iCAR V25 2026: specs, hybrid range and launch date

© A. Krivonosov / SPEEDME

At the auto show in Chengdu, a SPEEDME.RU correspondent photographed the new iCAR V25 — another "boxy" SUV from the Chery group. The car’s design was first revealed on August 14 at a dedicated Vparty event in Chengdu, and now the newcomer has made it to a full-scale auto show. Launch on the Chinese market is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.

The V25 looks like a noticeably grown-up iCAR V23: it keeps the nearly vertical body sides, round headlights, wide wheel arches and a tall hood. The body itself, though, is entirely new. Dimensions come in at 4,636x1,920x1,855 mm, with a 2,820 mm wheelbase. Compared to the V23, the newcomer is roughly 42 cm longer, and the distance between the axles has grown by 85 mm. The cabin seats five.

Ground clearance reaches 197 mm, and the claimed approach and departure angles are 30 and 28 degrees. A side-hinged tailgate at the rear comes with an external 22.7-liter storage box. The V25 also gets a factory tow hitch, rated for trailers up to 1,800 kg. Wheels come in 19- or 21-inch sizes.

The photos give the first detailed look at the nearly production-ready cabin. A digital instrument cluster sits ahead of the driver, with a large standalone infotainment display at the center. iCAR hasn’t shifted every control to the touchscreen, though — a row of physical rotary dials and buttons remains underneath it. The center console includes a wireless charging pad, and the gear selector has moved to the steering column.

The V25’s main departure from the V23 is its powertrain. While the smaller model is a pure EV, the newcomer gets a series hybrid setup. Under the hood sits a 1.5-liter Chery SQRH4J15 turbo engine producing 115 kW (156 hp), working as part of a range-extending system. The 33.679 kWh traction battery comes from CATL, and electric-only range is rated at 145 or 150 km on the WLTC cycle.

Fuel consumption with a depleted battery is claimed at 6.9–7.15 L/100 km. Chery hasn’t officially disclosed the electric motors’ output or the total combined range, so any figures on overall performance circulating ahead of the launch should be treated as preliminary.

Electronics get a serious push, too. Top trims will offer a lidar unit and a Super Falcon 700+ suite running on a Horizon Journey 6P processor rated at 560 TOPS. Chery claims support for highway and urban driving assistants, along with automatic parking.

Pricing for the iCAR V25 hasn’t been announced yet. Chery’s existing V27, the brand’s current range-extender flagship, shows where the formula is headed as the lineup expands into more markets. The more compact, fully electric V23 is already sold outside China, and the larger V25 promises more space while relying far less on charging infrastructure thanks to its onboard generator — a combination that could work well in markets with patchy charging networks.

No official export plans for the iCAR V25 have been confirmed yet. Chinese pricing and the full trim lineup are expected closer to the fourth-quarter sales launch.