iCar V23: Best Chinese Electric SUV for Off-Road Adventures in UAE 2026

iCar V23: Best Chinese Electric SUV for Off-Road Adventures in UAE 2026

The iCar V23 brings something genuinely new to the UAE's electric SUV market - a boxy, off-road-styled body wrapped around a zero-emission powertrain. Where most Chinese EVs chase aerodynamic efficiency and urban polish, the V23 leans into adventure, with a tough upright stance, rugged cladding and genuine all-wheel-drive capability on the AWD trim. For buyers who want to tackle dunes and wadis on the weekend without burning petrol, it is the most compelling Chinese electric SUV yet. This guide explains why the iCar V23 AWD is the best Chinese electric SUV for off-road adventures in the UAE in 2026.

Updated August 2026.

iCar V23 AWD

Starting Price: 66,000 AED

Body Style: SUV

The dual-motor AWD version of Chery's iCar V23, delivering 211 hp and 292 Nm through all four wheels with a 501 km WLTC range. It combines genuine off-road capability with a full ADAS suite, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a 540-degree camera at a price that shames every rival.

Key Highlights

• Dual-motor AWD with 211 hp / 292 Nm, 0-100 in 7.5s
• 81.8 kWh battery with 501 km WLTC range
• Full ADAS: AEB, ACC, LKA, BSD, 540-degree camera
• Off-road mode with hill descent control
• Heated & ventilated leather seats, 8-year / 200,000 km warranty

Best for: Adventure-seeking buyers who want dual-motor EV performance with off-road ability.

Off-Road Design & Capability

The iCar V23's boxy body is not just styling - it is functional off-road architecture. The upright windscreen, flat shoulders and near-vertical tailgate maximise visibility and approach room, while short overhangs front and rear allow the wheels to clamber over obstacles before the bodywork arrives. At 4,220 mm long on a 2,735 mm wheelbase, the V23 is compact enough to thread through tight wadi tracks yet tall enough to clear rutted desert tracks.

The raised ground clearance and rugged 21-inch wheels on the AWD trim give the V23 the stance and obstacle clearance of a proper adventure SUV, not a lifted city crossover. Body cladding around the wheel arches and sills protects the paintwork from stones and scrub, while the tough lower bumpers are designed to take desert contact without costly damage.

Combined, these elements give the V23 approach and departure angles that city-bred electric SUVs simply cannot match - the kind of geometry that matters when you are cresting a dune or dropping into a rocky wadi.

Electric Powertrain for Adventure

The AWD trim's dual-motor layout is the key to its off-road credibility. With 211 hp and 292 Nm delivered to all four wheels, the V23 AWD puts power down where the grip is - exactly what you want when two wheels are in soft sand or on a slippery rock. The 7.5-second 0-100 km/h time confirms it is genuinely quick on tarmac too.

Electric motors deliver maximum torque from zero rpm, which is a game-changer off-road. Where a petrol engine needs revs to find its pulling power, the V23's motors punch the moment you touch the throttle - ideal for crawling over obstacles or maintaining momentum in soft sand without the lag and wheelspin of a combustion drivetrain.

The 81.8 kWh battery provides a 501 km WLTC range, enough for a full day of desert exploration and the drive home without range anxiety. A low centre of gravity from the floor-mounted battery also keeps the V23 stable on side slopes and uneven ground.

Desert Driving Modes

The AWD trim's dedicated Off-Road mode recalibrates the powertrain for low-grip surfaces, softening throttle response and re-tuning the traction control to allow the controlled wheelspin that helps cut through soft sand rather than bogging down. It is a genuine desert-driving aid, not a badge.

Hill Descent Control takes over on steep, loose descents, holding the V23 at a steady crawl without the driver touching the brakes - invaluable on the kind of steep dune drops where locking a wheel would slide the vehicle sideways. Combined with the 540-degree camera, which stitches a bird's-eye view with an under-floor perspective, the driver can place the wheels precisely even when the terrain ahead is invisible from the seat.

Together these systems make the V23 AWD one of the few electric SUVs in its price bracket with a coherent, purpose-built off-road driving toolkit rather than just raised suspension and rugged looks.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Dual-motor AWD with 211 hp and instant torque for real off-road traction
• Boxy body, short overhangs and 21-inch wheels give genuine adventure-SUV geometry
• 501 km WLTC range covers a full desert day plus the drive home
• Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control tuned for sand and loose surfaces
• 540-degree camera makes wheel placement easy on technical terrain
• 8-year / 200,000 km warranty backs the adventure use case

Cons

• 280 L boot is modest for a vehicle pitched at adventure and camping
• No low-range transfer case or diff locks, so it is not a hard-core rock crawler
• Off-road credentials are largely on the AWD trim; the 2WD is rear-drive only

Key Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the iCar V23 really handle desert off-roading in the UAE?

Yes, the AWD trim is purpose-built for it. Dual-motor AWD delivers 211 hp and instant torque to all four wheels, the Off-Road mode softens throttle response for soft sand, and Hill Descent Control manages steep dune drops. Add the 540-degree camera for precise wheel placement and a 501 km range for full-day trips, and the V23 AWD is a genuine desert-capable electric SUV.

What is the difference between the iCar V23 2WD and AWD for off-road use?

The 2WD is rear-wheel-drive only with 134 hp and no off-road driving modes, so it is better suited to gravel tracks and light trails than serious dune driving. The AWD adds dual motors, 211 hp, the Off-Road mode, Hill Descent Control, a 540-degree camera and 21-inch wheels - the full adventure toolkit.

How far can the iCar V23 AWD go off-road on a single charge?

The 81.8 kWh battery delivers a 501 km WLTC range on the road. Off-road driving in sand uses more energy, so expect a lower real-world figure, but the V23 AWD still has enough range for a full day of desert exploration plus the return journey, and V2L at 3.3 kW lets you power camping gear from the battery.

Verdict

The iCar V23 AWD is the best Chinese electric SUV for off-road adventures in the UAE because it is the only one that takes adventure seriously at this price. Its boxy body, short overhangs, dual-motor AWD, 211 hp, Off-Road mode, Hill Descent Control and 540-degree camera form a coherent off-road toolkit, while the 501 km WLTC range and 3.3 kW V2L make it a capable base camp. At 66,000 AED with an 8-year warranty, no rival Chinese electric SUV matches its blend of capability, range and value for adventure buyers.