Meet the V23. No, there hasn’t been twenty two of these, and this is not version 23. There are electric cars, and then there are electric cars that make you stop mid-sentence and go: “Hang on… what is this thing?” The Icaur V23 falls squarely into the latter category. In a year flooded with competent but largely interchangeable Chinese EVs, this is the first one that genuinely felt interesting. Not just because it’s electric, but because it has personality. Real personality. Full disclosure, I only had three days with the V23 so this isn’t a comprehensive review, just an impression.
A big part of that comes down to the styling. The V23 looks like somebody shrunk a full-size off-roader in the wash, then handed it over to Tonka Toys for final approval. It’s boxy, upright, unapologetically chunky, and somehow charming in a way modern cars rarely are. There’s a playful honesty to it. You look at it and immediately want to go find gravel.
And surprisingly, it actually can.
Underneath the cartoon proportions sits a fully electric drivetrain that delivers more shove than you expect. Depending on the specification, the dual-motor setup produces around 155kW and 292Nm, with a claimed range hovering near the 400km mark. Those numbers, on paper, sound perfectly acceptable in 2026 EV language. But numbers alone don’t explain the appeal here. The V23 feels eager. Light on its feet. It has that immediate electric punch that makes darting through traffic entertaining, while the short wheelbase gives it an almost cheeky sense of agility.
Then comes the twist.
This isn’t just another city EV dressed up in hiking boots. The V23 is surprisingly capable off-road. Properly capable. The ground clearance is generous, the approach angles are respectable, and the dual-motor all-wheel-drive system claws for traction with real determination. No, it’s not about to replace a hardcore ladder-frame 4×4 on a week-long overlanding trip through Botswana, but on loose gravel, rutted trails, and slippery climbs, it feels far more confident than its toy-like proportions suggest.
That contrast is what makes the V23 memorable. It looks like a novelty, but drives with genuine intent.
Inside, the cabin leans heavily into minimalist EV design, though thankfully without feeling sterile. There’s still enough texture and character to remind you that this thing is supposed to be fun. And that’s really the word that stayed with me after driving it: fun.
The Icaur V23 may not be the fastest EV I’ve driven this year, nor the most luxurious. But it might just be the most interesting. In an era where so many electric cars are beginning to blur into one anonymous shape, the V23 dares to be weird. And thankfully, wonderfully so.