The Chery iCar 03 is an SUV that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Land Rover Defender (Image: iCar)
The cost of motoring has skyrocketed in the past decade, with the in the UK rising from under £6,000 in 2015 to nearly £14,000 today.
However, whilst Brits are shelling out more than ever to get behind the wheel of a new car, a number of are producing .
One Chinese model that seems to offer particularly good value for money is the iCar 03, produced by the large automaker , which looks surprisingly similar to the latest but costs a fraction of the price.
Whilst a basic Defender 90 currently costs UK car buyers £58,310, motorists in China can get behind the wheel of the lookalike 129,800 yuan (around £14,535) – representing a staggering saving of £43,775.
Despite no plans to officially sell the model in Europe just yet, it is already on the market in Thailand and Indonesia, with intentions to enter the Australian market as well.
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The £14,535 price tag is a stark contrast to the luxurious Land Rover’s £58,310 starting cost (Image: Getty)
On face value, the Chery iCar 03 offers a number of similarities to the original Defender, with both vehicles featuring barrelled doors under the windows, a particularly flat rear end, and vents between the front doors and wings on either side.
Nevertheless, compared to the real deal, the iCar 03’s steel and alluminium bodywork is slightly smaller at 4.4 metres long, and features a unique front end. In particular, the LED headlights are stacked vertically, divided by a thin yet deep dummy grille just underneath the bonnet.
In place of a spare wheel, the rear end also features a small storage box, making the model a touch more practical, which seemingly also features LEDs to accompany the rear light clusters.
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Surprisingly for a £14,000 car, the iCar 03 has a massive 15.6-inch touchscreen and eight speakers (Image: iCar)
Whilst many Brits still consider cars produced in China to be rather poorly built and sparce, the Chery iCar 03 offers a surprising amount of refinement for the money.
All examples of the Chery feature automatic headlights and wipers, a massive 15.6-inch infotainment display, dual-zone air conditioning, and an eight-speaker audio system.
However, drivers who splash out on the top-of-the-range example will also receive a heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, a panoramic sliding sunroof, and ambient lighting that can be set to 64 different colours.
One of the most significant differences between the iCar 03 and the Defender is the powertrain, with the Chinese model being fully electric.
Drivers can choose between two battery packs, spanning from 50.6 to 69.8kWh and the option of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. However, at its best, the Chery iCar 03 is capable of covering a range of up to 311 miles and can reach a very reasonable top speed of 93mph.
Despite Chery currently not selling the iCar 03 in the UK, the popular Chinese brand is set to launch a number of other models and sub-brands during 2025, including the Jaecoo J7 luxury SUV – a rival to the Toyota Rav4 and BMW X1 that will cost just £29,435.