iCaur targeting Toyota level of reliability

The Chery Group’s incoming iCaur SUV brand has identified the Toyota LandCruiser Prado’s reputation for durability, ease of repair and straightforward operation as the guide for its new generation of electrified SUVs.

Speaking to carsales in China, iCaur chief executive Ronna Luo said the company had looked beyond the Prado’s familiar boxy styling to understand why Australians value traditional Japanese four-wheel drive models so highly.
 
But the iCaur chief said it has no plans to develop hardcore 4x4 SUVs, akin to the Suzuki Jimny or FJ Cruiser.

The admission from the iCAUR chief executive came ahead of iCAUR’s Australian launch, which is scheduled for 2027 with a pair of two-row unibody or monocoque SUVs: the V25, a retro-styled mid-size SUV with a choice of fully electric or range-extender hybrid powertrains, and the larger, hybrid-only V27.

“The Prado has been very, very popular in China,” Luo said, crediting Toyota’s established reputation for being “easy to use and easy to repair.”

“When designing our iCAURs, one of the big things that we learned from those brands is not to make the cars too complicated,” she said.

Luo said SUV buyers should not need to negotiate touchscreen menus for every basic function, saying that demand for greater simplicity drove iCAUR’s choice to deploy rotary knobs and toggle controls.

The iCAUR chief also claimed the brand’s range-extender hybrid system, which uses a petrol engine to generate electricity for the battery rather than drive the wheels, would be easier and cheaper to repair than mechanically integrated plug-in hybrids, which typically site their motors within the transmission.

There is good reason to covet Toyota’s reputation with Australian buyers.

Roy Morgan named Toyota the country’s most trusted automotive brand in its 2026 awards, while Australian Automotive Dealer Association data for February 2026 showed that five-year-old Prados retained a staggering 82 percent of their original value.

There is evidence that reliability of Chery Group cars is getting better over time.

JD Power’s 2026 China Vehicle Dependability Study ranked Chery first among domestic brands – though that still meant 181 owner-reported problems per 100 cars sold.

The outright leader of JD Power’s China-market survey was joint-venture FAW Toyota, with 167 problems per 100 cars sold.

While the Prado acted as iCAUR’s reliability reference point, there is a substantial mechanical difference between Toyota’s LandCruiser line and the Chinese SUV range.

The iCAUR V25 and V27 are monocoque SUVs aimed chiefly at everyday driving and despite their boxy appearance are closer to an all-wheel drive Subaru than a heavy-duty Prado.

iCAUR has set the bar high for itself when it comes to comparisons with Toyota.

The test test will be whether iCAUR can translate its dependability goals into real-world durability, a broad service network, and readily available parts to reduce time off the road.

The Chery Group brand has yet to confirm its local warranty terms, network information, servicing costs, pricing or final specifications.

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