We Drove The iCaur 03 EV – Here’s Our First Impressions

June 16, 2025

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We drove the iCaur 03 by Chery and here’s what we thought.

Chery Holding Group seems to have adopted a unique strategy for expansion—create a new brand for every niche market that needs addressing. They began their journey in Malaysia with the core Chery brand, aimed squarely at the mass market. Then came Jaecoo and Omoda, both aspiring toward a premium design image. This was followed by Jetour, distinguished by its hyper-aggressive pricing and a separate assembler and dealer network. At the Malaysia Autoshow 2025, we were introduced to iCaur—and no, that’s not a typo.

iCaur is a localized adaptation, created in response to trademark conditions in Southeast Asia, where “iCar” is already a registered business. The way I see it, there are two ways to interpret this move—and how you view it might just reveal whether you’re the target market for this brand.

Perspective One:

“This is silly. We don’t need another Chinese SUV brand. Imagine having to tell your in-laws you spent two years’ wages on something called iCaur.”

This group tends to dismiss most of Chery’s sub-brands out of hand. They laugh at the name “Chery,” scoff at “Jaecoo” being a portmanteau of “Jaeger” and “Cool,” and wonder what on earth “Omoda” and “Jetour” are supposed to mean.

Perspective Two:

This is pure pragmatism. Chery Holding Group is hungry to expand, and they don’t waste a second—or a sen—on anything that doesn’t add tangible value. To them, what ultimately matters is getting the right product, at the right price, at the right time.

And if you think about it, Chery has consistently overdelivered on specifications, beaten pricing expectations, and launched more products and brands faster than any of its rivals.

So yes, iCaur is a strange name. But what’s in a name, really? iCaur was the fastest, cheapest, and most effective route to market— and if that translates to a lower selling price for a solid performing product, the customer is going to respond.

So, what about the product—the iCaur 03?

We spent about an hour driving it last week, and honestly, it wasn’t terrible. It’s an all-electric, off-road-capable SUV with styling cues clearly inspired by the Defender.

Here are some key specs and impressions:

Key Specifications:

Dual-motor Intelligent Wheel Drive (iWD)
Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow, Mud & Sand drive modes
279 PS / 385 Nm total system output
0–100 km/h in 6.5 seconds
150 km/h top speed
418 km NEDC range
69.8 kWh LFP battery
6.6 kW AC charging
80 kW DC charging
3.3 kW V2L (vehicle-to-load)
Aluminium body and frame
Off-road-optimised suspension
19-inch wheels

Driving Impressions:

Head-turner: Whether you love or hate the design, it gets noticed. Even during our shoot, bystanders came up to ask about it.

Quick off the line: It’s not supercar-fast, but more than adequate for an off-road-style SUV. Not particularly engaging through corners, though.

Infotainment: The main screen is larger than expected, but the digital instrument cluster feels undersized.

All-digital controls: Most functions, including drive modes and climate, are hidden in touchscreen menus. Prepare to go icon hunting.

Build quality: Generally solid, though some black plastics on the door cards and the light grey headliner lack an upmarket touch.

Front passenger seat: Surprisingly includes calf support—an unexpected touch.

Boot space: Fairly small with a high floor. No frunk, but the power cables fit into a rear storage box opened by pressing the “dot” on the “i.” The latch and elastic straps inside feel flimsy.

Rear seats: Fold flat for expanded cargo, but to get a fully flat floor, you’ll need to collapse the bench first.

Electronic door handles: Retractable on the outside, electronic latch on the inside. Each door hides a ‘barely marked’ manual release—potentially a safety issue.