Juniper
Review by Juniper Journal’s car expert, Dr SP Long.
Time and again I’ve been told to look at things in life in a positive light. Apparently, this will make us appreciate our surroundings better and more importantly, more meaningful.
With this mindset, I have been privileged enough to sample the only AWD full electric SUV in the price segment of RM120k – RM130k. Yes, at least for now – the one-and-only twin-motor, AWD, battery electric vehicle (BEV) at below RM130k: that is the iCaur 03 iWD.
To keep reading light and easy for this review, here are the POSITIVES:
- This iCaur 03 is a looker especially in (pearl) white. Nothing else out there looks like this!
- The i-alphabets motive headlights DRL and rear lamps are a daring stroke of design and looks STUNNING for this boxy SUV. The chunky black-dark grey body claddings are just right.
- Twin electric motors make sprinting off the block a light footed experience, yet grippy around bends. (6.5 seconds century sprint)
- Rear independent muiti-link suspension gives a premium feel to its ride quality and handling.
- Its standard Infinity sound system lives up to the badging, not super-duper but gentle to the ears with enough clarity to enable decent verbal conversations to take place, even at higher volume levels.
- An excellent urban runabout of an SUV that will take city and suburban bad roads with ease. The iCaur 03 iWD even treaded lightly water logged routes well, due to its high road clearance and huge 19-inch wheels.
- Visibility out is good with the rather slab-sided windows and upright windscreens while riding high as a soft roader.
- iCaur badging gives a sense of “mystery” to its origin. Apple iCar, anyone?
- NEDC range of 418km (about 340 km WLTP) is sufficient for the greater Klang Valley commute.
- LFP battery (69.8 kWh) doesn’t require baby-sitting to 80% “max” charge to prevent over-feeding and indigestion, causing morbidity to its cells.
- 540-degree transparent chassis camera is very crisp and clear.
Now, things that could be improved for this funky and rugged BEV SUV:
- Could be a little less TESLA-like: more switches and knobs for commonly accessed A/C fan & temperature controls, glove-box opening, wing mirror adjustments and a more ergonomic mechanical door latch to open doors from the inside, door locking-unlock physical switch…just to name a few.
- A more intuitive and positive feedback turn signal stalk – somewhat vague activation.
- A regular, manual-close-and-open charging port flap/cover is good enough.
- Wind noise aspect affecting NVH at highway speed: from A-pillars, flat bonnet cover(?) huge wing mirrors or even an improperly closed sunroof whistling away at times.
Conclusion:
The iCaur 03 is a very worthy effort from Chery Group – which is incidentally badged as Jaecoo J6 in Thailand.
Many people get the first-look-impression of a baby Land Rover Defender, which is a good thing. Think: Jaecoo J7 or J5, also under the Chery-umbrella. It is also one of the few China branded BEVs with little rebates or discounts – take it or leave it, more or less. This speaks volume of its niche and desirability to those who yearn for something more unique and rugged in an urbanite lifestyle.
