The iCAR 03 is the debut production model under Chery Automobile's iCAR marque, positioned as an all-electric compact SUV tailored for urban commutes and light off-roading. Launched by Chery in 2023, iCAR is a dedicated new energy vehicle (NEV) brand targeting a younger demographic. The iCAR 03 officially went on sale on 28 February 2024, offering 6 variants with official prices ranging between RM109,800 and RM169,800. Built upon the i-MS multi-cube NEV platform, the model features a distinctive boxy silhouette, with choices of rear-wheel drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrains, delivering a CLTC pure electric range of 401 km to 501 km. Thanks to its accessible entry price, rugged boxy styling, and the backing of Chery Group's all-aluminium body technology, the iCAR 03 was viewed as a strategic model to spearhead Chery’s breakthrough in the NEV market and establish a major hit. As of early 2026, the variants on sale remain based on the 2024 model line-up without any major facelifts.
The iCAR 03 thoroughly embraces a "trendy boxy" design philosophy, sporting an upright, rugged profile that sets it distinctly apart from conventional urban electric SUVs. The front end gets a closed-off grille featuring vertical waterfall slats, flanked by upright headlamp clusters that form an "i" signature when lit, harmonising with the illuminated central brand emblem to significantly enhance visual identity. Straight, clean character lines run along the flanks, complemented by broad black wheel arches and side sill cladding, while contrasting B- and C-pillars create a floating roof with a dual-tone finish. The rear maintains the squared-off theme, mirroring the vertical "i"-shaped light clusters and paired with a side-hinged soft-close tailgate alongside an external rear-mounted storage box (commonly dubbed the "backpack"), while the rugged rear bumper cladding matches the front fascia. In terms of dimensions, the iCAR 03 measures 4,406 mm in length, 1,910 mm in width, and 1,715 mm in height, with a 2,715 mm wheelbase, placing it squarely in the compact SUV segment. The SUV offers 18-inch and 19-inch alloy wheels, with flush pop-out door handles fitted as standard across the range. Inside, a symmetrical dashboard layout incorporates crisp horizontal and vertical lines to reflect the rugged exterior. It is fitted with a 9.2-inch full digital instrument cluster alongside a 15.6-inch floating central touchscreen, complemented by a crystal rotary gear selector, delivering a distinctly more tech-forward ambience than most rivals in its price bracket.
The entire iCAR 03 range is powered by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs, with cells supplied by CATL (Jiangsu Times), and comes standard with a liquid-cooling thermal management system. Powertrain options include a rear single-motor RWD setup and a front-and-rear dual-motor AWD configuration. The RWD variant features a permanent magnet synchronous motor generating a maximum output of 135 kW (approx. 184 PS) and a peak torque of 220 Nm, delivering a 0-50 km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h. The dual-motor AWD model delivers a combined output of 205 kW (approx. 279 PS) and a peak torque of 385 Nm—with the front motor pushing 70 kW and 165 Nm, and the rear motor rated at 135 kW and 220 Nm—clocking 0-50 km/h in 3 seconds and completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.5 seconds. For driving range, the Standard Range version packs a 50.63 kWh battery for a 401 km CLTC range; the Long Range 2WD variant uses a 65.69 kWh pack delivering 501 km CLTC; while the AWD models offer 472 km (65.69 kWh battery) and 501 km (69.77 kWh battery) CLTC ratings depending on the battery size. When it comes to charging, DC fast charging is supported across the range, taking approximately 30 minutes from 30% to 80% SoC, with peak DC charging rates ranging from 60 kW to 85 kW. The combined energy consumption across the line-up is rated at approximately 16 kWh/100 km.
Underneath, the iCAR 03 features front MacPherson struts and a rear H-arm multi-link independent suspension setup (the H-arm configuration being a form of multi-link independent suspension), utilising aluminium alloy components in parts of the assembly to minimise unsprung weight. The rear suspension incorporates hydraulic bushings, which absorb road harshness and vibrations far more effectively than standard rubber bushings. The chassis was tuned in collaboration with Australia’s Premcar Asia Pacific—an engineering firm renowned for its work on high-performance vehicles for brands like Ford and Nissan—giving the iCAR 03 a sharper, more responsive steering feel with lock-to-lock turns reduced from 3.0 to 2.6 turns. The AWD variant is equipped with the iWD intelligent electric four-wheel drive system, capable of seamlessly switching between 2WD and AWD, and features off-road aids including a tank-turn function and crawl control mode. With an approach angle of 26° and a departure angle of 29°, the AWD version holds a distinct edge over light unpaved terrain. In terms of driving modes, an 8+X all-terrain drive selector caters to uneven, muddy, and sandy surfaces, while real-time off-road telemetry like gradient and heading angles can be monitored directly via the central display. Professional reviews note that while the chassis delivers composed body control and clear road feedback on paved surfaces, wind noise around the A-pillars becomes noticeable at higher cruising speeds due to the upright, boxy profile.
The iCAR 03’s cabin is designed with a strong focus on technology and youth appeal, featuring a 9.2-inch full digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch floating central touchscreen as standard across the range. The infotainment setup is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor (standard on all AWD variants, with selected 2WD models utilising the Snapdragon 6155 chip), supporting over-the-air (OTA) software updates and integrating an ecosystem co-developed with Tencent that features in-car WeChat and QQ Music. Voice commands are handled by the i-VA four-zone intelligent voice control system, supporting "see-and-speak", directional voice localization, and continuous dialogue capabilities. In terms of creature comforts, higher-spec trims come equipped with a 50W Qi wireless smartphone charging pad, a 12-speaker Harman Infinity premium sound system (labelled as Infinity on some versions), 64-colour ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof. The seats are upholstered in dual-tone faux leather; flagship variants add heating, ventilation, and massage functions for the driver’s seat alongside an electric ottoman leg rest for the front passenger, while a completely flat rear floor significantly enhances legroom and comfort for the middle occupant. The vehicle also offers over 20 preset smart scene modes, including Pet Mode, Nap Mode, and Karaoke Mode, elevating in-cabin versatility and interactive experience.
On the safety front, the iCAR 03 features an all-aluminium cage structure with an all-aluminium honeycomb layout for the underbody longitudinal members, shedding around 30% in weight while boosting rigidity by roughly 30% compared to conventional steel bodies to significantly improve passenger cell integrity during collisions. The suspension strut towers are manufactured using a 3,500-tonne integrated die-casting technique, reinforcing key load-bearing sections. Passive safety kit includes a roll-over mitigation braking system and a 540° HD surround-view camera system with a transparent chassis view. Active safety systems, including electronic stability control (ESC) and related electronic aids, come standard across all variants.
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) represent another key highlight of the iCAR 03. The top-spec 4WD Smart Driving Edition is equipped with an L2++ vision-only high-level intelligent driving suite co-developed with DJI, built upon the Chengxing platform. Hardware includes a pair of 8-megapixel inertial-guided binocular stereo vision cameras and 5 units of 3-megapixel surround-view cameras, providing a comprehensive "7-way vision" perception setup that delivers advanced semi-autonomous capabilities without relying on millimetre-wave radars or ultrasonic sensors. Feature-wise, it supports low-to-medium-speed memory cruise (memorising routes up to 150 km across up to 10 routes), Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) for highways, full-scenario automated parking (including multi-storey memory parking and reverse tracking assist), as well as turn-signal-activated lane changes. Lower-spec variants settle for basic cruise control, with L2 semi-autonomous driving features restricted to variants priced above RM159,800.
The iCAR 03 garnered substantial market attention upon its launch, with Chery Group establishing an ambitious "dual 10,000" benchmark targeting "10,000 monthly sales with RM10,000 profit per unit". In reality, total sales of the iCAR 03 for the full year of 2024 reached 45,352 units—averaging around 3,780 units per month—leaving a noticeable gap between the marque’s expectations and actual commercial reception. Entering 2025, momentum slowed markedly, with annual sales plunging to 12,056 units, averaging just about 1,005 units monthly. Industry data indicates that while monthly deliveries once peaked at 5,644 units, they subsequently slumped to a low of just 259 units in the latter half of 2025, representing a massive decline. By March 2026, market records showed that the iCAR 03 logged 0 units in monthly deliveries. This "strong start, weak finish" performance has been attributed by industry analysts to internal product cannibalisation (with the subsequent iCAR V23 eating into 03 sales), sluggish infotainment OTA rollouts, and escalating market competition. In terms of user feedback, owners generally praise the iCAR 03 for its strong value proposition, distinctive boxy design, and rich suite of intelligent cockpit features. However, customer complaints have also been prominent, revolving primarily around infotainment lag, unresponsive touchscreens, a prolonged lack of OTA updates, leaking sunroof weatherstrips due to premature wear, intermittent mobile app connectivity, and sluggish after-sales support. Overall, as the pioneer model for the iCAR brand, the iCAR 03 successfully captured the interest of younger buyers through its design philosophy and smart features; however, significant room for improvement remains in software refinement, build quality consistency, and cohesive brand marketing, with its sales trajectory highlighting the brutal competition within the RM100,000 to RM150,000 NEV SUV segment.
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