This Retro EV From China Is the Coolest Off-Roader You’ve Never Heard Of
A tiny, boxy, and adorably rugged compact all-electric SUV, the Chery iCar V23, is capturing global attention by blending retro off-road style with state-of-the-art EV technology. The Chery iCar V23 doesn’t just reinvent the SUV—it reinvents how an affordable electric car should feel. It starts at just $13,700 (when directly converted), feels “shockingly advanced” inside, and highlights a significant gap in the US market for accessible, playful EVs. While this “Global Player” is headed worldwide, it is, unfortunately, unavailable in the United States.
When Retro Meets the Algorithm: Design and Tech Fusion
The iCar V23’s design philosophy is to “digitize nostalgia,” merging classic 4×4 looks with modern, minimalist tech.
- Retro Aesthetics: Features round headlights, a smoked grille, and a boxy, upright stance, looking like it drove straight out of a vintage adventure film.
- Modularity & Utility: The exterior is highly functional, with squared-off fenders that can detach and swap out for off-road versions. The rear door swings sideways, like old-school 4x4s, and conceals a 3.2-cubic-foot “backpack” trunk for tools or gear.
- Advanced Interior: The clean, modular cabin features minimalist white panels and clever storage. The centerpiece is a responsive, tablet-like 15.4-inch 2.5K central display powered by a fast Snapdragon 8155 chip. This combination makes it the “meeting point between your dad’s boxy 4×4 and your smartphone”.
Driving the Future, Silently: Performance and Capability
Behind its old-school shell is a capable, modern electric powertrain that prioritizes efficiency and practical off-road capability.
- Powertrain: The dual-motor AWD setup delivers 211 horsepower and instant torque.
- Performance: It can sprint from 0-62 mph in 7.5 seconds.
- Range: It offers a real-world range of up to 311 miles under the CLTC cycle.
- Off-Road Ready: With 8.3 inches of ground clearance and healthy approach and departure angles, it’s perfectly at home on gravel trails and city detours, though it’s not trying to be an off-road monster.
- Practicality: The steering is light, the ride is smooth, and the space is thoughtfully designed. Folding the rear seats unlocks up to 26.3 cubic feet of flat cargo room.
The Reality Check: Toyota Looks Back, Chery Looks Forward
The Chery iCar V23 offers a compelling juxtaposition to the market’s current wave of nostalgic off-roaders.
- Contrasting Philosophies: While fans are focused on the new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ, the article suggests the FJ “sits on a generations-old platform, powered by a 2.7-liter gasoline engine” (the Fortuner’s engine).
- Digital-First Approach: Chery, conversely, takes the same retro design inspiration and “reimagines it for the electric era”—clean, quiet, and digital-first.
- Global Availability (Excluding US): The V23 is a global product, set to be sold across Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. The odds of seeing one on American roads are “slim to none” due to trade relations and strict homologation rules.
Final Thoughts
The Chery iCar V23 is a powerful statement that EVs don’t have to be bland or unaffordable. Its fun, practical design and impressive specs for its $13,700 price point demonstrate that the future doesn’t have to erase the past—it can upgrade it. As the EV lights pulsed softly under the Wuhu light, the realization was clear: EVs can be playful again, and innovation can “just hum quietly, like a well-tuned motor under an old-school shell”. The world is indeed “missing out big time” on the potential of this electric SUV to shake up the mainstream market.
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