Freelander 8 SUV secures 5,000 orders in 12 hours in China

Key highlights:

• Freelander 8 locks in 5,000 firm orders within just 12 hours of Chinese launch
• Up to 166,000 yuan (A$34,310) in limited-time customer benefits is available
• Australia gets the 610kW electrified SUV from mid-to-late 2027

Freelander has revealed a strong early response to its first model, with the new Freelander 8 securing 5,000 firm orders within 12 hours of its Chinese launch. A firm order means the buyer has locked in a preferred configuration and can no longer cancel for a refund. 

Customers can place an order through the Freelander app with a 5,000 yuan (A$1030) payment.

The result gives the new three-row premium SUV made by CJLR an early sales win, while the model also prepares for an Australian arrival in 2027.

5,000 orders came in within 12 hours

Freelander officially shared the reservation figure on social media and confirmed that the Freelander 8 reached 5,000 firm orders in its first 12 hours.

This number puts it ahead of the Stelato G9, another premium SUV that took 24 hours to reach the same 5,000-firm-order milestone in China.

The comparison needs some context, though. The Stelato G9 costs considerably more, with Chinese pricing ranging from 429,800 to 549,800 yuan (A$88,800–113,600).

The Freelander 8 has not matched some of the exceptional figures previously recorded by Xiaomi SU7 in April 2026, but its initial performance still gives the new CJLR model a strong start.

Freelander has also launched a series of limited-time offers for customers who place orders by midnight on September 30. The total value of these benefits reaches up to 166,000 yuan (A$34,310).

These offers and discounts include a trade-in bonus, purchase tax deduction, complimentary equipment upgrades, optional equipment upgrades, Huawei ADS 5 assisted-driving subsidy, and luxury delivery package.

The Freelander 8 is offered in six trim and seating combinations, ranging from 5-seat to 6-seat flagship variant, priced from 309,900 yuan (A$64,000) to 399,900 yuan (A$82,660),

Also read: BYD Sealion 08 large SUV debuts in China; no word for Australia launch

A huge SUV with three electrified powertrain choices

The Freelander 8 will have a substantial footprint on Australian roads as it measures 5,118mm long, 2,050mm wide and 1,898mm tall, with a 3,040mm wheelbase. The SUV also features dual-chamber air suspension and rear-wheel steering.

Freelander will offer the 4×4 SUV with plug-in hybrid (PHEV), fully electric (EV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrains in China, and the EREV version delivers the headline performance figures.

The Freelander 8 EREV uses a 1.5-litre range extender petrol engine to support a 60.3kWh LFP battery, which provides 310km of electric range under CLTC conditions. Its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system produces 610kW and 813Nm.

This is serious performance from a full-size SUV with a 2,980kg kerb weight

Australia gets the Freelander 8 in 2027

Chery Australia and Jaguar Land Rover have confirmed an Australian arrival of the brand in mid-to-late 2027, with the Freelander 8 expected to lead the local range. The vehicle was engineered for right-hand drive from day one, and pre-production test prototypes are already being calibrated on Australian roads.

Chinese-market pricing translates to roughly A$71,000–A$90,000, although the Australian version is expected to cost 20% to 30% more once local luxury taxes and shipping costs are factored in.

The Freelander 8 is a premium, three-row electrified SUV that brings back Land Rover’s iconic Freelander name, but it is no longer a conventional Land Rover model. 

The SUV is the first flagship product from a 50:50 joint venture between Jaguar Land Rover and Chery, known as Chery Jaguar Land Rover (CJLR) where JLR handles the vehicle’s luxury styling and design cues, while Chery supplies the advanced platform architecture, electric drivetrains and manufacturing capability.