An example of the upcoming iCaur V25 has been spotted out and about on Sydney roads, giving us an early look at Chery’s latest SUV brand ahead of its launch in 2027.
We came across this silver V25 driving through Sydney this week, likely undergoing local evaluation and testing ahead of its showroom arrival. It’s not the first V25 seen in Australia, with another example previously photographed by other media, charging in Goulburn, NSW.
iCaur – pronounced ‘iCar’ – is another brand under the rapidly expanding Chery Group umbrella, following the recent local debut of Lepas, as well as Jaecoo and Omoda last year. The V25 will be its first model sold in Australia.
The boxy five-seat SUV certainly stands out in traffic, with a design that seems to take inspiration from various traditional off-roaders such as old Land Rover Defenders and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Despite appearances, however, the V25 uses a monocoque platform rather than a ladder-frame chassis.
It adopts a mid-size SUV layout, measuring 4636mm long, 1920mm wide and 1855mm tall, with a 2820mm wheelbase. That’s similar in size to popular medium SUVs such as the RAV4, although with a taller profile.
Exactly what will power the Australian-market V25 is yet to be officially detailed. However, the V25 in China is offered with a range-extender plug-in hybrid system, incorporating a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine producing 115kW, matched with a 33.68kWh LFP battery. Rather than providing mechanical drive to the wheels, the petrol engine is used as a generator.
Chinese regulatory information lists both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations, with an electric-only driving range of up to 150km on the WLTC cycle. A dual-motor version offers a combined output of 335kW, while towing capacity is listed at up to 1800kg.
Other overseas specifications include 19- and 21-inch wheel options, an approach angle of 28 degrees, and a side-opening tailgate. The unusual box mounted to the tailgate provides an additional 22.7 litres of storage – it’s not a spare wheel, oddly.
Australian pricing and the final powertrain lineup are expected to be announced soon ahead of showroom entry in 2027. In the meantime, it appears development and evaluation work is in full swing.
