iCaur V23 to launch in Malaysia on 27 November

iCaur V23 will be officially launched in Malaysia on 27 November. iCaur Malaysia revealed the date of the EV’s grand launch event through its social media channels.

The V23 is the second model from the Chery sub-brand for Malaysia, following the iCaur 03 that was launched here back in September. The electric off-roader was first previewed over here during the Malaysia Autoshow earlier this year in left-hand drive (LHD) form, while the right-hand drive (RHD) version was finally shown to the public last month.

During that time, iCaur Malaysia has also announced that the estimated price for V23 would be RM145,000 to RM155,000, but we predict that the actual pricing would be much lower based on our experience with the iCaur 03. So, let’s see if our prediction is going to hit the mark or otherwise.

According to iCaur Malaysia’s website, the V23 will be available in 6 colourways, including Off-Road Orange, Khaki White, Slate Silver, Carbon Crystal Black, Army Green, and Gravel Grey.

Since both iCaur V23 and 03 have the same off-roader design and purpose, among the most common questions that we receive about the EV is regarding the differences in size between the two iCaur models.

While it might be hard to see, the V23 has a longer body and wheelbase according to its dimensions:

iCaur V23Dimensions: 4,220mm (L) x 1,915mm (W) x 1,845mm (H)Wheelbase: 2,735mmKerb Weight: 1,710kg – 1,825kg

iCaur 03Dimensions: 4,406mm (L) x 1,910mm (W) x 1,715mm (H)Wheelbase: 2,715mmKerb weight: 1,775kg – 1,874kg

Despite that, the iCaur V23 only have 372L of boot space, unlike the 03 which offers up to 450L.

On the performance side of things, the iCaur V23 iWD has been fitted with two motors, which have a total power output of 155kW (208hp) alongside 292Nm of torque. Despite the design, this off-roader can reach 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 140km/h.

As for iCaur V23 2WD, it is equipped with a single 100kW (134hp) electric motor that also has 180Nm of torque. When compared to its all-wheel drive twin, the V23 2WD has a slightly slower 0 to 100km/h timing of 11 seconds, although its top speed is identical at 140km/h.

Battery-wise, powering the V23 iWD variant is an 81.76kWh NMC battery, which allows it to deliver 430km of NEDC-rated range or around 360km WLTP. On the other hand, the V23 2WD runs on a 59.93kWh LFP battery, and the NEDC-rated range of this V23 variant is listed as 360km or around 306km WLTP.

If you consider the battery capacity and range figures above, it seems that the V23 is a highly inefficient EV.  As a comparison, the heavier and more powerful Volvo EX40 Recharge Twin Motor, which is powered by an 82.0kWh NMC battery, has a WLTP-rated range of 522km.

When it comes to charging, the V23 iWD supports a DC charging speed of up to 104kW, while the V23 2WD is limited to 85kW. Both variants have been fitted with a 6.6kW AC charging module, while owners can also take advantage of their 3.3kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality to power up external electrical appliances.

Meanwhile, iCaur Malaysia also said that the V23 will come with a 15.6-inch infotainment display, alongside support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The V23 also features a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System package that is inclusive of features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, and Autonomous Emergency Brake.

By the way, the easiest way to differentiate between the two V23 variants is by their wheel size. This is because the iWD variant has 21-inch wheels while the 2WD version carries the smaller 19-inch wheels.