Confirmed! Chery’s new iCaur V25 locked in for Australia: Boxy electrified SUV will lead new brand’s 2027 launch

Chery has confirmed its boxy new iCaur V25 electrified SUV will spearhead the Chinese giant’s latest brand launch in Australia in early 2027.

The confirmation comes just days after the production V25 made its major public debut at the Chengdu motor show, where significantly more technical detail was revealed about the rugged-looking five-seat SUV.

Chery Australia had previously confirmed the iCaur brand was coming here in early 2027, with the V25 and larger V27 both expected to form part of the initial model assault.

Now it has specifically named the V25 as the first iCaur model to join the Australian line-up, although pricing, final specifications and exact launch timing remain under wraps.

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Australian buyers won’t have to wait until next year to see one, either. The V25 will make its local public debut at the Everything Electric show in Sydney from September 18-20.

The V25 is known as an iCar in its Chinese home market – iCaur is the export name because of objections from Apple – and slots between the smaller V23 and larger V27 in Chery’s expanding family of squared-off electrified SUVs.

Measuring 4636mm long including its externally mounted rear storage box, 1920mm wide and 1855mm tall, it rides on a 2820mm wheelbase and uses a five-seat cabin. Ground clearance is 197mm, while approach and departure angles are 30 and 28 degrees respectively.

As revealed in China, the V25 uses a range-extender electric drivetrain.

A Chery-developed 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing up to 115kW acts as the range extender, while a 33.67kWh lithium iron phosphate battery provides 145km or 150km of electric range under the WLTC testing standard, depending on configuration. Chinese regulatory information points to both two- and four-wheel-drive versions.

However, Chery Australia has not yet confirmed which V25 powertrain will be offered here, with its latest announcement saying Australian specification will be detailed closer to launch. That’s important because iCaur has previously outlined both range-extender and battery-electric technology as part of its global product strategy.

The V25 isn’t intended to be a hardcore old-fashioned 4WD despite its appearance. Underneath is independent suspension comprising MacPherson struts at the front and a five-link arrangement at the rear, while 21-inch wheels wrapped in substantial 265mm-wide tyres are standard on the Chinese model.

There’s nevertheless some useful adventure hardware. The Chinese V25 has a 200kg static roof-load rating, fixed aluminium side steps, removable D-pillar panels designed to accommodate accessories such as a ladder or external storage box and an 88-degree side-hinged rear door carrying a 22.7-litre external storage compartment.

Chery has also loaded the V25 with driver-assistance technology. Chinese versions use its Super Falcon 700+ system built around Horizon Robotics’ Journey 6P processor with a claimed 560 TOPS of computing performance, while LiDAR is optional.

In its home market that hardware supports assisted driving on highways and urban roads as well as automated parking, although Australian driver-assistance specifications have yet to be confirmed.

The cabin shown at Chengdu continues the deliberately chunky design theme with a large floating central touchscreen, physical shortcut controls beneath it, a broad centre console incorporating wireless phone charging and significantly more rear-seat room than the smaller V23.

Chery is pitching iCaur as a more lifestyle-oriented new-energy brand rather than simply another mainstream SUV marque, describing the V25 as suitable for both city driving and adventures beyond the bitumen.

“Australia is one of Chery Group’s most important international markets, and we’re delighted to introduce iCaur as the next step in our long-term growth strategy,” said iCaur Australia head of brand Kate Gillis.

“Australian motorists have demonstrated a strong appetite for vehicles that combine style, technology and capability. The V25 has been developed to meet those expectations while bringing a distinctive personality that will appeal to customers looking for something different.”

The V25 will become another part of an extraordinary expansion of Chery Group in Australia.

Chery already operates its namesake brand alongside Omoda and Jaecoo, while Lepas is also preparing to enter Australia. The revived Freelander brand developed in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover is another confirmed arrival.

Our previous information also pointed to the larger V27 eventually joining the V25 in Australia, while the smaller V23 is expected later following an update. Chery’s latest announcement doesn’t provide revised timing for either model.