Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The Freelander Name ReturnsThe last time you could buy a brand-new Freelander, it was still wearing a Land Rover badge and priced somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000, depending on where you lived and how fancy you wanted it. Eventually, the Discovery Sport took over, and the Freelander name faded into the background.Now, the Freelander name is back, but this time, Jaguar Land Rover has teamed up with Chinese automaker Chery to bring Freelander back as its own standalone brand. The first model out of the gate is the Freelander 8, now up for pre-order in China at 339,900 yuan – roughly $50,000. If you want more seats, the six-seater starts at about $51,500, and the top-dog Max+ Edition will set you back a hefty $63,200.AdvertisementAdvertisementThere's also a First Edition, limited to just 1,000 units and priced at 449,900 yuan – about $66,200. The new Freelander brand has its eyes on the global stage, but don't get your hopes up for a US debut just yet.What You Get With the New FreelanderTech-wise, the Freelander 8 is light-years ahead of the old model. It sits on an 800-volt extended-range platform with 6C charging, which supposedly zaps the battery from 20-80% in just 12 minutes.Under the hood, you get a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder acting as a range extender, paired with a 60.3-kWh CATL battery. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup cranks out a wild 818 horsepower and about 600 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to launch this SUV to 62 mph in just 4.6 seconds, with an electric-only range of 193 miles (CLTC-rated).Inside, things get just as wild. There's a massive 46.3-inch panoramic display, a 15.6-inch central screen, crystal control knobs, and physical buttons with what Chery calls 'Paris Nail' detailing. Second-row passengers are treated to zero-gravity seats with heating, ventilation, massage, and leg rests – not to mention a folding table and even a fridge.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe tech doesn't stop there. The Freelander 8 is one of the first cars to pack Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8397 automotive processor, and every version comes standard with Huawei's Qiankun Smart Driving ADS 5 system.Underneath, you get an intelligent all-terrain system, locking diffs front, center, and rear, plus standard rear-wheel steering with up to 10 degrees of angle. There's even a crab-walk mode. Braking is handled by six-piston calipers and big 15.9-inch ventilated discs, with a claimed shortest stopping distance of 117 feet.Chery JLRWill It Ever Arrive in America?Freelander says it wants to go global, with Europe and the Middle East on the radar. North America? Not so much. Thanks to tariffs and the current political climate, getting a China-built SUV into the US is a tall order.But that doesn't mean JLR is throwing in the towel on America. Instead, they're teaming up with Stellantis to cook up new Defender-branded models just for US buyers, possibly using Stellantis' North American factories.AdvertisementAdvertisementSo yes, the Freelander name is back – but don't expect to spot a Freelander 8 at your local Land Rover dealer anytime soon. For now, it's a Chinese SUV wearing a British badge, and that's a far cry from the Freelander you might remember.FreelanderView the 7 images of this gallery on the original articleThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
+22 others
