The Breakdown:
- The production-ready Freelander 8 modernizes the original Freelander design.
- Freelander is a standalone brand created by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover.
- The Freelander 8 sits on a platform that supports EVs, PHEVs, and range-extending EV drivetrains.
It’s barely been a few weeks since the Freelander Concept 97 broke cover in China, and now the production version is ready for the limelight. Unveiled at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, the Freelander 8 is the first product to emerge from a collaboration between Jaguar Land Rover and Chery to form a distinct brand. It revives a familiar nameplate as a standalone marque focused on New Energy Vehicles, which can include plug-in hybrids, EVs, and range-extending EVs.
The Freelander 8 sits on a platform that can accommodate all of these drivetrain types in a boxy SUV with some design cues from the original. The rear pillar reminds us of the first-generation, three-door Freelander with its triangular three-quarter glass. The square headlights also vaguely reference the original.
The closed-off front grille is a common EV trait and features debossed Freelander script. A roof-mounted LiDAR unit has become common on vehicles in China equipped with advanced driver assistance systems. Although full technical specifications have not been released, we do know the Freelander 8 is imposingly large, measuring about 5.1 meters (200.7 inches) long. That puts it somewhere between a Defender 110 and a Defender 130.
At the back, we’re disappointed to see the lack of a rear spare wheel, which would have emphasized the off-road vibe while harking back to the “L134” model sold between 1997 and 2006. Once again, the Freelander lettering is debossed into the tailgate, and there doesn’t appear to be a proper badge for the newly founded company.
The production-intent model is predictably similar to the Concept 97 before it, but it swaps the rear-hinged doors for a conventional setup with B-pillars. Pictured at the bottom, the show car also had completely flush door handles, but those have recently been banned in China. To comply with the new regulations, the final Freelander 8 uses a semi-enclosed setup. BMW had to make a similar design change for the long-wheelbase iX3 and i3, which are also debuting at the Beijing Auto Show.
From the few details shared so far, we do know the production version has three-row seating and CATL batteries with support for 350-kW charging. It’s said to feature air suspension and a rear electronic limited-slip differential. While the interior has yet to be revealed, the concept had a pillar-to-pillar screen and a central infotainment display.
Mind you, the Freelander 8 won’t be exclusive to China. JLR and Chery intend to roll out the electrified SUV in additional markets, including those with right-hand drive. It’s the first of six models launching over the next five years, and to the surprise of no one, all of them will be SUVs.
2026 Freelander 8
Motor1's Take: Past Freelander models didn’t exactly excel in terms of reliability, especially the first generation. It’s surprising to see the name return, as JLR and Chery could have started fresh with a completely different moniker. Freelander is a 50:50 joint venture and will seek to find its place in China’s incredibly crowded market, where a new brand seems to appear every other week.
It’s not going to be any easier for the Freelander 8 outside China, given the abundance of large SUVs with electrified drivetrains. The range-extender might make it stand out for a while, but other automakers are also investing in REEVs. Manufactured at a factory in Changshu, the model will be sold through a “distinct retailer network,” so you’re unlikely to find one at a JLR dealer.
