iCAUR V23 Lands in South Africa: A Retro Electric SUV With Real Character

I First Noticed It in Thailand… Before It Reached South Africa

Three weeks in Thailand gave me an unexpected preview of a vehicle I’d soon be writing about.

Moving between Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Samui, I kept spotting this compact, boxy SUV with unmistakable retro off-road styling.

At first glance, it looked like something between a mini Defender and a futuristic Jimny.

But what caught my attention?

It was badged Chery.

Now, seeing the iCAUR V23 officially arrive in South Africa, that observation makes perfect sense.

Because the vehicle I saw in Thailand and the one launching here are fundamentally the same machine.

Here’s the dynamic:

• In China, the brand is iCar
• In export markets like South Africa, it is iCAUR
• In Thailand, it has appeared as Chery V23 under the broader Chery ecosystem.

Same DNA.

Different badges.

And honestly — that global crossover makes the story even more interesting.

Now It’s Here — And It Looks Unlike Anything Else

South Africa’s SUV market has no shortage of crossovers.

But the V23 doesn’t look like a crossover.

It looks like an adventure toy.

And that’s the point.

The brand calls its design language retro-futuristic, and it works.

Key specs confirmed for South Africa include:

• 210 mm ground clearance
• 43° approach angle
• 41° departure angle
• Compact SUV footprint with proper off-road attitude

That’s unusually serious geometry for a compact EV.

And Yes — This Is Fully Electric

Let’s be clear:

This is not a hybrid.

This is not a range extender.

The V23 is a full battery electric SUV.

South African lineup confirmations point to:

V23 2WD

• 100kW
• 180Nm
• 60kWh battery

V23 AWD

• 155kW
• 292Nm
• 81.7kWh battery

Range claims run up to roughly 550km (CLTC) depending on version.

That puts this far beyond novelty territory.

The Lifestyle EV Angle Is Clever

What I like about this launch is:

iCAUR didn’t just build another electric appliance.

It built something with character.

Expected local highlights include:

• 15.4-inch infotainment screen
• Customisable accessory themes
• V2L functionality
• Adventure-oriented packaging
• Personalisation options rarely seen in this segment

It feels more like a lifestyle platform than just transport.

And that matters.

 Pricing in South Africa

Indicative South African pricing has been positioned around:

 R550,000 to R650,000
depending on drivetrain.

That potentially makes it one of the more accessible lifestyle EV SUVs entering the market.

And perhaps one of the most distinctive.

Why It Could Work Here

South Africans like vehicles with personality.

We also like vehicles that look like they can go somewhere.

The V23 taps into both.

It has:

• SUV stance
• Adventure cues
• EV innovation
• And frankly… charm.

That’s rare.

The SportUtilityVehicles.co.za View

What I love about this story is that I first encountered this vehicle organically — in Thailand — before seeing it become part of South Africa’s launch conversation.

That made this launch feel less like another press release…

and more like watching a global automotive trend arrive locally.

And that’s exciting.

Because the iCAUR V23 doesn’t just add another EV to the market.

It adds character.

🏁 Final Word

The V23 may be electric.

But it feels like an old-school SUV idea reimagined.

And in a sea of lookalike crossovers—

that could be exactly why it stands out.