11 hours ago
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A line of tough-looking soft-roaders from Chery's new iCaur brand – with Land Rover look-alike styling, and electric or hybrid power – is coming to Australia.
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Chery is due to launch a new range of Land Rover Defender-inspired SUVs in Australia next year under the iCaur badge, offering electric and range-extender hybrid power.
Sold in China as iCar, but renamed for export markets due to a trademark clash, iCaur specialises in SUVs with the boxy styling of Defenders and classic LandCruisers, but with only modest off-road capability due to an outright urban focus.
iCaur is due in Australian showrooms in the first half of 2027 with two models: the Defender-sized V27 large SUV, and a smaller, Toyota RAV4 or GWM Tank 300-sized V25.
The V25 will be sold with a choice of electric and range-extender (REEV) power – where a small petrol engine generates energy for the electric motors driving the wheels – while the V27 will be REEV only.
A smaller, Suzuki Jimny-sized V23 sold in China is not due in Australia until 2028 or 2029, with the arrival of an updated model.
Precise Australian details are yet to be confirmed – including prices – but iCaur vehicles will be sold through their own dealer network, separate to Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo's combined showrooms, and the upcoming Lepas marque.
An iCaur representative told Drive at a preview of the new brand in China this week that the V27 is planned to cost less than a Denza B5 from BYD's luxury spin-off, which starts from $74,990 plus on-road costs.
Drive understands it is a conservative estimate, and that final prices will be lower, given the Denza is pitched as a luxury vehicle with true off-road capability.
While they are styled like hardcore off-roaders, the iCaur range is based on a car-derived 'monocoque' platform, with four-wheel independent suspension, and no low-range transfer case or differential locks.
Representatives in China said the V27 and V25 are planned to launch the brand in Australia next year, and while they could not confirm which is due first, only the V27 has made its global debut thus far.
At more than five metres long – including the spare wheel – it is similar in size to a Defender 110 or LandCruiser Prado, with a 50mm longer wheelbase (2900mm) than the popular Toyota.
A spare wheel will be fitted to the tailgate of all Australian iCaur vehicles, something brand representatives say is a response to customer feedback.
Powering the V27 is either one 185kW/300Nm rear electric motor, or dual motors – 185kW/300Nm rear and 150kW/205Nm front, for 335kW combined – assisted by a 34.3kWh battery pack.
Keeping it charged – if you can't plug in – is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 115kW, which is rated to enable a driving range in hybrid mode of up to about 1000km, while electric range is rated at 150km in overseas models.
All-wheel-drive versions are capable of zero to 100km/h in a claimed 5.9 seconds, with a 1600kg tow rating, while the RWD grade – also planned for Australia – quotes 8.9sec.
Less is known about the V25, but it is expected to split the gap between the V23 and V27, and will offer a choice of electric and range-extender drivetrains.
The range-extender will be similar to the system in the V27, while the electric V25 is slated to use a larger battery than the 81.8kWh pack available in the V23, to offset the impact of its larger and heavier body on driving range.
The smaller car is rated for up to 550km of driving range in Chinese CLTC testing, estimated to equate to about 400km to 450km under European WLTP protocols.
Not planned for Australia is the smaller, electric-only V23, even though it is already produced in right-hand drive for overseas markets.
An iCaur representative said it would not arrive in Australia until 2028 or 2029, to coincide with the launch of an updated model claimed to be a better fit for Australia.
A ute version of the larger V25 and V27 is not planned entirely – to mirror the V23 ute shown in China – as iCaur will leave the pick-up market to sister brand Chery.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
