Chery Brings Its Defender-Style iCaur V27 to the UK in 2027

Chery is preparing to test British loyalties with its iCaur V27, a boxy off-roader that borrows more than a little styling inspiration from Land Rover’s Defender. The Chinese automaker has confirmed the SUV will reach UK showrooms in 2027, setting up an awkward head-to-head with one of Britain’s most beloved nameplates.

The iCaur badge is a newcomer to British buyers, but its parent company is not. Across its Omoda, Lepas and Jaecoo brands, Chery now accounts for roughly 7% of the UK’s new car market, according to Chery International, and data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders cited by Reuters places the group as the second-biggest seller behind Volkswagen. That momentum gives the company a foothold from which to launch yet another sub-brand.

The V27’s design is unmistakably Defender-adjacent, with a chunky upright front end and round headlights, though Chery’s creation also mixes in cues some observers liken to a Lexus GX. The result is a rugged-looking 4x4 that will likely divide opinion in a market where the original carries deep emotional weight.

Chery has not specified which powertrain UK customers will get. The V27 already sells elsewhere with a choice of three setups: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and two electric options, one using a single rear-mounted motor and the other a dual-motor all-wheel-drive arrangement. Selling the petrol version in Britain would put it directly against the existing four-cylinder Defender, whereas Land Rover has no electric Defender on the market — a gap that could give an EV-only V27 a clearer reason to exist.

Notably, Chery intends to adapt the SUV for British roads, with the company’s Millbrook research and development facility in England set to tailor the vehicle for local conditions. Whether that local polish, combined with the draw of an electric option the Defender cannot yet match, is enough to pull buyers away from their homegrown favorite remains the open question.