The return of the Freelander SUV will come to Australia in 2027, but it won’t be sold or made by Land Rover. The new Freelander off-road SUV will return to Australian shores in 2027, but will be built and sold by Chinese car maker Chery as yet another new-car brand. Though the Freelander was originally a Land Rover model, the British brand greenlit development and production of a new version from Chery in 2024.

Chery Australia has confirmed the Freelander – now a separate brand – will arrive in Australia in 2027, joining other Chery offshoots such as Jaecoo, Omoda, and Lepas. MORE: Chery reveals solid-state battery tech rated for beyond 1500km EV driving range Chery also has plans to launch other in-house names including iCar, Rely, Jetour, QQ, and Exeed. While the first model under the Freelander brand is yet to be revealed, it has been previewed with the Concept 97 – named as homage to the first-generation Land Rover Freelander’s year of release.

While Chery has taken the lead on development of the new Freelander Concept 97, Land Rover has had input from the brand’s outgoing chief creative officer and design lead of the original Freelander Gerry McGovern – as evidenced by its styling. MORE: New car brands set to launch in Australia The concept sports boxy aesthetics similar to the first two generations of Freelander, but modernises the silhouette with simpler lines and rounder edges. However, the high-riding SUV still implies a level of ruggedness thanks to prominent underbody cladding, all-terrain tyres, and roof rails.

New, however, is the ‘Freelander’ debossed front fascia, as well as freestyle doors that open to a touchscreen-heavy interior. The concept boasts three rows of seating, but only five seats as one of the second-row positions is used as a footrest for the rear-most passenger. MORE: Chery wants you to name its new diesel-hybrid ute Aside from styling, the Freelander is also brought into the modern age thanks to its powertrain choices.

Built on an 800-volt electric architecture, the 2027 Freelander is said to support all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and range-extender options, but exactly which engines will be made available in Australia is still unclear. Little else is known about the model, but more details – including a full reveal – are expected later this year. → Add Drive as a preferred source in Google Search