Chery has confirmed to CarSauce it is bringing yet another new sub-brand to Australia, which it calls ‘iCaur’.

The brand will launch locally next year, focussing on electrified soft-roaders with rugged styling, starting with two new models; the recently announced V27 SUV and a slightly smaller V25 SUV.

In China, the brand is known as ‘iCar’, but they were forced to change the name for Australia to avoid trademark issues.

The local rollout will likely start with two boxy models; the mid-sized V25 and the larger V27.

The latter is the brand's flagship SUV and looks like a modern Land Rover Defender from certain angles - with a squared-off body and a rear-mounted spare wheel.

We also learned that these features are likely to be standard on all iCaur models heading to Australia, along with a towing kit.

Coming in at over five metres long, it’s definitely the bigger of the two models landing down under in 2027.

The V25 is a smaller, mid-sized SUV which is expected to compete with the Toyota RAV4 and GWM Tank 300.

Both of these models lean heavily into retro off-road aesthetics, which we have noticed is gaining in popularity in recent years.

This is seen with the circular lighting and upright design elements, and having seen the V27 in person this week, it is quite boxy (in a cool way) and will likely turn heads down under.

It’s worth reiterating that these models are going to be playing in the ‘soft-roader’ space.

They use a car-like unibody platform and aren’t built like the body-on-frame off-roaders many 4WD enthusiasts are looking for.

A low range transfer case is not expected on either model, but they do offer a capable all-wheel-drive system.

This will make them ideal for most buyers who want a rugged look without the less-than-ideal comfort levels of a traditional ladder-frame 4X4.

We learned at Auto China 2026 that the V27 will be offered overseas with an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system. This pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with powerful electric motors, and the engine works only as a generator to charge the battery when needed.

In all-wheel-drive form, the V27’s powertrain produces 335 kW with a total driving range of nearly 1,000 km.

The smaller V25 is expected to offer both pure electric and EREV options, which, from speaking to the iCaur team in China, will offer more powertrain choices to Australian customers.

Unlike many other soft-roaders on the market today, it has a large 15.4-inch display, with the infotainment system running on high-speed Qualcomm processors.

This cabin also packs physical shortcut buttons for ease of use, so the screen isn’t everything for iCaur’s future Australian customers.

According to Chery management, the iCaur brand will have its own separate dealer network and won’t be part of any existing Chery-owned brands.

It will join Chery's other local brands, Omoda and Jaecoo. More models - including the Suzuki Jimny-sized V23 - may follow at a later date.

We can expect more details on pricing closer to the 2027 launch, stay tuned so you can get the latest iCaur details as they become available to us.

Expected iCaur V27 Specifications

iCaur V27: AWD Model (Performance)

• Powertrain: EREV (Range Extender)
• Range Extender Engine: 1.5L Turbo 4-Cylinder (105 kW)
• Motor Configuration: Dual Electric Motors
• Maximum Power: 335 kW
• Maximum Torque: 505 Nm
• Acceleration (0–100 km/h): 5.5 seconds
• Battery: 34.3 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
• Pure EV Range (CLTC): 200 km
• Total Combined Range: Over 1,000 km
• Top Speed: 180 km/h

iCaur V27: RWD Model (Efficiency)

• Powertrain: EREV (Range Extender)
• Range Extender Engine: 1.5L Turbo 4-Cylinder (105 kW)
• Motor Configuration: Single Rear-Mounted Motor
• Maximum Power: 185 kW
• Maximum Torque: 300 Nm
• Acceleration (0–100 km/h): 8.9 seconds
• Battery: 34.3 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
• Pure EV Range (CLTC): 210 km
• Total Combined Range: Over 1,200 km
• Top Speed: 180 km/h