The service manager at Stratstone asked me today if I wanted an Ewok or a Freelander for the next few days while mine is in, so of course I asked for the Ewok.

This is the first time I've driven one, and its certainly better than the FL, but feels quite similar to drive, I guess as it has the same engine.

The one I have is Orkney 5 door in Pure spec, which I think is the most basic. It has the Panoramic roof, leather seats, bluetooth audio etc, and seems well equipped. It's a brand new 63 plate with 375 miles on it, and drives nicely.

Issues:

The indicator stalk/main beam operation is very harsh and feels a bit cheap
There's no sunglasses holder
The interior feels cold when the Panoramic roof blind is rolled back
The seat adjustment is very basic, you can't lift the squab up and down at the front for example, no lumbar adj
No footrest for your left foot
It feels quite plasticky (I realise all cars now feel like this as I have a fully leather stitched interior on the Autobiography)
No puddle lights in the doors or wing mirrors (small things you miss the most)

Overall though, a lovely car, just wish it wasn't branded RR as its not anything like a RR. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Last edited by RRUK on 28th Nov 2013 9:17am. Edited 2 times in total

Adam, the FL2 and the Ewok (as you call it) are the same car... Same platform, same engine, same suspension etc etc etc... Like a Golf & a Seat coupe... Same car, different skin

The one I have is red and 2 door and appears to be little bit higher in spec.

Nice CAR, but I agree it isn't a range rover but it is a very nice car... There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

How manly do you feel driving it?

Don't see what the problem is with them .... Or is it just a snob factor ....  ====================================

"Open Mike Night " sounded like a lot of fun until i found out i was going to an Autopsy

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

Adam, the FL2 and the Ewok (as you call it) are the same car... Same platform, same engine, same suspension etc etc etc... Like a Golf & a Seat coupe... Same car, different skin

I honestly do think it is better suited for a female, I have size 9 feet and find the footwell and pedals area really cramped, my toes catch on the footwell top above the pedals.

In order to simulate having the front of the seat squab raised, there is ONE electric adjustment that seems to lower the back of the seat base, but then you're sitting REALLY low, and hence why men in the Ewok look a bit emasculated I think.

I also found somewhere to put the sunglasses, there is a hidden cubby area behind the central dash area, nice and secret. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Last edited by RRUK on 28th Nov 2013 9:18am. Edited 1 time in total

JOKER wrote:

Don't see what the problem is with them .... Or is it just a snob factor ....

I'm not a hater, but my problem with them is the style over substance.

They do look great, I just wish the technology would have moved the game on as far, but as we all know underneath it's a fairly old and not very special Freelander platform and not very special Ford engines. I'm sure that will change in the future as JLR invest more, and well done to them for making so much money from a comparatively small investment.

KurtVerbose wrote:

we all know underneath it's a fairly old and not very special Freelander platform

This is just marketing. How often do you hear manufactures say it's 'brand new' even though it's really the same, and motor journalists believe them.

Fact is the Evoque is based on a heavily modified Freelander platform, which is based on a Ford EUCD platform, which is based on a Ford C1 platform. Granted, if you compared the Evoque with a C1 you wouldn't find a lot in common which is where marketing steps in and says 'brand new'.

Anyway, even if it was 'brand new', which it isn't, it still doesn't move the game on.

In the same way that the rear axle and subframe assembly of the L322 is based on that under E39 5 Series - obviously related but very little interchangeable.

Still means that the platform isn't the same. It would no doubt be cheaper and easier all-round if it was nothing more than a Freelander in drag, but it isn't, despite the similarities and for whatever reasons - cost savings, improvement, moving away from using Ford/Volvo bits, whatever. Hence why the next Freelander is based on the Evoque platform and not the current Freelander platform. Is the L405 a development of the Jaguar X300 platform? Is it not an all-new car because it still has four wheels?

How would you like to see the game moved on? I don't much like the Evoque and don't think it should have a Range Rover badge, but all it really lacks versus the competition is the sort of engine range VAG can offer in the Q5 and Macan.

Having driven a few hundred miles in the Ewok now I can make more comments:

There is a footrest for your left foot, but its still a really cramped space for your feet

In order to get a comfy seat position you end up with a really low seat, and can't see any edges of the cars, this must be what it's like for all women!

The non xenon headlights are utter . Having had Bi-xenons for my last 5 cars, I could never go back to these standard ones, how do people see anything at night?

Because the car is as low as a normal car, you face oncoming headlights rather than sitting slightly above and it makes night time driving REALLY tiring. My commute home made me knackered...

There is Range Rover branding everywhere - shame the actual FF RR doesn't have so much of it. It definitely does NOT feel like you are driving a Range Rover, the naming / branding convention seems completely at odds with the car.

The sat nav has some good features such as petrol station branding, and motorway service station information.

I really like being able to bluetooth my music rather than plug in

the Pano roof seems a waste of time in this car, its SO much better in the L405

Visibility is awful. If the rear headrests were raised they would completely obscure the back letterbox window.

Really miss the heated steering wheel

Not keen on the buttons on the steering wheel

Would I have one (even a top spec one?)

No. I can't imagine ever not having a full size 4wd now. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Range Rover branding everywhere!

You are near me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15/15a M1  Land Rover Addict
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