iCaur V23 first drive impression

What is iCaur?

Owned by the Chery Group, iCaur (originally "iCar" in China) is an EV brand with retro styling at its core. 

• The name: Outside of China, the brand is styled as iCaur (pronounced "i-Car") to avoid trademark disputes (with a certain tech giant in Cupertino).

• The vibe: The brand describes itself as a "scenery-intelligent" brand. Essentially, they aren't just selling transport; they are selling an outdoor lifestyle for younger, tech-savvy urbanites who want to escape the city on weekends.

• The connection: The V23 is notable for being the first collaboration between Chery and Zhimi Technology (a company within the Xiaomi ecosystem), bringing a heavy dose of consumer-tech logic to the car's interior and interface.

The V23's interior is a blend of retro and modern design elements

Market introduction

iCaur is currently rolling out across global markets, including Southeast Asia and South Africa (with an expected launch in April 2026).

• Positioning: It sits alongside Chery’s other brands like Omoda and Jaecoo but targets a more electric-only audience.

• The "V" vs "0" Series: The 0-series is aimed at younger urban users, while the V-series focuses on more mature, off-road-capable adventure.

We've seen early iterations of the 0 series models, but the product pictured is bigger and more developed

The iCaur V23

The V23 evokes miniature G-Wagon or modern electric Suzuki Jimny styling, thanks to its square silhouette.

Exterior & Design

The V23 places an emphasis on short overhangs and wheels pushed right to the corners—classic off-roading geometry.

• Ground Clearance: It boasts 210mm clearance.

• Angles: With a 43° approach and 41° departure angle, it should be rather capable

• Signature Look: Notice the round LED headlights and the "backpack" on the rear (not a spare tyre).

Jimny meets G-Wagon meets Defender

Performance & power

The V23 is available in two main flavours:

• RWD (Single Motor): Focused on efficiency, producing about 100kW/180Nm.

• AWD (Dual Motor): A much punchier variant with 155kW/292Nm.

Range & battery

• Standard range: A 60kWh battery offering roughly 400km (CLTC).

• Long range: An 82kWh battery pushing the range closer to 500km.

Interior

Inside, you'll find a massive 15.4-inch touchscreen powered by the Snapdragon 8155 chip. Unlike some rivals that remove all buttons, the V23 keeps chunky, tactile dials below the screen.

Modular hardware interfaces

The V23 is designed with 20 pre-wired modification interfaces scattered around the body. This is a game-changer for DIY enthusiasts because it means you can plug in accessories without hacking into the car's main wiring harness.

• Quick-release panels: The fenders and bumpers are designed to be swapped out easily. If you scratch one off-road or just want a different look (like the "Cyber" or "Retro" editions), you can change them with basic tools.

• External "Backpack": That square box on the tailgate isn't just for show. It’s a modular storage unit that can be swapped for different utility modules, such as a tool kit, a first-aid station, or an external battery pack.

The Cyber and Retro packs

To show off the platform's versatility, iCaur offers official "thematic" kits:

• Retro Edition: Leans into the vintage aesthetic with white-wall style wheel covers, chrome-heavy grilles, and soft-tone Khaki or Army Green matte finishes.

• Cyberspace Edition: Uses high-gloss black accents, aggressive LED light bars, and "Metropolis" style wheels for a futuristic, urban look.

The Retro pack might be a bit much for some

Interior personalisation

The customisation continues inside, where the cabin acts as a blank canvas:

• Universal mounts: There are dedicated mounting points on the dash and doors for action cameras (GoPros), specialised phone holders, and even a drop-down tablet mount for rear passengers.

• Roof-mounted switches: The V23 features a row of physical "auxiliary switches" on the ceiling, pre-wired to control aftermarket gear like roof-mounted floodlights or winches.

• V2L (Vehicle-to-Load): Every model supports 3.3kW power output, letting you plug in coffee machines, projectors, or camping fridges directly into the car.

Official accessories catalogue

The brand is set to launch a range of locally-sourced accessories, which may include:

• Adventure gear: Side steps, roof racks with integrated ladders, and underbody protection plates (sump guards) for serious trails.

• Visual mods: Multiple "Signature Face" grille designs that can be swapped to change the front-end personality entirely.

• Lifestyle add-ons: Tailgate-mounted workbenches/picnic tables and custom-fit all-weather floor liners.

• Wraps: The brand will offer wrapping options for owners to further customise their vehicles.

V23 vs 03

Pricing and availability

According to the brand, some orders have been placed before official pricing has been announced, but we have it on good authority that the two-wheel-drive V23 could start from as low as R550 000 and extend up to R650 000, all of which has not been confirmed. We will find out more detailed pricing and local specifications closer to the local launch, which is set to take place in early Q2 of 2026, after homologation has been completed.