Jaguar Land Rover Revives Freelander as Hybrid SUV
The iconic nameplate returns as a high-performance SUV built through a strategic partnership with Chery.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Car Types
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Jaguar Land Rover and Chery have revived the Freelander nameplate as a new Chinese-built hybrid SUV. The vehicle is designed to blend British branding with advanced electric vehicle technology to boost global competitiveness.
Why it matters
The partnership allows Jaguar Land Rover to access Chery's Rapid Development EV technology while giving Chery the prestige of the established British badge. This strategic move aims to help the luxury brand maintain its market standing amid the transition to electrified SUVs.
The new Freelander 8 hybrid SUV features a 2.0-litre twin-turbo engine, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and a lithium-iron phosphate battery. It delivers over 460kW of power and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds.
The players
Jaguar Land Rover
A British luxury automotive manufacturer known for high-end SUVs and a long-standing history of off-road vehicle design.
Chery Auto
A Chinese automotive manufacturer and exporter that has rapidly expanded its global market share through advanced electric vehicle platforms.
The details
The SUV is engineered with dual-chamber air suspension and continuously controlled damping to optimize ride quality. The hybrid powertrain achieves high efficiency, leveraging Chery’s technological platform to support the high performance of the new model. This vehicle represents a departure from the original Freelander, which debuted in 1997 and was later replaced by the Discovery Sport in 2015.
Timeline
1997: Original Freelander manufactured.
2015: Freelander replaced by Discovery Sport.
Q1-Q3 2026: Chery exported over 1.5 million vehicles.
August 2026: Chery recorded 4,238 sales in Australia.
September 2026: Chery sold 3,004 units in South Africa.
The Home Front
The revival of this legacy nameplate reflects a broader trend of major automotive brands partnering with established Chinese manufacturers to accelerate EV development. This shift highlights how traditional luxury marques are reorganizing their product lineups to remain viable in the modern electrified market.
Prospective buyers should monitor local dealership updates as the model is currently under consideration for specific regions like South Africa. When considering a high-performance hybrid SUV, potential owners should look for local service support for the new platform to ensure long-term maintenance availability.
The takeaway
The return of the Freelander highlights how legacy automotive brands are using international partnerships to bridge the gap in EV technology. Shoppers interested in the hybrid segment should track future market announcements to see if this model becomes available in their region.
Further reading
For more on evolving vehicle lineups, visit the Car Types section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Mail & Guardian.
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