What if the successor to the Suzuki Jimny was like this?

It is called the iCar V23, produced by Chery and sold in China at a price of around £12,800

Photo by: Motor1.com España

By: Javier Llorente

Dec 10, 2024 at 7:02am ET

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After the recent disappearance of the Suzuki Jimny from the European market, nowadays it is practically impossible to find an off-roader with a cheap or at least a reasonable price. Solutions? Not many. Look for a second-hand bargain, take a look at the world of pick-ups, or wait for the arrival of new models - mainly Chinese - that will revive the segment from the bottom up.

Among these is the iCar V23. If you don't know it, that's understandable as it's a small off-roader developed by the Chinese giant Chery (owner of Omoda and Jaecoo among others) with the collaboration of Xiaomi. It is not sold in Europe, but if it were, it could be successful. Although...

iCar V23: a cheap, attractive... and electric SUV

Undoubtedly, the first striking feature of the model is its design: typical of a classic off-roader, reminiscent in some features of other great icons of the segment such as the Land Rover Defender, Mercedes G-Class and Toyota Land Cruiser.

iCar V23: looks like a new Defender

Beyond the looks, the main feature is the powertrain. No petrol or diesel engines but a 100% electric system, and 4x4 of course. Otherwise, what off-road vehicle would it be? The four-wheel drive is provided by two motors, one per axle, 136 PS at the front and 75 PS at the rear. For those who are content, there is also a 136 PS front-wheel-drive version. According to official data from the Chinese homologation cycle - far more permissive than our WLTP - the range is between 250 and 311 miles, depending on whether two- or four-wheel drive is chosen.

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The technical specifications are respectable: angle of attack of 43° and exit angle of 41°, with ground clearance of 212 mm. The dimensions then are perfect for the city, with a length of 4.22 metres. Well above those of the Suzuki Jimny (3.48 metres without spare wheel), but still sufficient to get around without particular difficulty both on the road and off-road.

iCar V23: even the interior is reminiscent of the new Defender

Let's just say that the electric powertrain could represent a major obstacle in the event of its arrival in Europe, both because battery-powered cars have yet to make inroads in the Old Continent and because of the price issue. In China, the iCar V23 costs the equivalent of around €15,000 (approx. £12,800). This is very little, but between the differences in list prices between the Asian and European markets and the tariffs on Chinese electric cars, the cost could rise by quite a bit. A full hybrid powertrain could be the perfect solution.