Freelander 8 PHEV Packs 617 HP And Off-Road Gear, But Costs $82K

Land Rover’s name is missing from the badge, but the new Freelander 8 has plenty of familiar ambitions. Developed by the Chery-Jaguar Land Rover joint venture in China, this large luxury SUV combines plug-in hybrid power with serious off-road hardware. Its Middle East version now has confirmed specifications, and the numbers are impressive.

The starting price in the UAE, however, is around $81,700.

Unlike the Chinese version, which uses an 818-hp extended-range electric setup, the Middle East model pairs a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with a 34.12-kWh LFP battery and two electric motors. Total output reaches 617 hp and 662 Nm of torque. The SUV can travel up to 68 miles on electricity alone, with a claimed combined range of 550 miles.

DC fast charging takes the battery from 20% to 80% in 20 minutes or less. Despite weighing 6,570 pounds and stretching more than 201 inches long, it can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 5.8 seconds.

The Freelander 8 also looks ready for more than smooth city roads. Its Intelligent All-Terrain System offers nine driving modes, while adaptive air suspension provides up to 10.5 inches of ground clearance. The SUV can tackle gradients of up to 70%, cross an 800-mm axle test and wade through water up to 900 mm deep. In other words, this isn’t just another luxury SUV wearing rugged styling.

Inside, there’s room for six across three rows, with optional massage functions for the second-row seats and ventilation for the third row. A huge 46.3-inch 8K Mini LED display stretches across the dashboard, joined by a 15.6-inch central screen. Standard driver assistance includes more than 30 functions, while automated parking and vehicle-summoning features will be available in selected markets.

The UAE is the Freelander’s first international market, with prices starting at AED 300,000. The brand plans to expand across the Middle East and North Africa before moving into markets such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the EU. The Chinese model starts at around $50,000, making the UAE price look steep. Import duties, VAT, equipment, and the different powertrain help explain the gap, but this new SUV will still need to prove that buyers are willing to pay luxury-car money for a newcomer.