The 1.8 Freelander is fine off road and definitely doesn't lack torque. It's little 1.8 petrol engine has 118 Ftlb of torque at 2,200 Rpm. The L series has 175 Ftlb of torque at 1,900 Rpm as standard. This is a increase 50% over the 1.8 engine. So the L series has more than enough extra torque to overcome a 10% increase in wheel radius. The L series final drive ratio is slightly higher than the 1.8, but only a few percent.
So the conclusion is, the L series has more than enough torque to do what is needed, wherever it's needed, regardless of tyre size.
Of course all that is academic for me, as my TD4 has over 200 Ftlb of torque.