LAND ROVER is often the target of the green brigade as its vehicles are not renowned for either modest fuel consumption or rainforest-friendly carbon dioxide emissions.
But environmentalists may warm to - no pun intended - the Freelander 2 eD4.
The iconic off-road company has come up with a front-wheel drive Freelander which is the most efficient Land Rover ever produced offering average fuel consumption in excess of 47mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of just 158g/km.
Don't get me wrong, in the world of motoring these figures are nothing special - but for something with Land Rover in the title they are a big improvement.
The eD4 represents a move into the popular and fiercely contested two-wheel-drive Sport Utility Vehicle market representing some 23 per cent of sales in the whole sector.
It is designed to broaden the Land Rover range and expand its appeal to a bigger group of customers - including those who in the past have been frightened off by the lack of eco-appeal.
The eD4 is powered by the new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine delivering plenty of power with the help of a six-speed manual transmission featuring stop/start technology as standard.
The exterior of the Freelander 2 is spruced up for this year and now features a revamped front bumper incorporating front fog lamps, a new front grille finish, improved headlights and tail lamps, plus new 18 or 19-inch alloy wheel styles. There are also three new colour schemes - Kosrae Green, Baltic Blue and Fuji White.
The interior is revamped as well with Land Rover's design team tweaking the instrument dials, while there are four new seat styles with the option of a Premium Pack that includes Windsor Leather upholstery, an electric seat, plus premium carpet mats and covered centre stowage.
There's plenty of kit included - which you would expect in a vehicle with a price-tag north of £30,000 - and cruise control, electric windows and mirrors, climate control, a radio/MP3/CD player plus satellite navigation all make a predictable appearance.
It is all neatly set out with a well designed dashboard and centre console ensuring the driver isn't forced to hunt around to find the switch, button or dial needed.
The cabin is a refined place to spend time with little wind or engine noise making through the car's defences.
The boot is a bit small compared to some competitors and the wheelarches make an unwelcome appearance, but that said it should be able to cope with most families' needs.
The driving position is a dominant one so you really feel the master of all you survey thanks to the high-set seat and excellent forward visibility.
Reversing is anything but tedious as the amount of glass Land Rover use in the Freelander 2 would put Kew Gardens to shame. Together with the liberal use of parking sensors the Freelander 2 is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre into tight parking spots.
I found Land Rover's eco-friendly baby easy to live with and thanks to the economy improvements it is far less intrusive on the wallet than any other version.
The ride is comfortable and the Freelander is surprisingly composed in corners considering its size. It's quite nippy as well which is a welcome bonus when the traffic lights turn green.