The Chinese car brand has a tie-up with India’s JSW Motors, the independent passenger mobility division of JSW Group.
A heavily camouflaged test mule of what appears to be an electric SUV based on the Chery iCar V23 was recently spotted testing in India. Notably, JSW Motors has a tie-up with the Chinese carmaker, and the new EV could be launched here after the Jetour T2. It is worth noting that the launch of the latter plug-in hybrid SUV, which was initially slated for the second half of 2026, has reportedly been pushed back.
- If launched, it could be priced higher than the MG Windsor EV (Rs 14 lakh-18.50 lakh)
- AWD and RWD options offered in China
- iCar V23 has a CLTC-rated maximum range of 510km
Chery iCar V23 exterior highlights
Circular headlights, 21-inch wheels
Talking about the exterior, the SUV gets a boxy design and a tall stance, aided by a 205-210mm ground clearance. The China-spec model has a 2,735mm wheelbase and measures 4,220mm in length, 1,915mm in width and 1,845mm in height; approach and departure angles are 43 degrees and 41 degrees, respectively.
Up front, the iCar V23 comes with circular headlamps connected by a sealed-off front section, while the bumper design appears to draw inspiration from the Jeep Wrangler. In profile, the missing rear quarter glass is a noticeable detail, and instead of the flush, electrically operated handles seen on many EVs, it uses pull-type units. A side step is also offered to make ingress and egress easier.
Wheel sizes of 19 and 21 inches are available, depending on the variant. At the rear, instead of a spare wheel, the SUV gets a boxy external storage box mounted on the side-hinged tailgate, similar to the setup seen on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class Electric in international car markets.
Chery iCar V23 interior and features
15.4-inch touchscreen, 7 speakers
The interior is largely finished in black, with yellow accents on the air vents and door pocket nets to break the monotony. A large 15.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support is placed in the dashboard’s centre. Beneath it, practical physical controls for climate and audio functions mark their presence. The steering wheel gets roller-type controls on both sides, although a dedicated driver’s display is notably absent.
The front seats are powered and ventilated and can be reclined flat to improve comfort for rear passengers. At the back, the seats are split 50:50 and can be folded to expand boot space. Other features on offer include drive modes, a 7-speaker audio setup, three USB ports and a PM2.5 air filter.
Safety
ADAS, a 540-degree camera setup, front and rear parking sensors, all-four disc brakes, a tyre-pressure monitoring system and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold are part of the safety package.
Chery iCar V23 battery and motor specs
136hp RWD and 211hp AWD setups
Chery offers the iCar V23 with two powertrain options: a 136hp, 180Nm rear-wheel-drive setup and a more potent 211hp, 292Nm all-wheel-drive configuration. The RWD version is paired with a 59.93kWh battery pack, delivering a claimed China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) range of 401km, while the AWD variant gets a larger 81.76kWh battery, with a maximum claimed range of 510km on a single charge (also CLTC).
Performance figures stand at a claimed 0-100kph time of 11 seconds for the RWD and 7.5 seconds for the AWD version, with both having a top speed of 140kph. Depending on the battery pack, the SUV supports DC fast charging speeds between 85kW and 104kW.
