Freelander 8 EREV vs PHEV: power, batteries and UAE launch
Freelander 8 arrives in the UAE with a 2.0-litre PHEV, 460 kW and a smaller battery than China’s 610 kW EREV. Prices remain unconfirmed.
The Freelander 8 sold in China and the SUV unveiled for the Middle East use fundamentally different hybrid systems. The Chinese version is an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) with a 1.5-litre petrol engine serving as a generator. The international version is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. Sharing a name does not mean sharing specifications.
According to Chery Group data released on 14 October 2026, the Middle Eastern Freelander 8 produces up to 460 kW, approximately 625 metric horsepower, and 662 Nm. Its powertrain combines a 2.0T petrol engine, two traction electric motors and all-wheel drive. The manufacturer quotes 0–100 km/h in 5.8 seconds.
The international model has a 34.12 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. The manufacturer claims 110 km of electric-only driving and a combined range of 886 km with a full battery and fuel tank. These figures use the test cycle specified for the Middle Eastern version, not certified WLTP figures. Chery says charging from 20% to 80% takes no more than 20 minutes.
The Chinese Freelander 8 uses a different configuration. Its 1.5-litre petrol engine acts as a generator while electric motors propel the vehicle. Combined output reaches 610 kW, or around 829 metric horsepower, with 813 Nm of torque. A 60.3 kWh battery offers up to 310 km of electric driving under the Chinese CLTC cycle. The claimed 0–100 km/h time is 4.6 seconds.
The Middle Eastern PHEV therefore has 150 kW less peak power and a battery 26.18 kWh smaller than the Chinese EREV. However, its claimed 110 km cannot be directly compared with the Chinese 310 km: the tests and conditions differ. Neither figure alone proves how the two vehicles will compare in everyday driving.
The international Freelander 8 debuted on 29 September 2026 in Abu Dhabi. The FREELANDER brand, developed with Chery and JLR, selected the UAE as its first overseas market. Al Tayer Motors handles sales and servicing in Dubai and the northern emirates, while Premier Motors covers Abu Dhabi.
An official retail price for the new 2.0-litre hybrid in the UAE has not been announced. Expressions of interest are being accepted, but delivery dates and full sales terms are still pending. It is therefore too early to compare the prices of the Chinese and international Freelander 8.