The Freelander name is returning to the roads after eleven years. But beware – those expecting a cute little SUV will be disappointed. The new Freelander 8 measures 5.1 meters, weighs almost 3.5 tons and has a Chinese brain inside. But the Land Rover badges are nowhere to be found.
Reviving legendary names is usually a story of disappointment in the automotive industry. Think of the modern Ford Capri – an electric crossover that shares only a rear bumper sticker with its ancestor. The Freelander 8 aims to play on the same emotions!
But the Freelander 8 is a different story. The original Land Rover Freelander from 1997 was a real revolution. It was the brand’s first unibody SUV. Over 540,000 units were sold in nine years of production, making it the best-selling SUV in Europe for five years in a row. It was so important that Land Rover declared it its eighth “Heritage” model in 2016.
Now it's coming back. But in a completely new guise.
A joint venture that changes the rules
New Freelander no more Land Rover. It is an independent luxury brand born from the collaboration between Chery and Jaguar Land Rover. It is headquartered in Shanghai, has a design center in Gaydon, UK, a research institute in Suzhou, and a production base in Changshu.
In other words: British soul, Chinese body.
The Freelander 8 is the first of six models coming in the next five years. They will all be SUVs. Because if you're not an SUV in 2026, statistically speaking, you don't exist.
Size: shocking. Weight: even more so.
The original Freelander was a cute little SUV, just under 4.5 metres long. The new Freelander 8 measures 5,118 mm in length (up to 5,185 mm in some versions), 2,050 mm wide and 1,898 mm in heightThe wheelbase is 3,040mmThis means it is 685 mm longer than the original.
But the craziest number is yet to come. It weighs 2,980 kilograms empty. The total permissible weight is 3,495 kilograms. That's just five kilograms under the 3.5-ton limit.
Five kilograms. That's how much an average watermelon weighs.
This is no coincidence. In Europe, vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes require a truck licence. Since the Freelander 8 is designed as a global model, the engineers have worked hard to stay below this limit. A difference of five kilograms. Five.
“Will anyone really want a 3.5-ton SUV?” skeptics ask. Chery's answer is obvious: “Yes. And we will give him Huawei.”
Technology that's smarter than most drivers
This is where the Freelander 8 really shines. Under the hood is the new iMax (or E0X) platform. It supports three powertrains: pure electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric range extender (EREV). The architecture is 800 volts.
EREV means that the smaller petrol engine does not drive the wheels. Its only task is to charge the battery. In this case, it is a 1.5-liter Chery engine with a maximum net power of 105 kW (143 hp). Declared consumption: 0.76 liters per 100 km.
The battery is manufactured by CATL, the world's largest battery manufacturer. The system is called Freevoy. It supports 6C charging with a maximum power of up to 360 kW. In other words: you'll have enough time for one coffee. Maybe a sandwich.
In the three-motor version, the top version develops up to 554 hp. The EREV variant consumes 12 kWh per 60 miles. The manufacturer has not yet revealed the figures for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h and top speed. And what we don't know, we won't make up.
Inside: a smartphone that drives
Inside the cabin, the Freelander 8 is a true computer. The brains are Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8397, the company's latest automotive processor. On the roof is an 896-line dual-optical LiDAR. Cameras and radars work together to power the system's first use Huawei Qiankun ADS V4.1.
A six-seat layout in three rows is standard. The second row features two captain’s chairs with footrests. They offer heating, ventilation, massage and a “zero gravity” function for a fully reclining position.
A huge screen stretches across the dashboard. Under it, thank God, we find physical switches for air conditioningEngineers with noble taste apparently still exist.
Design: blocky and confident
The exterior design is by Phil Simmons. The same man behind the original Freelander and Range Rover L322. The result is boxy and rugged. No embellishment.
The front grille is closed because electricity doesn't need a radiator. The triangular rear window – the famous “castle window” – is an obvious homage to the 1997 original.
Some will like it. Others will mistakenly remind them of a softened Defender that has looked too much like the G-Class. A matter of taste.
Price: This is where it gets serious
And now for what you're most interested in. The Freelander 8 is expected to cost between €45,000 and €55,000 in Europe. That's less than the Defender and serious competition in the premium segment.
Suspiciously low. Because if Chery actually pulls this off, Europe is in trouble. Serious trouble.
Sales in China begin in the second half of this year. Global sales will follow. Australia will get its first models in 2027. The US is unlikely to see the Freelander 8 due to Chery's uncertain status in the US market.
Conclusion: a brave bet on the unknown
The new Freelander 8 is both fascinating and disturbing. Fascinating, because it brings technology that was considered science fiction just three years ago. And at a price range that would make many European manufacturers cough. Disturbing, because it symbolizes something bigger – the Chinese auto industry no longer needs Western teachers. Now they set the rules of the game. JLR can only join the bandwagon and hope it doesn’t fall off.
But here comes a positive twist. The Freelander 8 is something that the European buyer has been missing for a long time. An SUV that doesn't hide the fact that it's an SUV. A name with soul. A battery with a charging speed comparable to the Porsche Taycan. A price that's not unaffordable. Yes, it weighs as much as two rhinos. Yes, it's made in China. Yes, there's no Land Rover sticker anywhere.
But looking back: even the original 1997 Freelander was a mix. BMW know-how, Rover Group technology, Land Rover marketing. History doesn't repeat itself. But it definitely rhymes.
The Freelander is back. If Chery keeps its promise on price, this will be one of the most important automotive innovations of this year. Get your prejudices ready. You'll need fewer of them than you think.
