A small, lower-priced sport utility vehicle from upscale SUV maker Land Rover?
It’s no joke.
     The 2002 Freelander becomes the new, third model in Land Rover’s U.S. showrooms this year.
     Sold in Europe since 1997, the Freelander is newly revamped for U.S. tastes and combines a stocky SUV look with European on-road handling and the off-road capabilities that Land Rover is famous for.
     ‘‘Freelander is a real Land Rover, it wasn’t built off a car platform,’’ said Andy Thomas, Freelander model manager at Land Rover North America Inc. ‘‘It has a dedicated unibody chassis with integrated cross rails like other Land Rovers.’’
     But this new, 175-inch-long model — which is 3.6 inches shorter than a 2002 Honda CR-V, by the way — also is easy to maneuver and can fit neatly into downtown parking garages.
     In fact, the Freelander is at least 10.2 inches shorter in length than any other Land Rover sold here and at approximately 69 inches tall is closer in height to a Lexus RX 300 than a Land Rover Discovery.
     Best of all, the Freelander’s starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $25,600 — some $8,395 less than last year’s low-priced Land Rover, the Discovery Series II base model.
     Even this base Freelander S comes with several standard features that speak to its Land Rover heritage of off-road ability and upscale appointments: permanent all-wheel drive, antilock brakes, traction control, keyless remote entry, cruise control, power amenities and leather-wrapped steering wheel.
     The clustering of power window buttons in the Freelander’s center console area is another Land Rover pattern.
     Riders sit up in the Freelander, as you’d expect. But the vehicle isn’t as high off the ground as a Range Rover is. At 5 feet 4, I could get inside the Freelander without having to hoist myself awkwardly upward.
     Watch, though, as you climb inside. Tall riders may bump their heads on the seemingly low door opening. Headroom inside is less than that provided in the RX 300, Jeep Liberty and new CR-V.
     Seats in the Freelander S are cloth-covered and nicely match the cloth-appointed door interior. On uplevel models, they are tastefully appointed in leather.
     The Freelander seats provided good comfort on long drives. But there’s no height adjustment, even for the driver.
     Head restraints in the Freelander are adjustable and lockable and are on each of the five seats. Each rider has a three-point safety belt, too, but side airbags aren’t offered.
Three adults fit snugly in the Freelander’s back seat, where shoulder room is just 53.1 inches. This compares with 57 inches in the compact-sized RX 300 and 56.5 inches in the 2002 CR-V.
     Unlike other Land Rovers sold here, the Freelander comes with a V6 engine, not a V8. It’s also the first with a five-speed automatic transmission.
     The Freelander’s 2.5-liter, double overhead cam V6 provided commendable power both on- and off-road and is well-suited to a mix of duties. Horsepower is 175, and maximum torque is 177 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm.
     Shifting was done quite smoothly, and I noticed the engine would readily rev longer when I used the do-it-yourself shifting of the Steptronic transmission.
     But fuel economy is lackluster at 16 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.
Most of the time, nearly all the power — 90 percent — goes to the Freelander’s front wheels. But when extra traction is needed, the all-wheel-drive system automatically can send up to half the power to the rear.
     Note that unlike other Land Rovers, the Freelander doesn’t come with a low-range transfer case.
     But on the upcoming top-of-the-line Freelander HSE, buyers will be able to add Land Rover’s innovative Hill Descent Control feature.
     It literally allows off-roaders to gently ‘‘walk’’ the vehicle down steep, scary descents without touching the brake or accelerator pedals. HDC, as it’s called, activates via a button on the dashboard.
     New for Land Rover, the Freelander comes with a four-wheel independent suspension to improve on-road ride.
     A novel, mounted-high-on-the-firewall power-assist rack-and-pinion steering system also helps give crisp response and good on-road feel for a European-style driving experience.
     Tires are 16-inchers only. Don’t look for a standard cover on the rear-door-mounted spare. Land Rover officials said it will be sold as an extra-charge accessory.
The Freelander’s ‘‘tailgate’’ shows the British influence. It opens like a car door would and swings wide to the right, making it clumsy at curbside for U.S. owners.
     Thank goodness the rear-door window is power operated and can be opened for quick and easy access to the small cargo area.
     Land Rover officials classify the Freelander as a ‘‘premium small’’ SUV and project annual sales of 20,000. Half are likely to be mid-range SE models, they said.
SE models have starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $28,400.
     Land Rover officials expect buyers to be young singles or families who may not have considered a Land Rover before because of the higher prices.
     Competitors in the small SUV segment include the Jeep Liberty, which has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $21,795 for a V6 model with two-wheel drive, and the 2002 Honda CR-V. Prices for the newly redesigned CR-V haven’t yet been announced.
Land Rover officials hope the Freelander also will be shopped against more upscale SUVs, including the 2002 RX 300 compact SUV, which starts at $34,530 for a V6-powered model with two-wheel drive.
     Because the Freelander is a new model in the United States, Consumer Reports does not list owner trouble reports.