Why iCar V23 Is the Best Budget Electric SUV in the UAE 2026

Why iCar V23 Is the Best Budget Electric SUV in the UAE 2026

Electric SUVs have a reputation for being expensive, but the iCar V23 shatters that assumption in the UAE. Starting at just 55,000 AED for the 2WD and 66,000 AED for the dual-motor AWD, it undercuts every mainstream electric SUV on sale - including the MG ZS EV and BYD Atto 3 - while offering a boxy off-road design, a 401-501 km range and a genuinely useful standard-feature list. For budget-conscious buyers who assumed an EV was out of reach, the V23 is the model that changes the maths. Here is why it is the best budget electric SUV in the UAE for 2026.

Updated August 2026.

iCar V23 2WD

Starting Price: 55,000 AED

Body Style: SUV

A boxy off-road-styled compact electric SUV from Chery's iCar sub-brand. The V23 2WD pairs a 59.93 kWh CATL LFP battery with a 134 hp rear motor for 401 km of WLTC range, blending rugged adventure looks with zero-emission running costs at an unbeatable price.

Key Highlights

• 59.93 kWh CATL LFP battery with 401 km WLTC range
• Single motor 134 hp / 180 Nm, rear-wheel drive
• Boxy off-road design with rugged alloy wheels
• 15.4-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay & Android Auto
• 8-year / 200,000 km vehicle warranty

Best for: Young buyers who want an affordable, stylish electric SUV with off-road character.

Price vs Rivals

At 55,000 AED, the iCar V23 2WD is the cheapest electric SUV in the UAE, full stop. The MG ZS EV - long the budget EV benchmark - starts at 85,000 AED, a 30,000 AED premium for a similar body and a shorter 320 km range. The BYD Atto 3 starts at 110,000 AED, more than double the V23 2WD's price, for 204 hp and a 420 km WLTP range.

Even stepping up to the iCar V23 AWD at 66,000 AED keeps you 19,000 AED under the MG ZS EV and 44,000 AED under the BYD Atto 3 - while gaining dual-motor AWD, 211 hp and a 501 km WLTC range that beats both. There is simply no electric SUV that gets close to the V23's price-to-spec ratio in the UAE.

For outright value, the V23 redefines what an affordable electric SUV should cost, forcing rivals to justify tens of thousands of dirhams more for comparable - and in some cases inferior - specifications.

What You Get for the Money

The V23's low price does not mean a bare-bones car. Every trim gets a 15.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-speaker sound system, leather seats, a boxy off-road body on rugged alloy wheels and 3.3 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) output that can power camping gear or appliances from the battery.

The AWD trim adds genuinely premium kit for the price: heated and ventilated leather seats, a full ADAS suite (AEB, ACC, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring), a 540-degree camera, an off-road mode with hill descent control and 21-inch wheels. This is the kind of equipment list normally found on SUVs costing twice as much.

Backed by an 8-year / 200,000 km warranty, the V23's standard specification is the core of its budget-EV value case - buyers are not paying more to unlock the features that matter.

Running Cost Savings

The V23's purchase price is only half the value story; the running costs seal it. Charging the 59.93 kWh battery of the 2WD at UAE residential electricity rates costs roughly 12-20 AED for a full 401 km, versus 150-200 AED of petrol for a comparable compact SUV. Over a year of average driving, fuel savings alone can reach 8,000-12,000 AED.

Servicing is cheaper too - an EV has no oil changes, fewer consumables and less brake wear thanks to regenerative braking, so annual service costs typically run 600-1,000 AED at authorised dealers. Insurance for a 55,000-66,000 AED vehicle is also modest compared with pricier EV rivals.

Over a five-year ownership cycle, the V23's lower fuel and service costs can save 40,000-60,000 AED versus a comparable petrol SUV - on top of a purchase price that already undercuts every electric rival. For budget buyers, the total cost of ownership is exceptionally low.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Cheapest electric SUV in the UAE at 55,000 AED (2WD)
• 66,000 AED AWD is the cheapest dual-motor EV SUV on sale
• Generous standard kit: 15.4-inch screen, wireless CarPlay, leather, 7-speaker audio, V2L
• 401-501 km WLTC range beats pricier rivals like the MG ZS EV
• 8-year / 200,000 km warranty backs long-term ownership
• Very low running costs save thousands of dirhams a year

Cons

• 2WD's 134 hp is modest for highway overtaking
• 280 L boot is small for a family SUV
• New sub-brand means a smaller UAE service network than established EV rivals

Key Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the iCar V23 really the cheapest electric SUV in the UAE?

Yes. The 2WD trim starts at 55,000 AED, undercutting the MG ZS EV (85,000 AED) by 30,000 AED and the BYD Atto 3 (110,000 AED) by 55,000 AED. Even the dual-motor AWD at 66,000 AED is cheaper than every rival electric SUV while offering more power and range.

What features come as standard on the cheapest iCar V23?

Even the 55,000 AED 2WD trim includes a 15.4-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-speaker sound system, leather seats, V2L output and a boxy off-road body. The AWD adds heated and ventilated seats, full ADAS, a 540-degree camera and an off-road mode.

How much does it cost to run an iCar V23 compared with a petrol SUV?

A full charge of the 2WD costs roughly 12-20 AED for 401 km, versus 150-200 AED of petrol for a comparable SUV. Combined with cheaper servicing (no oil changes), annual running-cost savings can reach 8,000-12,000 AED, and 40,000-60,000 AED over five years.

Is the iCar V23 a good first electric car for budget buyers?

Yes. With a low 55,000 AED entry price, a 401 km range, a strong 8-year warranty and very low running costs, the 2WD trim is one of the most accessible ways into EV ownership in the UAE - provided you can charge at home or work.

Verdict

The iCar V23 is the best budget electric SUV in the UAE because it rewrites the entry price for an EV SUV - 55,000 AED for the 2WD and 66,000 AED for a dual-motor AWD - while packing a 15.4-inch screen, leather seats, V2L and a 401-501 km range that beat pricier rivals. Add very low running costs and an 8-year warranty, and no electric SUV comes close on value. For buyers who thought an EV was out of budget, the V23 is the answer.