The all-wheel-drive iCaur 03T IWD is a compelling electric SUV that combines distinctive styling, impressive performance and a generous equipment list with genuine all-terrain ability. Yet despite being the more sophisticated model, it doesn’t quite capture the playful character that makes the smaller V23 so appealing.
I have a confession to make. I really like iCaur. Having driven both the V23 and the 03T IWD (Intelligent Wheel Drive) more than once, I find myself rather charmed by what the brand is trying to do. Where electric vehicles can sometimes feel like variations on the same aerodynamic theme, iCaur has decided that being interesting is a perfectly valid design strategy.
Of the two cars currently on offer, though, the V23 remains my favourite. That might seem odd when the 03T IWD is the more sophisticated, more powerful and more expensive of the pair. Yet cars are not always about specs, and the V23 simply has something about it. Its retro-inspired design, compact proportions and playful character make it feel like the car that best represents what iCaur is about.
The 03T is a different proposition. It is bigger, more polished and arguably more accomplished, but somehow it doesn’t give me quite the same feels.
CLEVER AND QUICK
There is no question that the 03T IWD is competent. Its dual electric motors produce a combined 205 kW and 385 Nm, and it accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in a claimed 6.5 seconds. Its 69.77 kWh battery is rated for 436 km on the NEDC cycle. For an estimated WLTP range, you can easily lop 10% off that number.
For context, the V23 IWD produces 155 kW and 292 Nm, reaches 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and has a claimed 430 km range from its substantially larger 81.8 kWh battery. It costs R669,900 compared with R699,900 for the 03T IWD.
That makes the decision rather more interesting than the price gap suggests. The 03T is quicker and has a useful 50 kW advantage, but its range advantage is negligible. In fact, its smaller battery and higher claimed consumption of 19.9 kWh/100 km highlight a compromise inherent in its boxier shape.
In everyday driving, however, the 03T is smooth, quiet and remarkably effortless. The battery’s low centre of gravity helps disguise its almost two-tonne mass, while the suspension combines a comfortable ride with surprisingly tidy handling. The IWD version also gets a selection of terrain modes, making its 225 mm ground clearance and 245/55 R19 tyres more than cosmetic accessories for the occasional gravel-road adventure.
It also offers real practicality. The 03T offers 450 litres of luggage space, expanding to 1,238 litres with the rear seats folded. V2L capability is another useful touch, allowing the car’s battery to power external equipment at up to 3.3 kW.
TOO MUCH TECH?
Where I am less convinced is inside. The 03T’s cabin looks suitably futuristic, with plush materials, a digital instrument display and a huge 15.6″ central touchscreen. Equipment levels are impressive, particularly in the IWD, which gains front-seat massage, an electrically adjustable passenger leg rest and a 12-speaker Infinity sound system.
But iCaur has taken minimalism a little too far for my liking. Almost everything is controlled through that screen, including functions that really don’t need a touchscreen interface. Adjusting the mirrors, opening the glovebox and accessing various vehicle functions all involve navigating menus. Even the door handles use electronic buttons rather than conventional mechanical releases.
This is particularly noticeable because the V23 gets the balance closer to right. Its cabin retains physical controls for important functions, giving it a more tactile, characterful feel that suits the brand better.
LAST WORD
The iCaur 03T IWD is a good car. It is fast, comfortable, spacious, extremely well equipped and genuinely distinctive. Its eight-year/200,000 km vehicle warranty, eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty and five-year/100,000 km service plan also make a compelling ownership proposition.
But if I were spending my own money on an iCaur (as I convinced two family members to do), I’d still go for the V23. The 03T is the more sophisticated product, but the V23 feels like the more authentic expression of the brand. And that matters. iCaur has an opportunity to create something genuinely memorable in the EV market, and for me, the V23 captures that magic perfectly.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © ICAUR SOUTH AFRICA
