Defender-rivalling iCaur V27 confirmed for UK

Chery's premium offshoot will have a presence here soon; retro-themed 4x4 is coming first

By Matt Bird / Thursday, 15 October 2026 / Loading comments

No Chinese carmaker has had quite such an impact on the UK this decade as Chery. Impressive given you probably haven’t heard of a Tiggo, but it’s the other brands in the portfolio - Omoda, Jaecoo, and latterly Lepas - that have given the manufacturer such prominence. Everybody knows somebody with a Jaecoo 7 in 2026. Now the range is set to expand further, with iCaur coming to the UK in 2027 (also Chery’s 30th anniversary).

Known as iCar in some markets but with the extra vowel here to keep Apple’s lawyers happy, the brand is underpinned by a ‘Born to Play’ philosophy - expect subsequent models after this V27 to be similarly ‘inspired by nature’, complete with a defined beltline meant to evoke natural ridgelines and so on. You might notice one or two similarities to long-running SUVs in the V27’s design, imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, or so they say. iCaur suggests that Born to Play is all about ‘a belief in self-expression over conformity, in challenging convention, and in the freedom to explore.’ Cars with a more lifestyle tilt than the more value-focused proposition we’ve seen from Chery thus far seem likely.

That all begins with the model. you see here, the V27. Exact UK specs remain TBC, though at launch last year it was identified as a 455hp plug-in with loadsa electric running possible and more than 600 miles possible between fill-ups. That’d fit current UK requirements as well as a Centre Parcs half-term break; for now we only know that ‘an advanced electrified powertrain from Chery International’ will be used.

This won’t just be the V27 sold elsewhere with the steering wheel on the right, either. There’s a Chery R&D base at Millbrook now, so there’ll be additional work on refining it for our uniquely crap roads (and very high expectations). Don’t expect the design to change one bit, however; the need to stand out is greater than ever for the iCaur. And a few Land Rover influences have served Chery quite well so far...

It’s suggested by iCaur that drivers here ‘have long appreciated cars with presence’, and we’ve all been tailgated by enough X6s to know the accuracy of that statement. It wants the V27 to be another car that can ‘combine original design with a strong sense of identity, and build a lasting bond with their owners.’ As if to prove how much they get us already, iCaur has promised an interior - one that’s already won awards, no less - featuring ‘physical buttons [that] put key functions within easy reach’. Shut up and take my money, etc etc.

Best add iCaur to your internal iSpy of Chinese car brands (imagine how big that book would be now) sooner rather than later, too. Ahead of the V27’s arrival in the coming months, a new V25 will be shown as early as next week. The UK loves an SUV - and especially Chinese ones at the moment - so you wouldn’t bet against iCaur selling that here also. The V27 is simply ‘the first step in establishing iCaur’s considered, long-term presence in the market.’ Given what Chery has achieved in a few short years over here, you wouldn’t bet against any ambition. Safe to say already that an odd name won’t be putting anyone off.