What's more the scattered placement of power window, sunroof and rear window switches in the Land Rover is illogical and difficult to get used to while the Jeep's main controls, with exception to the power window switches on the rear half of the center console, are intuitively placed and easy to operate. Even in top-priced $43,800 HSE trim the Freelander doesn't offer power seats or cassette player, both optional with the Renegade. Is the optional leather too cold for Canadian mornings? Both the Land Rover and Jeep offer heated seats but the former uses only a single position on/off switch while the latter has both a high and low position. Overall which offers the better interior? Advantage = Jeep (by a long shot).
Want to tow something? At 1,133 kg (2,498 lb) the Freelander's trailer weight needs to be drastically limited compared to the Renegades 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) towing capacity with an automatic transmission - towing capacity with a 5-speed manual is reduced to 1,588 kg (3,500 lb). The same goes for payload at 522 kg (1,150 lb) compared to 418 kg (922 lb). This is another area of specification confusion between Carpoint.ca, who rate the Liberty at 612 kg (1,349 lb), and Jeep.ca where I sourced the stats above. Either way, the Liberty also surpasses the Freelander in cargo volume, front and rear headroom and rear legroom. Advantage = Jeep.
Sure the Jeep has more cargo space but which one is easier to load? Both the Land Rover and Jeep incorporate swing-out rear cargo doors, rather than minivan-style one piece lifting tailgates or pickup-style split drop-down tailgates with hatchback windows. The top half of the Liberty's rear door is a handy flip-up glass hatch that opens automatically when the rear door is unlatched, while the Freelander's door houses a more traditional power rear window - both work well. What makes the Jeep better? The same thing that makes the Land Rover better in the U.K. and other right hand drive countries, a tailgate hinged on the safest side. The Freelander, as well as some Japanese designed models, makes it necessary to load and unload large, awkward items too near to the flow of traffic to be considered safe. The Liberty has its hinges on the left side of the vehicle, opening toward the much safer sidewalk. Advantage = Jeep.
Want to tow something? At 1,133 kg (2,498 lb) the Freelander's trailer weight needs to be drastically limited compared to the Renegades 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) towing capacity with an automatic transmission - towing capacity with a 5-speed manual is reduced to 1,588 kg (3,500 lb). The same goes for payload at 522 kg (1,150 lb) compared to 418 kg (922 lb). This is another area of specification confusion between Carpoint.ca, who rate the Liberty at 612 kg (1,349 lb), and Jeep.ca where I sourced the stats above. Either way, the Liberty also surpasses the Freelander in cargo volume, front and rear headroom and rear legroom. Advantage = Jeep.
Sure the Jeep has more cargo space but which one is easier to load? Both the Land Rover and Jeep incorporate swing-out rear cargo doors, rather than minivan-style one piece lifting tailgates or pickup-style split drop-down tailgates with hatchback windows. The top half of the Liberty's rear door is a handy flip-up glass hatch that opens automatically when the rear door is unlatched, while the Freelander's door houses a more traditional power rear window - both work well. What makes the Jeep better? The same thing that makes the Land Rover better in the U.K. and other right hand drive countries, a tailgate hinged on the safest side. The Freelander, as well as some Japanese designed models, makes it necessary to load and unload large, awkward items too near to the flow of traffic to be considered safe. The Liberty has its hinges on the left side of the vehicle, opening toward the much safer sidewalk. Advantage = Jeep.