Forget everything you knew about the old Freelander. The new Freelander 8 is a completely different proposition.
Measuring around 5.1 metres long, this huge SUV is longer than a Land Rover Defender 110. It is also the first production model from the reborn Freelander brand, created through the long-standing partnership between Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chinese automotive giant Chery.
Most importantly for British buyers, the Freelander 8 is confirmed for the UK, with sales expected to begin in 2027. The Freelander 8 is expected to arrive as a large electrified SUV aimed at buyers looking for something different from the established premium brands.
There is one important catch, though: this isn’t a Land Rover.
The biggest surprise about the new SUV is the badge.
Although the original Freelander was a Land Rover, the new Freelander brand operates separately from JLR’s current Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brands.
JLR has licensed the Freelander name to its joint venture with Chery, allowing the new brand to use the heritage of the original Freelander while developing vehicles around Chery’s electrified technology.
JLR and Chery announced the arrangement in 2024, with the reborn Freelander brand intended to produce a range of electrified vehicles based on Chery technology. The vehicles are manufactured in China, while JLR’s design expertise remains part of the collaboration.
You can read more about the partnership in JLR’s official announcement about the reborn Freelander brand.
For buyers, that means a Chinese-built SUV with strong British design input rather than a new Land Rover wearing an old badge.
The new SUV is nothing like the compact model that carried the Freelander name between 1997 and 2015.
At around 5.1 metres long, it is roughly 350mm longer than a Defender 110 without its spare wheel. That gives it a seriously imposing road presence.
The design takes inspiration from the Concept 97 shown earlier in 2026, with a boxy silhouette, upright front end, chunky bodywork and a distinctive rear section.
It looks more like a modern interpretation of a traditional off-roader than a conventional electric SUV.
The production vehicle also offers a spacious cabin designed around premium comfort and technology, with a commanding driving position and a large cabin-spanning display.
This is where the Freelander 8 gets particularly interesting.
It uses Chery’s flexible electrified architecture and an 800-volt electrical system. The platform has been designed to accommodate different electrified powertrains, including plug-in hybrid and range-extender configurations.
The Chinese-market model is available with a plug-in hybrid system combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two electric motors.
In its most powerful specification, the system produces a huge 818bhp and 813Nm of torque.
That gives the SUV a claimed 0-62mph time of just 4.6 seconds.
That’s remarkable for a vehicle of this size.
The plug-in hybrid system isn’t a token electric setup either.
The PHEV uses a 60.3kWh battery, giving the Chinese-market model a claimed electric range of up to 193 miles under the CLTC testing system.
That figure shouldn’t be directly compared with UK WLTP figures, but it demonstrates just how heavily the vehicle relies on its electric drivetrain.
The 800V architecture also allows rapid charging of up to 350kW, with Chery claiming a 20–80% charge in around 12 minutes under suitable conditions.
The exact specification for UK cars has yet to be confirmed, so British buyers should treat these figures as an indication of what the vehicle can offer rather than guaranteed UK specifications.
These figures make the Freelander 8 one of the more ambitious electrified SUVs from the new brand.
Despite the focus on electrification, the vehicle has been designed to retain genuine off-road ability.
The platform can accommodate four-wheel drive and features hardware including centre and rear locking differentials.
That is important because the Freelander name has always been associated with a vehicle that can handle more than just the school run.
The new model is clearly intended to combine modern electrification with the kind of rugged capability buyers expect from a large SUV.
Whether it can genuinely match a Land Rover Defender off-road remains to be seen, but the hardware suggests this isn’t simply a road-going crossover dressed up to look adventurous.
The obvious comparison is the Land Rover Defender.
The new SUV is even longer than a Defender 110, although size alone doesn’t make it a direct replacement.
The biggest difference is the way the two vehicles are positioned.
The Defender sits within JLR’s premium House of Brands, while the Freelander is being developed as a separate brand using Chery’s technology and Chinese production.
That could potentially give the new model a significant price advantage.
However, there is currently no confirmed UK price, so claims that it will start at £50,000–£55,000 should be treated as speculation rather than fact.
The Chinese-market version starts at 339,900 yuan, equivalent to roughly £37,000 at recent exchange rates, although UK pricing will inevitably be affected by taxes, specification, shipping and market positioning.
This is the really important part for British buyers.
The Freelander 8 is confirmed for the UK, with the model expected to go on sale here in 2027.
China gets the car first, with mass production now underway at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover facility in Changshu. Production for international markets is also underway.
The brand is also planning a rapid expansion, with new models expected to arrive roughly every six months over the next five years.
That means the Freelander 8 could be just the beginning of a much larger range of Chinese-built SUVs carrying a name that many British motorists will already recognise.
The new SUV is being positioned as part of a wider electrified family rather than simply a single PHEV model.
The underlying architecture has been designed to support different electrified powertrains, giving the brand plenty of flexibility as electric vehicle demand develops in different markets.
For British buyers, the availability of different powertrains could be particularly interesting. Some drivers will want a pure EV, while others may prefer the flexibility of a PHEV or range extender for longer journeys.
The exact UK powertrain line-up hasn’t been confirmed yet.
If you’re considering an electric SUV before this new model arrives, our guide to buying a used electric car is worth reading.
No — and that’s something buyers will need to understand.
The Freelander 8 isn’t a Land Rover and won’t wear the traditional green oval badge.
Instead, it is the first vehicle from the reborn Freelander brand, which operates independently from JLR’s current House of Brands.
However, JLR is still an important part of the story.
The company has licensed the Freelander name to the Chery-JLR joint venture and its design teams have been involved in the development of the new vehicles.
So while the Freelander 8 isn’t a Land Rover, it isn’t completely disconnected from the company that created the original Freelander either.
The new SUV is certainly one of the more interesting large SUVs heading towards the UK.
It combines enormous dimensions, electrified powertrains, 800V technology and genuine off-road hardware with a familiar British name.
The biggest question is price.
If the UK version arrives at a significant discount to an equivalent Defender while offering strong electric range and impressive performance, it could be a very tempting alternative.
But buyers will also have to decide how much they value the Land Rover badge, established dealer network and proven off-road reputation of the Defender.
For now, the new Freelander remains an intriguing alternative rather than a direct replacement.
The Freelander 8 is a very different vehicle from the Freelander many British drivers remember.
It is considerably larger, dramatically more powerful and built around electrification rather than the petrol and diesel engines associated with the original model.
It also represents something much bigger than one new SUV. It marks the return of the Freelander name as a standalone brand, backed by JLR design expertise and Chery’s electrification technology.
With Freelander 8 UK sales planned for 2027, British buyers still have a while to wait.
But if it arrives with competitive pricing and the right combination of electric range, practicality and off-road ability, it could become a serious new player in the UK large SUV market.
Until then, you can browse used cars for sale on MotorHype if you’re looking for your next SUV now.
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