Whilst in China with Chery, John Marcar got up close and personal with the much-anticipated Freelander 8, an exciting result of a collaboration between Chery Auto Co in China and Jaguar Land Rover in the UK.
Another Fake Defender? Nope. Not this time.
If you've driven on UK roads in the last 12-24 months, you're probably all too familiar with the influx of Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda models on our streets.
The Jaecoo 7 has been a UK's top-selling car, and Omoda models have helped drive over 100,000 new car sales in the UK since the brands launched in August 2024.
Despite the new model's success, many have fired cheap shots at the brands, with some going for cheap and easy digs and headlines such as 'The Temu Evoque' or 'Pound Land Range Rover' when talking about the Jaecoo.
But anyone who bothers to read beyond the lazy headlines will see that there's potentially a very good reason for the visual similarities. Omoda and Jaecoo are part of Chery, and Chery has been working in partnership with JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) since 2012 - so simply calling models like a Jaecoo 7 a Range Rover copy isn't really fair.
If the Jaecoo 7 has upset Range Rover fans, what's coming next will likely cause a riot.
If You Can't Beat Them... Join Them
Chery's latest brand launch is the Freelander, and it arrives with the first model in the Freelander range: the '8'. But we've heard that name before, haven't we?
At a glance, the Freelander shares more than just a name with a Land Rover from the 1990s. It hasn't borrowed the name either; it's claimed it. As for why the new car looks a bit like the love child of a Land Rover Defender 110 and a Land Rover Discovery, the answer to that is pretty straightforward, too.
Chery and JLR - A Match Made in Heaven?
Chery and JLR have been friendly since August 2010, and in 2012 they formed a partnership to create Chery Jaguar Land Rover.
To kick the new partnership off, an investment of US$2.78 billion was put forward to develop and manufacture Jaguars, Land Rovers and engines in mainland China for the local market.
Fast forward another decade, and something even bigger started being discussed: a new brand for the global market called Freelander. But instead of the Chinese factory building a Chinese version of a UK-derived JLR model, it would build a car in China with JLR's blessing and ship it to customers worldwide.
And now, it's finally here.
The New Freelander 8
While in China attending the Chery Global User Summit, I had time to take a good look at the new car and get some insight into what we can expect in terms of trims, specifications, and potential powertrains.
Exterior design
Freelander is calling its exterior design language 'Castle-Style' Body, and it's easy to see why. The lines are bold and boxy, and they align closely with recent design language from Land Rover and Range Rover products.
The shut lines are neat, and the grab-handle touchpoints are extremely high quality, with both electronic (button/switch) and physical (pull) operation on the door handles.
Size
First things first, the size. The Freelander 8 is a large car; at 5.1m long, it's marginally longer than a Defender 110, and at 2m wide and 1.9 metres tall, it's close in dimensions there too. The wheelbase is also close to the Defender 110 at 3.04m
Powertrain
If there's one thing Chery is good at, it's producing a competitive hybrid powertrain, and that's almost certainly what all Freelanders will have. Under the bonnet sits a 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol engine with a 45.95% thermal efficiency rating (which is very good).
The 2.0L engine is paired with a Dual-Motor AWD system to deliver 460 kW (616 hp) and 662 Nm of torque to the wheels. A 34.12 kWh LFP battery powers the motors, which can be charged from 20% to 80% in around 20 minutes. The battery delivers 60+ miles of EV-only range, or up to 550 miles of combined range with the hybrid system in full swing.
Off-Road Capability?
Freelander is confident in the new model's off-road capability thanks to dual-chamber air suspension and CCD (continuously controlled damping). The ride height is adjustable at the touch of a button, allowing a maximum road clearance of 266mm and a deep water wading depth of up to 900mm.
To deliver power in tougher conditions, Chery's all-terrain dual-lock system offers a virtual centre diff lock and an electronic limited-slip differential. The Freelander 8 splits its torque between the front and rear axles, delivering up to 4,000 Nm of wheel-end torque and the ability to climb a 70% gradient.
Interior space and quality
Inside the Freelander 8, the quality feels premium. The design language nods not only towards existing Land Rover/Range Rover products, but also the new Jaguar Type-01. From the driver's seat, the touchpoints are all very high quality, with premium leather, real wood trim, and beautiful touchscreens, plus physical buttons and switches. Beneath the windscreen, an ultra-wide 46.3-inch/1.2m integrated screen stretches across the entire dashboard, displaying a custom layout for the driver and front passenger depending on the driving environment.
Seating configurations
For its China launch, the Freelander 8 was revealed in 5-, 6-, and 7-seat configurations. While UK specifications are yet to be announced, I spent the most time with the most luxurious 6-seat version.
The 6-seat layout adds two additional driver-style seats in the second row, which, like the front seats, are heated and ventilated and feature built-in massage presets. The passenger-side seat in the second row can also be transformed into a business-class-style recliner.
With the second-row seats in the standard position, at 6'1/186cm I could sit comfortably in the second row while still leaving plenty of space for row 3.
In the third row, in seats 5 and 6, the quality isn't compromised. The seating is surprisingly comfortable despite being fold-away, and the luxuries continue with heating and ventilation available at the push of a button.
Luxurious Entertainment
The luxuries keep coming inside the Freelander 8, with a touch screen that folds down from the ceiling, a Harmon Kardon sound system, and a fridge neatly concealed beneath the centre armrest and accessed at the push of a button.
How much will the Freelander cost?
Much like the detailed specifications, the UK pricing is yet to be announced, but in China the Freelander 8 is available in Pro, Max or Max+ trim levels, with entry-level pricing starting from 289,000 CNY (~£32,000) for the Pro.
In the highest Max+ spec (as tested), it works out to be 384,900 CNY (~£43,745) - BUT - before you apply for that loan, it's important to consider that UK pricing is almost certainly going to jump up by at least another £10-15,000 due to local taxes and right-hand-drive dedicated specifications.
UK Launch Date?
The model is currently only available in China and the UAE, with further expansion into the Middle East before the end of the year; however, a UK launch is expected before the end of 2027, with the first UK customer deliveries most likely taking place in 2028.
Other Freelander Specifications?
This is an interesting talking point because Freelander isn't (as it was) a model name; it's now a brand name, and the Freelander '8' is the marque's first model.
What's expected to follow from Freelander 8 is additional models in the range. We don't know what they will look like yet, and there have been no hints, but a 3-door version, or even a softback version like the older namesake, would surely be a welcome addition to the lineup.
Will the Freelander 8 sell in the UK?
That is the big question, as many sceptics will be ready to write off the model without even considering it. But given the success and demand of other Chery Group products, including Omoda and Jaecoo, there's no reason that the Freelander won't follow the same trend.
While the relationship between Chery and JLR has been ongoing since 2010, I personally believe that the launch of the Freelander 8 will be a significant turning point for both opinions and sales. I can imagine the Freelander 8 not only attracting buyers who have aspired to one day own a Defender... it may end up taking customers who already have owned one, too.
Words and pictures by John Marcar
