Fronteras have a decent following in the USA, where they are badged as the Isuzu product. People like them, they find them tough and easy to maintain.
Same as the Pinin, which has a large following in Brazil and Australia, and is known for similar traits.
It's the UK where we have a 'Landy or nothing' attitude to off roaders. Fair play to that, they are made here after all. It just gets a little bit tiresome when people can't see past them.
Oh, and as for the 1.8 petrol Freelander, dear Lord, just dont. Have a look on
www.mg-rover.org at the freelander section, and they just eat head gaskets. The fanboys will say they don't, but if they are honest they will admit to having changed them usually more than once.
The diesel ones are nice enough, but even then it's a haldex system, not a proper 4x4 system. No low range for example. They do drive far more like a road car than a Pinin does though, if thats important to you.
However, I've used the Pinin's low range, locked diff for real before, when pulling a friends car out of a snow covered ditch. It works, and I value having it. His neighbour had tried to pull him out in his freelander, and didn't manage it, moaning that it nearly wrecked his clutch trying. The wee pinin did it first go.
That says enough for me about them.