FOR those who have envied the 4x4 SUV set with their imposing wheels but were put off by the soaring costs of running such monsters there are some smart answers out there.

One of the most clever comes from the king of off-roading Land Rover which produces a version of its Freelander in two-wheel-drive.

And the eD4 edition proves its point with a combined fuel economy figure of 47.2mpg and a commendable 158g/km emissions readout.

It answers the demand of those drivers who love the Land Rover, enjoy a commanding driving position and the solidity of this vehicle, but don't venture into extreme conditions.

Powered by a 2.2-litre eD4 turbo diesel, this model loses none of the driving qualities of its 4x4 stablemate but in some ways feels more agile due, possibly, to the fact that there are less heavy mechanical parts to lug around.

With 112mph on tap it is very sharp off the mark at traffic lights and holds its own in acceleration against some powerful competitors with a 0-62mph sprint factor of 10.9 seconds.

Interior equipment levels have soared to new heights with a host of fresh and exciting features including three new colour schemes, a new centre console and a seven-inch colour touch-screen with enhanced audio systems from Meridian and optional satellite navigation.

Passive start replaces key dock and there's a new ‘intelligent' electric parking brake which adjusts brake force according to the slope the vehicle is parked on. A clear and accurate rear view camera is also part of the Freelander 2 package.

This latest version has an integrated and co-ordinated appearance, including more contemporary lights front and rear using the latest LED technology and a new signature graphic in the front running lights.

Equipped with six-speed manual transmission and Stop/Start, the eD4 certainly does not behave like some of its more thirsty brethren. Driving one of these vehicles and achieving not far off 50mpg is indeed strange.

The diesel options were updated for Freelander 2, a new turbocharger improving response and increasing maximum torque by five percent to 420Nm. They were also equipped with a standard DPF, reducing particulates by 80 percent. At the same time NOx emissions were reduced by 28 per cent and the response time of the stop/start system was improved by 22 per cent.

At £36,500 it costs around the same as a premium saloon and provides an efficient, attractive and viable solution to those who want a quality SUV without the higher running costs of a conventional 4x4.