It’s back. The Freelander name is making a comeback, but not quite in the way you might expect. Rather than returning as an entry-level Land Rover, Freelander is now a standalone premium SUV brand developed through a joint venture between Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Chinese manufacturer, Chery.
Its first model is this, the Freelander 8; a large electrified SUV measuring over 5.1 metres long, featuring distinctive British-inspired design and advanced hybrid technology. It’s also confirmed for Australia and is set to arrive in 2027, although local pricing and final specifications are yet to be announced.
We recently attended the international launch event and had an opportunity for a brief drive to see what it’s like. While it wasn’t enough to form a complete assessment, it provided an interesting introduction to a vehicle that could potentially challenge some established premium SUV brands.
2027 Freelander 8: Specifications
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder PHEV
Electrical: 34.1kWh battery, 2x e-motors
Output: 460kW / 662Nm
Gearbox: Dedicated hybrid auto
Drive type: All-wheel driveKerb weight: 2800kg (approx.)
Power-to-weight: 6.08:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: N/A
0-100km/h (claimed): 5.8 seconds
Starting price: TBA
2027 Freelander 8: How much does it cost?
We have no idea what the price will be at this stage. And pricing could ultimately determine whether this new brand succeeds. If the Freelander 8 arrives at more than $100,000, we think it will sit dangerously close to established Land Rover products and other recognised luxury SUVs.
At that end of the market, brand image and heritage remain important considerations for many buyers. Even with JLR’s involvement, Freelander is still effectively a new nameplate in its current form, without the same established reputation or resale history.
However, if it lands somewhere around $80,000, the proposition becomes considerably more interesting. At that price, buyers would be getting premium British design, a spacious and well-presented cabin, sophisticated plug-in hybrid technology and potentially serious off-road capability for substantially less than many traditional luxury alternatives.
The Australian operation is also being established with a dedicated local leadership team and dealer partnerships, although the strength of its eventual sales and service network will be another important factor for prospective owners.
2027 Freelander 8: Interior & packaging
One of the Freelander 8’s strongest attributes is its design. Both inside and out, you’d have to agree, there’s a clear connection to Land Rover’s contemporary styling language, with clean surfaces, slab-like proportions and a distinct sense of quality, appropriate for a premium SUV. Importantly, it doesn’t feel like a cheap knock-off.
Inside, the dashboard adopts a relatively minimalist approach, but thankfully not to the extent that everything has been sacrificed in favour of one enormous touch-screen. The central display is crisp and responsive, with an interface that reminds us somewhat of Land Rover’s Pivi Pro system. This is a thin, curved display rather than a big, crude screen slapped on the dash.
An interesting addition is the full-width display running across the upper dashboard, just below the windscreen. It provides a range of information, including powertrain status and other driving data, although some of it appears so far across to the passenger side that it’s difficult for the driver to see.
That raises the question of why a passenger would need access to view certain technical information in the first place? Presumably, the display can be customised, although we didn’t have enough time to explore its full functionality.
It is a massive SUV, measuring 5118mm long, 2050mm wide and 1926mm tall, riding on a 3040mm wheelbase. That makes it longer than the current Land Rover Discovery (4956mm), slightly narrower (2073mm), and a bit taller (1888mm). The wheelbase is also a smidge longer (2923mm).
The Freelander 8 will be offered in five- and six-seat configurations, with the latter featuring individual second-row seats and a 2+2+2 arrangement. In either layout, passenger accommodation is generous, as you’d expect from something this large. However, luggage space becomes a weakness in the six-seater when all three rows are up – it’s a small space. And there is no spare tyre.
2027 Freelander 8: Powertrain & handling
Australian buyers will receive a plug-in hybrid version of the Freelander 8 rather than the more powerful 610kW range-extender model offered in other markets. The PHEV combines a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with twin electric motors and a 34.1kWh battery, producing a combined 460kW and 662Nm. Most of the time the vehicle is propelled by the electric motors, but the petrol engine can directly assist with driving the front axle only.
Those are substantial figures, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.8 seconds. Interestingly, that isn’t quite as quick as the Denza B8 (4.8s claim), which produces a lower 430kW and weighs approximately 3300kg, compared with around 2800kg for the Freelander 8 – the better power-to-weight ratio suggests the Freelander should be quicker. We guess it’s a good reminder that headline power figures don’t always translate directly into acceleration, particularly with complex all-terrain drivetrains.
Even so, the Freelander 8 certainly doesn’t feel lacking in performance. Throttle response is immediate, as you’d expect from electric motors, but what impresses more is how naturally the power arrives. Some high-output electrified SUVs can feel overly aggressive when you first touch the accelerator, almost like an on-off switch. The Freelander’s calibration is more progressive, making it easy to control despite the considerable performance available. And by the way, this is quicker than almost all Land Rover Discovery variants.
In terms of handling, the initial feel is of a heavy but solid vehicle. There’s a reassuring sense of substance on the road, although you can definitely feel the weight when changing direction. Body lean is noticeable through corners, and there’s some additional movement and wobble compared with some rivals.
However, our drive was brief and we didn’t have an opportunity to explore all of the available drive modes or adjustable air suspension settings. It’s possible that alternative settings could provide tighter body control when needed, and it’s possible the eventual Australian calibration could be different, so we’ll reserve final judgement until we can spend more time behind the wheel on Aussie soil.
Speaking of the suspension, this comes with fully adjustable air suspension, with ride height moving up by 70mm and down by 50mm, with a maximum ground clearance 266mm. It also boasts a whopping 900mm water wading depth. There is no doubt this is set up to offer a serious level of off-road capability. With a bit of luck, Freelander will offer a range of wheel and tyre choices and other adventure-ready accessories.
During our test we drove through a 900mm pool of water, and it did fine, as well as climbed a 35-degree metal ramp, and crawled down a 45-degree angle on the way down using the on-board hill descent control. And it did fine. And we drove over some staggered ramps. Although it did fine in terms of distributing the power to wheels on the ground and not those in the air, the articulation and suspension flex or wheel travel did not seem very strong at all. This is rigid. But it pulled through nonetheless thanks to the AWD intelligence.
Overall, there are no obvious signs that this could be a cheap knock-off. It is mostly electric, so you don’t get traditional low-range, but it seems to offer very good off-road capability. And then on the tarmac, from our short drive, it feels like a proper luxury SUV with solid road-holding and that distinct secure stance.
2027 Freelander 8: First impressions
This is a genuinely interesting one, because, it is going to be very dependent on price. If this turns out to be a lot more affordable than a ‘real’ Land Rover, it could be quite popular for its vehicle type; you’re getting 80-90 per cent of the way there. But if it is priced very close, then I think most of the traditional fans will stick to what they know.
2027 Freelander 8: Video
