First Drive: iCaur V25 REEV AWD
iCaur, the new energy vehicle brand under the Chery umbrella, has unveiled the all-new V25. It slots in between the compact V23 and the larger, plusher V27 (due on SA tarmac soon), completing the brand’s trio of V-badged SUVs.
More importantly, the V25 sets out to fix the V23’s most glaring shortcomings without growing into full-size SUV territory. You get more range and more cabin space, and that retro, Tonka-toy styling that made the V23 so easy to love stays.
Extended powertrain lineup: BEV and REEV
While the pure-electric V23 offers decent range for weekly urban commutes, the V25 is built for longer hauls. It’s engineered to take either a fully electric powertrain or a REEV (range-extender electric vehicle) setup, with two- or four-wheel drive.
Exact specs for the all-electric version are still under wraps, but we’d wager on a setup similar to the V23’s. That car comes in RWD (100kW/180Nm) or AWD (150kW/292Nm) form, with a 59.93kWh or 81.8kWh battery, respectively.
As for the debut car, it’s the REEV AWD, which features a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine that acts as a generator to recharge the 33.68kWh battery pack. There is no mechanical connection to the V25’s wheels. Instead, the wheels are powered by two e-motors, a 150kW unit up front and a 185kW unit at the back. Together, they deliver 335kW and 505Nm, managed by iCaur’s i-AWD torque distribution and i-SWIFT Agile Handling Platform.
Drivers can pick from five driving modes: Forced EV, EV Priority, Hybrid, Fuel First, and Forced Charge. With a charged battery, iCaur claims a fuel consumption of just 1.5l/100km, rising to a still-respectable 7l/100km once the battery is drained. Pure electric range is estimated at 150km, but with a full tank feeding the generator, total range stretches to 1,200km.
Familiar design with increased practicality
Visually, the V25 doesn’t stray from the boxy blueprint, with the same upright stance, round headlights, and squared-off silhouette as its siblings. It measures 4,636mm long, 1,920mm wide, and 1,855mm tall on a 2,820mm wheelbase. That’s 416mm more than the V23, which puts it in Toyota RAV4 territory.
The extra metal translates directly into actual usability. Boot space starts at 378 litres, expands to 998 litres with the rear seats folded, and tops out at 1,549 litres. Scatterbrained owners will appreciate the 41 cubbies dotted around the interior, while future BEV variants add 22 litres of underfloor storage and a ‘frunk.’
What’s the interior of the V25 like?
Step inside and it’s familiar territory, with a few key upgrades. Unlike the V23, the V25 gets a fully digital instrument cluster, a revised centre console and a 15-speaker sound system. It retains the chunky switches, tactile dials, and 15.4-inch infotainment screen from the V23. The standard kit is generous, including a sliding panoramic glass roof, electrically adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and driver memory settings.
Safety comes in the form of seven airbags and a suite of driver-assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot detection, and driver monitoring. A 540-degree surround-view camera and automated parking assistance are also available.
Hard plastics on the steering wheel and door handles let the interior down, but soft-touch materials adorn key touchpoints. The result is a cabin that feels a clear step above the rest of the Chery family.
How does the iCaur V25 drive?
Our brief stint behind the wheel took place on the company’s off-road testing circuit. With all-terrain tyres fitted and ‘Muddy’ mode selected, we set off with healthy scepticism. On paper, thrashing a high-voltage electric box in thick mud should end in bogged-down frustration.
It doesn’t. Despite lacking proper mud-plugging hardware like mechanical diff locks or a low-range transfer case, the V25 meters out its power impressively well. It’s playful enough to let the tail wag on slippery terrain when provoked, then hooks up with real resolve when you need traction. The ride is noticeably firmer than the V23’s, and the steering leans towards being light and heavily assisted, but the V25 tackles rough terrain with eager, direct responses that make it easy to point and shoot.
Power delivery is smooth rather than the immediate, neck-snapping torque spike typical of high-output EVs, with a punchy petrol-like shove instead. Don’t mistake that for slow. With a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds, the 2.7-tonne boxy SUV is no slouch off the line.
Blind-spot visibility is notably poor due to the solid, windowless rear quarter panels, so you’ll lean heavily on the surround cameras. On the flip side, there’s 6kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability to power external appliances and a braked towing capacity of 1.8 tonnes.
Goldilocks syndrome?
iCaur may well have saved the best V-Series model for last. The V25 builds on the already likeable V23 and keeps all of its retro charm, then adds the long-distance range and cabin space the smaller car lacked. Whether it hits the local sweet spot will come down to price. If iCaur SA lands it with both BEV and REEV options at a sharp number, this boxy, Tonka-toy SUV could be the one to beat.
Words & Images: Cale Nuttall
