iCaur V27 2027 review: International first drive

Looks can be deceiving. The all-new iCaur V27 might appear to be a distant relative of the Mercedes G-wagen but beneath its rugged, good looks lurks a large SUV that's happier on-road than extreme overlanding out in the bush.

On sale in Australia from February next year, the iCaur V27 will be the first of a full range of models that will also include a still-to-be-released smaller mid-size V25 and, later on in 2028 or 2029 the baby Suzuki Jimny-rivalling V23 should rock up.

Read More About iCaur V27

• Chery's iCaur confirmed for Australia with electric V27 large and mid-size V25 4WDs coming in 2027 to battle 2026 Land Rover Defender, Denza B5
• Chery has confirmed Lepas, iCaur and Freelander sub brands are coming to Australia from 2026 and isn't concerned it will cannibalise its sales
• Best EVs Australia 2026

Measuring in at 5045mm long, 1976mm wide and 1894mm tall, the V27 shares a footprint with the GWM Tank 500 and is a little bigger than the Denza B5 (4888mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall).

It's the latter, that one exec from iCaur told CarsGuide is the real rival it is targeting Down Under.

Which is a bit odd as on paper at least, the iCaur V27 isn't a real match.

Not only is the V27 based on a more car-like monocoque, it lacks height-adjustable air suspension which means ground clearance is limited to a paltry 224mm. Both the approach (24-deg) and departure (23deg) angles are also severely lacking compared to the Denza's 39 degrees.

iCaur says its V27 can wade water depths up to 600mm, a little off the 790mm the Denza B5 can traverse.

Available with only a range-extender hybrid powertrain, in some markets a 185kW rear-wheel-drive version will be an option but in Australia we think we'll just get the all-wheel-drive V27.

Unlike a typical plug-in hybrid, the small 1.5-litre four-cylinder combustion engine only acts a generator when the 34.3kWh battery is depleted. Combined with a pair of electric motors driving each axle, total power is 335kW, while torque is around 505Nm for a quick 0-100km/h dash of 5.9 seconds.

That's more than a second adrift of the more powerful Denza B5 that can also tow 3000kg, compared to the 1600kg the V27 can haul.

With a full charge, iCaur says the V27 can cover up to 150km on EV power alone on the NEDC test cycle, while a 60-litre tank extends the total range to around 995km.

Usefully, the battery is capable of DC charging up to 60kW, although a 20-80 per cent top-up still takes around 30 minutes.

Vehicle-to-load charging or powering of domestic appliances is also available at up to 6kW.

Naturally, the chunky exterior styling is reflected within, with a stepped dashboard, large rotary dial and proper physical controls. Like other Chery brands, the driver gets a pillar-box slim 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, but taking pride of place is a freestanding 15.4-inch infotainment that's runs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor.

Both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.

Like the smaller V23, there are toggle auxiliary switches on the roof ready for accessories like an additional light bar.

Dual wireless chargers are also present, as well as 50 different storage compartments, and a large 715-litre boot that includes a hidden 40-litre compartment for valuables.

Perhaps disappointingly, considering its size, a third row of seats isn't even an option but handily if you drop the second row you open up a cavernous near-two-metre-long load area with up to 1818 litres of space.

It's hard not to like the twin-pane panoramic roof, plus the generous head- and legroom in the second row. Overall, the V27 impresses in and out.

Giving us a limited chance to experience the iCaur V27 behind the wheel, we tested the large SUV over a muddy and slimy obstacle course with a car shod with grippier all-terrain tyres.

As soon as we eased the V27 off the line, the first iCaur destined for Australia instantly impresses, mainly because of the nature of its powertrain as it feels just like an EV, as only the electric motors drive all four wheels.

That means there is instant torque, with plenty of power off the line. Over the lumps and bumps the magnetic adaptive dampers did a good job of providing a decent ride.

Driving only in a mud-friendly off-road mode (there's are eight other driving modes available), traction was remarkable thanks to its locking electronic rear differential, although grippier tyres probably did most of the heavy lifting.

We weren't allowed to try the tank turn feature, nor even permitted to escape the facility and drive on public roads, so our first positive impressions should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt, but precise steering and those car-like underpinnings, proper multi-link rear suspension and the smooth, punchy powertrains bode well for Australians.

If you tow heavy loads or go further off-road, the Denza B5, Land Rover Defender or default Toyota Prado will all prove a better bet, with the V27 only able to haul 1600kg (braked). For reference the B5 can tug 3000kg.

There is no word on how iCaur will kit-out its flagship SUV locally, but expect a power tailgate, LED front and rear headlamps, electric-fold mirrors, a trick multi-colour ambient lighting and six-way adjust heated and ventilated synthetic seats to all be standard.

With seven airbags, a 540-degree surround camera, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, front and rear collision alert and blind-spot warning, plus an advanced adaptive cruise control, iCaur has designed its V27 to achieve full marks in future Euro NCAP and ANCAP testing.

iCaur has been timed to land just a few months after fellow Chery-owned Lepas will rock up in Australia. Even though there has been no official confirmation, we'd be amazed if the 4x4 brand didn't match the eight-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty Jaecoo models come with, even though it will be sold via a different dealer network.

Locally, the V27 is priced from just 200,000 Chinese yuan (A$40,000), but it's not known what the range will kick off from. The insider told CarsGuide that its V27 will be positioned lower than the Denza B5 ($74,990-$79,990), with the prediction it could trouble small mid-size SUVs with a price tag of around $65,000 plus on-roads.