Freelander 8: first contact with the new seven-seat Chinese SUV

Freelander is back with the 8, a large SUV aimed at families and fleet buyers, offering seven seats and a global-market brief. The model driven here is still being polished, but it already prioritises comfort, practicality and a generous equipment list.

On the road, the emphasis is clearly on smoothness rather than excitement: light steering, progressive responses and a soft suspension setup. Efficiency, cabin quality and pricing still need to be confirmed before it can be judged a serious European contender.