The iCar V27 arrives as a direct shot at the heart of the off-road establishment, pairing rugged styling with serious electrified hardware and a price strategy aimed squarely at traditional 4×4 buyers. It is not American, it is not a Jeep, and that is exactly why it matters in a market where the Wrangler has long defined what a factory off-roader should be. If the V27 delivers on its spec sheet and global ambitions, it could force the Wrangler to evolve faster than Jeep ever planned.
Chery’s quiet rise to global SUV contender
Before I can weigh whether the V27 threatens icons like the Wrangler, I need to understand the company behind it. Chery Automobile Co. Ltd, trading simply as Chery, is not a fringe startup chasing headlines but a large-scale Chinese automaker that has spent years building volume, technology and export reach. The brand is often confused in conversation with Chevy or even “Cherry,” yet the corporate identity of Chery Automobile Co, Ltd is rooted in China’s state-backed push to turn domestic manufacturers into global players, particularly in segments like SUVs and electrified vehicles.
That background matters because the V27 is not a one-off halo project, it is the latest expression of a strategy that leans on scale and aggressive pricing to break into markets long dominated by Japanese and Western brands. Chery has already used that formula to expand in regions such as the Middle East and South America, where buyers are increasingly open to Chinese SUVs that undercut established rivals while offering more tech. The V27 slots into that playbook as a flagship off-roader, designed to show that Chery can do more than family crossovers and budget sedans and can instead build something that stands wheel to wheel with the most respected 4x4s on sale.
Meet the iCar V27: a Defender-style bruiser with electric muscle
The V27 itself is marketed under the iCar sub-brand as the iCar V27, and its mission is clear from the first glance. The body is a boxy, upright SUV with squared-off fenders, a near-vertical tailgate and a stance that immediately invites comparison with the Land Rover Defender and other heritage off-roaders. In official material, Chery positions the iCar V27 as a sophisticated hybrid electric SUV that combines power and performance, with an electric motor output listed at up to 449 horsepower in its most potent configuration.
That figure is not marketing fluff, it is backed by a drivetrain layout that offers both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options, with the AWD version rated at 335 kW of electric motor power. That translates into serious on-road punch, but it also hints at the kind of torque-rich delivery that off-roaders crave when crawling over rocks or slogging through mud. By wrapping that hardware in a shape that looks ready for a safari, Chery is signaling that the iCar V27 is not just another urban crossover with plastic cladding, it is a deliberate attempt to join the club of “real” 4x4s.
Design: a Defender silhouette with Chinese fingerprints
Styling is where the V27 makes its most controversial first impression. The proportions, the flat roofline and the squared-off wheel arches all echo the Land Rover Defender so closely that some observers have described the SUV as looking like a copy of that British icon. In Brazilian coverage that introduced the model with the phrase “Meet the iCar V27,” the SUV is explicitly framed as a 449-horsepower SUV that looks like a Defender, underscoring how central that resemblance is to its identity. The message is blunt: if buyers like the Defender’s aesthetic but not its price, Chery has an alternative.
Yet the V27 is not a pure clone. The front fascia, lighting signatures and detailing carry a distinctly Chinese design language, with sharper creases and more futuristic elements than the Defender’s retro-modern blend. Inside, early imagery and descriptions point to a tech-heavy cabin with large screens and minimalist switchgear, a contrast to the Wrangler’s more utilitarian interior and even to the Defender’s mix of rugged and premium cues. By fusing a familiar off-road silhouette with the kind of digital-first cockpit that Chinese brands favor, Chery is betting that buyers will accept the visual homage in exchange for a more modern daily driving experience.
Powertrain and range: numbers that embarrass legacy 4x4s
On paper, the iCar V27’s powertrain is where it most clearly outguns traditional off-roaders. The hybrid electric setup delivers Electric Motor Power Up to 449 hp in its top specification, a figure that eclipses many versions of the Wrangler and even challenges high-performance variants of the Defender. The availability of both Drivetrain RWD and AWD configurations gives Chery flexibility to tailor the V27 to different markets, from urban buyers who want efficiency to enthusiasts who demand full-time traction and off-road capability.
Range is another headline figure that could shift expectations. With its petrol generator working alongside the battery, the V27 is quoted with a total driving range of over 1,000 km, a number that directly addresses one of the biggest anxieties around electric off-roaders: what happens when the trail is far from a fast charger. In markets where long-distance road trips and remote travel are common, that kind of endurance could be a decisive advantage over pure EV rivals and even over some conventional gasoline SUVs that lack such extended legs between fill-ups.
Chery’s own benchmark: Defender and Land Cruiser, not Jeep
What is striking about Chery’s positioning of the V27 is that the company does not primarily talk about Jeep at all. Instead, it explicitly pits the SUV against the Land Rover Defender and the Toyota Land Cruiser, two of the most respected names in global off-roading. In coverage of the launch, the iCaur V27 is described as being set up against the Defender and Land Cruiser, with the clear implication that Chery believes its new SUV can match or exceed those benchmarks on capability and value.
That choice of rivals tells me two things. First, Chery is targeting markets where the Defender and Land Cruiser are aspirational purchases, often priced well above mainstream SUVs, and where a cheaper but similarly capable alternative could find eager buyers. Second, by aiming at those global 4x4s rather than the Wrangler, Chery is acknowledging that Jeep’s strongest base is still North America, where brand loyalty and off-road culture are deeply intertwined. The V27’s threat to the Wrangler is therefore indirect: if it can undercut the Defender and Land Cruiser in regions where Jeep is already fighting for share, it could squeeze the Wrangler from the flanks rather than in a straight head-to-head battle.
Why the Wrangler should pay attention anyway
Even if Chery is not name-checking Jeep in its launch materials, I see several reasons why the Wrangler’s product planners should be watching the V27 closely. The first is the simple fact that the V27 wraps serious electrified performance in a body that looks purpose-built for adventure, something Jeep has only partially embraced with plug-in hybrid versions of the Wrangler and the fully electric Recon concept. When a non-American SUV offers up to 449 hp, a range of over 1,000 km and a design that telegraphs “trail ready,” it raises the bar for what buyers might expect from the next generation of Wrangler.
The second reason is pricing and perceived value. Reporting from Brazil highlights that the iCar V27 is pitched as a 449-horsepower SUV with the price of a popular car, a combination that is designed to transform that market by making high-output off-road style accessible. If Chery can replicate that formula in other regions, it could normalize the idea that a rugged-looking, high-power SUV does not have to carry a luxury badge or a premium price. For Jeep, which has steadily moved the Wrangler upmarket with expensive Rubicon and 392 variants, that shift in expectations could be uncomfortable.
Global ambitions: from UAE debuts to Brazilian buzz
The V27’s rollout strategy underlines how serious Chery is about turning this SUV into a global nameplate. The iCaur V27 had its global debut in the UAE, a market where off-road culture is strong and where buyers are accustomed to evaluating vehicles against the likes of the Land Cruiser and Patrol. Launching a sophisticated hybrid electric SUV in that environment, with Electric Motor Power Up to 449 hp and AWD capability, signals that Chery wants the V27 to be judged by the toughest standards rather than sheltered in niche EV segments.
At the same time, the Brazilian coverage that introduced readers to the iCar V27 as a 449-horsepower SUV that looks like a Defender and is priced like a popular car shows how Chery is tailoring its message to value-conscious markets. In those regions, the Wrangler is often an aspirational import, limited by high taxes and pricing that puts it out of reach for many buyers. If the V27 can deliver credible off-road style and performance at a fraction of that cost, it could effectively occupy the Wrangler’s cultural space even where Jeep is technically present.
Off-road credibility: hardware versus heritage
One of the Wrangler’s enduring strengths is that it does not just look like an off-roader, it is engineered to be one, with solid axles, locking differentials and a chassis tuned for articulation and durability. The V27, by contrast, is still building its reputation. The available information emphasizes its hybrid electric power, AWD system and long range, but it does not yet spell out the full catalog of off-road hardware in the way Jeep fans are used to dissecting. That gap is where heritage still matters: the Wrangler’s decades of trail-proven history cannot be replicated overnight by any newcomer, no matter how strong the spec sheet.
Yet hardware evolves, and electrification can bring real advantages off-road, from instant torque to fine-grained traction control. If the V27’s AWD system and chassis tuning are genuinely up to the task of tackling rough terrain, its combination of 449 hp and extended range could make it a compelling tool for adventure travel. In that scenario, the Wrangler’s heritage becomes a double-edged sword, anchoring its identity but also tying it to older mechanical solutions that may struggle to match the refinement and efficiency of a modern hybrid electric SUV.
The “not-American Jeep” label and what it really means
Calling the V27 a “not-American Jeep” is a shorthand that captures both its appeal and its challenge. On one hand, it is a rugged-looking SUV with serious power, a boxy profile and a clear focus on adventure, all traits that Jeep has long owned in the public imagination. On the other hand, it comes from Chery, a Chinese automaker that many Western buyers still know little about, and it is built around a hybrid electric architecture that feels more Silicon Valley than Moab. That combination makes the V27 a kind of mirror image of the Wrangler: similar silhouette, very different origin story.
For some buyers, that difference will be a deal-breaker, especially in markets where American branding and Jeep’s wartime heritage carry emotional weight. For others, particularly younger drivers who care more about tech, efficiency and value than about where a vehicle is assembled, the V27’s non-American roots may be irrelevant. If anything, the fact that it is not tied to a legacy brand could free Chery to experiment with features, pricing and ownership models that would be harder for Jeep to adopt without alienating its core fans.
Could the V27 actually “kill” the Wrangler?
Framed literally, the idea that the V27 might kill the Wrangler is overstated. Jeep’s icon is deeply entrenched in North America, supported by a vast aftermarket, a passionate community and a brand story that stretches back to World War II. No single SUV, especially one from a relatively new global player, is likely to erase that overnight. The Wrangler will continue to sell to buyers who want removable doors, open-air driving and the specific kind of mechanical authenticity that only Jeep currently offers.
Where the V27 could be far more disruptive is in reshaping expectations for what a rugged SUV should offer in terms of powertrain, range and value. By delivering Electric Motor Power Up to 449 hp, AWD capability, Drivetrain RWD options and a range of over 1,000 km in a package that looks ready for the trail, Chery is effectively writing a new spec sheet for adventure vehicles. If buyers respond, Jeep will face pressure to accelerate its own electrification plans, rethink pricing and perhaps even reconsider how much of the Wrangler’s formula is sacred and how much can evolve. In that sense, the V27 does not have to kill the Wrangler to change it; it only has to prove that a not-American Jeep can be just as desirable as the original.
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