Chery V23

First Impressions

The Chery V23 makes one heck of a first impression. It's tall, wide, unmistakably boxy, and dripping with personality. Standing next to it, the sheer height of this thing caught me off guard — even at 165 cm I felt small beside it. The orange paint on the top-spec all-wheel-drive model I tested made it look like a rolling statement piece.

This is a car with a clear identity. If you're into modern, retro-tinged box designs, the V23 nails that aesthetic without trying too hard.

Design and Exterior

The round LED headlights give the front end a friendly, almost toy-like character, while the massive grille and black accents add just enough toughness. The 21-inch black five-spoke wheels fill the arches nicely and look properly planted. Around back, the box-shaped storage compartment styled like a school backpack is a quirky touch that I genuinely appreciate.

Practical details are well thought out too. The side steps make climbing in and out easy for shorter passengers, and the windshield washer fluid filler is cleverly hidden under a pop-up panel on the hood. Door handles sit flush with the body, giving the V23 a clean side profile, though they require a push-and-pull motion that takes a moment to learn.

Interior and Tech

Inside, the single dark interior tone feels premium enough, with a slightly grey tint that keeps it from being too cave-like. There's no instrument cluster behind the steering wheel — everything lives on the central 15.4-inch screen. I was skeptical at first, but the driving information panel on the right side of the screen is positioned close enough to the driver that I never felt I was missing anything important.

Storage is where the V23 genuinely shines. The modular centre console has removable dividers, a deep hidden compartment underneath, and secret storage trays behind the dashboard on both sides. I managed to fit three drinks simultaneously in the cup holder area by rearranging the inserts. The front seats fold nearly flat to meet the rear bench, creating a makeshift bed — though at 175 cm tall, legs do hang over slightly.

Driving Experience

In comfort mode, the V23 is a mellow, easygoing cruiser. The throttle response is smooth, braking is progressive without any nose-dive, and regenerative braking is so light it feels almost like coasting in a petrol car. Steering is on the lighter side, which is fine for city streets but becomes noticeably vague during quicker manoeuvres.

Sport mode tightens everything up — steering weight increases, throttle sharpens, and the suspension firms noticeably. Lane changes felt more confident here. But push the V23 hard through a sudden swerve and the body roll is unmistakable. Both of us in the car agreed: this thing sways. The top speed caps at 140 km/h, and overtaking above 100 km/h requires a full-throttle commitment that feels a bit sluggish.

The suspension leans firm overall. Smooth highways feel fine, but rough patches and road joints transmit directly into the cabin. It's the kind of ride that suits off-road ambitions but sacrifices some on-road refinement.

ADAS and Tech Features

The adaptive cruise control genuinely impressed me. It tracked the car ahead smoothly, reacted quickly when vehicles cut in, and came to a complete stop in traffic without drama. Resuming requires a tap of the accelerator, but the system felt polished and trustworthy. The mock-up display showing surrounding vehicles in real-time was surprisingly accurate — trucks looked like trucks, sedans like sedans — which helped with spatial awareness during lane changes.

The 540-degree camera system available on the mid and top trims is excellent, offering both 2D and 3D views that make parking this tall, wide vehicle far less stressful.

Value for Money

For what you get — ventilated seats, a comprehensive ADAS suite, 540-degree cameras, six driving modes, voice control, and Apple CarPlay plus Android Auto — the V23 feels well-equipped against its competition. The build quality inside is solid, storage solutions are genuinely clever, and the unique styling gives it a character that cookie-cutter crossovers simply can't match.

Final Verdict

The Chery V23 is a niche product done right. It's for the buyer who wants something visually distinctive, doesn't care about chasing speed, and values versatility over driving thrills. City commuters, weekend adventurers, and anyone tired of generic crossover shapes should absolutely take it for a test drive.

Just don't expect sports car reflexes. The floaty steering and body roll at speed are real compromises. But if you drive calmly and appreciate clever design, the V23 delivers a surprisingly complete package.