It certainly drew stares at the traffic lights! The iCAUR V23 is one of the more affordable electric cars you can buy in Singapore today, with chunky retro styling, a surprisingly spacious cabin and a few quirks of its own.
Singapore — The question that often pops up is: what exactly inspired the iCAUR V23? Many people I’ve spoken to have conveniently pointed at the Suzuki Jimny, especially now that there’s a five-door variant.
But the V23’s spiritual predecessor is actually the BJ212, a military vehicle that began production in the mid-1960s, primarily as a workhorse for the Chinese military.
Unlike the original BJ212, which was built by Beijing Automobile Works, the V23 is the handiwork of Chery, under its iCAUR sub-brand.
The V23’s modern contours and styling elements are a faithful, if contemporary, interpretation of that old-school military machine. From the elongated grille flowing into the front fenders and round headlights to the hump on the bonnet and the vent at its leading edge, there’s plenty of BJ212 inspiration to go around. Even the wheel arches carry the theme through.
At the rear, instead of a conventional spare wheel mounted on the tailgate, the V23 gets a storage box. There’s a catch, though: access is from inside the car.
It’s certainly a distinctive little thing, and in a sea of increasingly similar-looking SUVs, that counts for something.
Heng ahh… they actually have knobs and buttons!
Step inside, and the dashboard is about as straightforward as it gets. An upright, flat-panel design is dominated by a 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen in the middle.
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 processor, the system responds smoothly when moving between menus. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both supported, which is always welcome.
The audio system is average, though, and the radio antenna occasionally struggles to pick up certain stations.
Like many contemporary Chinese cars, most of the V23’s functions are accessed through the infotainment screen. What makes it different, however, is the presence of three large physical knobs, with inset buttons for functions including entertainment volume and climate control.
There’s another, larger knob closer to the driver, giving you immediate access to the drive modes. It’s a genuinely useful arrangement, allowing you to click into your preferred setting as soon as you start the car.
Heng ahh! Finally, someone remembers that not everything needs to be buried in a touchscreen!
There’s no glovebox, but the V23 still offers a reasonable scattering of storage compartments around the cabin. Within the fixed centre armrest is a cradle for your mobile phone, although there’s no wireless charging pad.
Instead, you get a hole through which to thread your USB cable.
Perhaps a visit to that TaoPinAliBaoExpressDuoDuo website might yield a solution.
TaoPinAliBaoExpressDuoDuo… hehe.
Despite its B-segment footprint, the V23’s 2,735mm wheelbase translates into a surprisingly generous cabin. Four adults can sit comfortably, making this little electric SUV more practical than its boxy dimensions might suggest.
The boot, at 234 litres, won’t be winning any awards for carrying capacity. But it’s decent enough for the weekly grocery run. Should you need more room, the 50:50 split-folding rear seats can be folded and tumbled forward, opening up a flat loading area and increasing capacity to 744 litres.
This horsey can get choppy
Being an electric vehicle, the V23 has a fairly hefty battery to carry around. This results in a suspension, that is on the firm side to handle the weight, and the combination can make for a rather choppy ride.
You’ll quickly learn to avoid stretches of tarmac where roadworks have left behind lumps, bumps and uneven patches. Fail to do so, and you’ll find yourself being jostled about quite a bit.
Cross a hump, and the rebound can be even more pronounced. Those seated in the rear are unlikely to be particularly happy campers.
Underneath that upright bodywork sits a rear-mounted electric motor producing 132hp (100kW) and 180Nm of torque. By EV standards, that torque figure is relatively modest.
The result is a leisurely 0–100km/h time of 11 seconds. But outright acceleration isn’t really the point here. The V23 has enough in reserve to hold its own in urban traffic, which is where most Singapore owners will spend their time anyway.
That modest torque also means you’re unlikely to chirp the rear tyres when pulling away from the lights. Believe me, there are advantages to that.
On the flip side, owners in some overseas markets have reportedly found the V23 somewhat challenged when tackling particularly steep slopes.
Thankfully, you’re in Singapore. No stress here.
Around sweeping bends, the V23 feels reasonably confident, but there’s only so much you can expect from a tall, boxy SUV riding on a relatively firm suspension setup.
Throw it into a corner with too much enthusiasm, and body movement will remind you that… just don’t! You’ll soon find yourself reining in your right foot according to the butterflies in your stomach — or your bowel movement, whichever comes first.
At least the cabin is a rather peaceful place to contemplate your driving decisions. The V23’s insulated glass does a commendable job of keeping much of the surrounding traffic noise out. Aside from some faint tyre roar, the main intrusion comes from wind buffeting around those large wing mirrors, when you build speed.
For the most part, the little iCAUR is a pleasant place to spend time in, provided the road beneath you isn’t trying to blend your breakfast, lunch-plus-dinner.
A mixed bag, but mostly a good thing
The iCAUR V23 is a bit of an oddball, but that’s also part of its appeal.
Its bold, quirky styling gives it plenty of road presence, while the spacious cabin, physical controls and reasonable equipment list make it a practical proposition for everyday use.
The ride, however, can be rather choppy, and the firm suspension doesn’t always play nicely with Singapore’s less-than-perfect stretches of tarmac. An adaptive suspension setup could go some way towards taking the edge off those jolts, although it would almost certainly add to the price.
And price matters. With Singapore’s COE premiums making car ownership an expensive exercise, the V23’s relatively accessible $184,999 price tag is a significant part of its appeal.
It won’t be for everyone. Those looking for a particularly plush ride or a lively powertrain may want to look elsewhere.
But if you fancy something that stands out from the crowd, offers a decent amount of space and doesn’t cost quite as much as some of its more premium-badged rivals, the iCAUR V23 makes a reasonably convincing case for itself.
Text & Photos: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Quirky-n’-cute styling | Drive mode resets each time you start the car |
| Decent interior quality | Suspension is way too notchy |
| Very good noise insulation | No wireless charging pad |
iCAUR V23 59.93kWh
| Drivetrain | Full Electric |
| Layout | Single Motor, Rear-wheel Drive |
| Motor power / torque | 132hp / 180Nm |
| Battery capacity | 59.93kWh |
| Efficiency | 4.5 km/kWh |
| Electric Range | 312km |
| 0-100km/h | 11 seconds |
| Top Speed | 140km/h |
| VES Band | A |
| Dealer | Vertex Automobile Pte. Ltd. |
| Price | S$184,999 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | Quirky military-inspired transport for those who love to own something different. Pity the stiff suspension. |
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