Freelander 8 shown in five-seat form ahead of 2027 Australian launch

Key takeaways

• Five-seat Freelander 8 shown publicly for the first time beside the six-seater
• Export model is a 460kW plug-in hybrid with 110km of claimed electric range
• Australian launch due in 2027, with pricing and local specifications still unconfirmed

Freelander has shown the five-seat version of its Freelander 8 large SUV in public for the first time, at the Chery International User Summit in Wuhu, China on 19 October.

The brand also named Australia and New Zealand as priority right-hand-drive markets in the second phase of its international rollout, ahead of a local launch in 2027.

Both seating layouts were on display. The five-seater gets nappa leather sourced from carbon-neutral New Zealand farms, and offers optional second-row “zero-gravity” seats with leg rests, a 260mm slide and 10-point massage. Six-seat versions have a ventilated third row with 834mm of legroom.

Freelander is a standalone brand created through the Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint venture. JLR owns the name, first used on the Land Rover Freelander from 1997, and leads design, while Chery supplies the technology and builds the car in Changshu, China.

Where Australia sits in the Freelander rollout

Phase one starts in the United Arab Emirates and other left-hand-drive markets, with UAE deliveries due in the first quarter of 2027. Australia and New Zealand lead phase two, followed by continental Europe, then the UK and Ireland. The rollout slide didn’t give an Australian launch quarter.

Kym Mellow, head of Freelander Australia and New Zealand, told the audience that local customer research found buyers want the look and ability of a traditional four-wheel drive, with more comfort and technology.

Freelander 8 plug-in hybrid specifications

The export Freelander 8 swaps the China-market range-extender for a plug-in hybrid. A 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine works with a motor on each axle for all-wheel drive. The Chinese version uses a 1.5-litre engine purely as a generator, a 60.3kWh battery and 610kW.

Freelander says the figures below apply to the left-hand-drive Middle East model and specifications vary by market, so Australian cars may differ.

That makes it 83mm longer and 54mm wider than a Land Rover Defender 110, but 44mm lower.

Off-road hardware and cabin

• Dual-chamber air suspension with continuously controlled damping, raising or lowering the body
• Nine-mode terrain system, virtual centre diff lock, rear electronic limited-slip diff, crawl control and hill descent control
• Radar water-depth display, with the engine air intake 1213mm off the ground
• 46.3-inch mini-LED display spanning the dash, plus a 15.6-inch touchscreen and physical buttons
• Up to 23-speaker audio, optional 17.3-inch rear roof screen and a cabin fridge
• Level 2+ driver assistance with more than 30 functions and a 360-degree camera

Freelander says pricing and specifications for each market will be released closer to launch. For Australian buyers, the key details to watch are whether the plug-in hybrid and both seating layouts are confirmed locally.