iCaur V23 Is An EV With Off-road Capability Which Is Why Its So Popular Now
This is the first product in the automotive world to take a ‘jab’ at the very popular MINI (BMW Group). Thank about it, since the modern MINI was launched in 2001 there has been NO rival from any part of the automotive world.
Ok, some will say that the modern VW Beetle (which was sadly retired by the VW Group in July 2019 after an impressive 81 years in production) was a rival, with its evergreen looks and iconic nameplate.
Well, there has been no other rival, yes some have come close with their compact 3 door models, but nothing like a modern MINI which is instantly recognisable by all motorists, enthusiasts and car lovers.
Meanwhile, 2 years ago, at the Auto Shanghai 2023 show in China, we saw a ‘funky’ styled vehicle on display and it was a Chery brand new sub-brand called iCar. Today it is known as iCaur in export markets like Malaysia. At the show we saw ‘mini countryman’ inspired compact 4×4 vehicle that had elements of the ‘Jimny’ and also ‘Hummer’. But with a compact footprint which made it slight larger than a Jimny and slight taller than a Countryman.
Then in May 2025 iCaur made its first official appearance in Malaysia at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025 and in late August 2025 sales started in Malaysia with a fast growing dealer network.
Today, you can see this MINI rival on our roads and in attractive colours and detailing around the vehicle.
This iCaur V23 and its sibling, the iCaur 03 sells well in Malaysia as a retro-styled, off-road ready electric SUV, launching in late 2025 with competitive pricing from around RM119,800 to RM132,800 and comes with strong and robust factory warranty.
Priced competitively against other EVs like the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 and the BYD Atto3 ULTRA, it is targeting young buyers with a bold stand-out design, V2L capability and smart cabin technology. Its square, boxy look with modern flair appeals to trend-focused youth.
The V23 Cabin
The iCAUR V23 cabin blends retro-rugged design with modern tech, featuring a large 15.4-inch touchscreen, physical rotary knobs for climate and audio volume, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, a flat floor for better rear seating comfort and unique storage compartments around the cabin (tailgate net, under-seat tray).
Interesting features include a 540-degree transparent chassis camera and this system provides a 3D view of the surroundings and underneath the vehicle to assist in manoeuvring over obstacles and there is also Level 2 ADAS (adaptive cruise, lane departure).
The V23 Drive
From entry into the V23 the powertrain ‘wakes up’ and it’s ready to go once you click the right stalk behind the steering wheel into ‘D’. Like most electric vehicles from China, there is no ignition button as the vehicle detects the key, wakes the system and the vehicle is ready to go. When you end your journey, put the stalk into ‘P’ and leave the vehicle and its shuts down.
Now, when you start driving this V23 it is quick off the line, not uncontrollable quick like many electric cars and this a ‘good thing’ as you don’t want a sports car acceleration in a chunky vehicle.
The rest to 100km/h run is done in 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 140 km/h. As you move in and out of traffic, its actually quite agile and the handling is very good due to its weight and the all wheel drive motor system. The steering is well weighted and the turning radius is very good, even in tight narrow roads.
Driver gets very good all round visibility and the seats are very comfortable (soft and wet padded). In car entertainment is good and the 15.4-inch screen in the centre of the dashboard houses all your functions (even the drive instrument cluster). The software is easy to use and quick and you need just a few days with the system to understand all the given functions.
By the way, there is also a NFC Smart Key, for convenient access into the V23. You get a boot that provides 234 liters of space and the expanded boot space with rear seats folded is a generous 744 liters.
V23 Conclusion
Well, its rugged looking, has all wheel drive for offroad driving, comes with 6 drive modes, has L2 ADAS, has 430km driving range on a full battery charge and is priced at just RM132,800 which is about half of its main EV rival’s asking price and still priced lower than other rivals. All that is left is for you to take a test drive.
The V23 Infotainment System Details
- 15.4-inch Quad HD Touchscreen: Integrates infotainment and controls, with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
- Snapdragon 8155 Processor For smooth, fast operation.
- 540-Degree Transparent Chassis Camera For enhanced off-road visibility.
- 7-Speaker Sound System For immersive audio.
V23 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (iWD) Powertrain Specifications
Motors: Dual-motor setup (front and rear).
Front: 75 PS (55 kW) and 112 Nm.
Rear: 136 PS (100 kW) and 180 Nm.
Total Output: Combined 211 PS (155 kW) and 292 Nm of torque.
Battery: 81.76 kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC).
Performance: 0–100 km/h in 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 140 km/h.
Range: Approximately 430 km (NEDC) or 501 km (CLTC).
There are 6 drive modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Individual)
V23 Two Wheel Drive Powertrain Specifications
Motor: Single rear-mounted electric motor.
Output: 136 PS (100 kW) and 180 Nm of torque.
Battery: 59.93 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP).
Performance: 0–100 km/h in 11 seconds with a top speed of 140 km/h.
Range: Approximately 360 km (NEDC) or 401 km (CLTC).
Both variants utilize a single-speed automatic transmission. There is a generous 7-year/150,000km vehicle and 8-year/160,000km battery/drive unit warranty, plus battery health guarantee. iCaur Malaysia has a network of 18 showrooms and nine full-fledged dealerships nationwide right now.
You can visit the official iCaur Malaysia website or contact them via their social media page.
