Amidst much anticipation, a low-priced boxy off-road vehicle has officially been launched.
Many consumers have a dream of owning an off-road vehicle, but most of the rugged off-roaders on the market are expensive, and traditional off-road vehicles have the inherent drawback of high fuel consumption. As a result, an increasing number of consumers have turned their attention to the electric vehicle market. Many car manufacturers have developed boxy off-road vehicles to meet the demand for light off-roading.
Recently, the Chery iCAR 03 has been officially launched with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of 109,800 to 169,800 RMB. As a pure electric vehicle, it is exempt from purchase tax, making its on-road price highly competitive. Not only is it affordable, but the overall design of this new car is also attractive.
The exterior design fulfills our imagination of a rugged off-road vehicle. The fully sealed front end, fang-shaped LED headlights, rugged front bumper, and tough styling are quite prominent, while still maintaining a decent level of refinement.
From the side, the Chery iCAR 03 adopts a design that closely resembles the Land Rover Defender, especially the similarity in the D-pillar position. In addition, it is equipped with 19-inch large wheels and concealed electric door handles. The rear features a backpack-style design with a high verticality, exuding a strong off-road vibe. It is worth mentioning that the iCAR 03 has a ground clearance of 200mm, offering good off-road capability.
The interior design takes a more stylish approach, differing from the rugged exterior. In addition to a 15.6-inch floating touchscreen, the central control area also includes a 9.2-inch full LCD instrument panel, equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6155 chip. It is evident that this change was made to reduce costs. In terms of infotainment, it is equipped with connectivity features, in-car KTV, and a continuous voice recognition control system.
In terms of other features, leather seats, 12 speakers, and a 64-color luxury interior ambient lighting system are available on the mid-to-high-end models. It also has a panoramic sunroof and overall well-rounded features.
Due to its low price, some advanced intelligent driving assistance systems are missing from most models of the Chery iCAR 03. Only a few configurations have features such as an active braking system and lane centering, but fortunately, as a new vehicle with light off-road capabilities, it is equipped with an anti-roll electronic system.
In terms of powertrain, the Chery iCAR 03 is available in both single-motor and dual-motor drivetrain options. Under CLTC test conditions, the pure electric range is 401km-501km, which is sufficient for daily use. To enhance driving pleasure, the iCAR 03 also features a four-wheel independent suspension system and six driving modes, including snow and off-road modes. Additionally, it has a tank turn and creep mode. It is worth mentioning that the dual-motor version accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds and utilizes the iWD intelligent electric four-wheel drive system. The chassis adopts an H-arm multi-link + hydraulic bushing design, providing stable structure suitable for light off-roading.
With such an armed-to-the-teeth compact SUV, priced below 110,000 RMB, is it your cup of tea?