amenities
to former HSE level at less cost. (You might want a calculator
handy to figure out the tally.)
When
Freelander burst on the scene as a newcomer four years ago,
it immediately won kudos for melding luxurious appointments
with toney road manners and real go-anywhere capability
driven by V-6 power and permanent all-wheel drive, not the
easiest task to achieve. While those attributes remain --
at a cost 10K higher than some basic cute ute models --
we think a bit of a bargain is worth noting for those who
love the luxury touch.
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