The iCarsoft CR Ultra and the iCarsoft CR Ultra P are the most complete iCarsoft car diagnostic tools we sell. They share the screen, processor, software, coverage and adapter kit. The difference is the VCI: the CR Ultra P comes with the J2534 pass-thru compatible CR Link, while the CR Ultra has a standard VCI. That one part decides whether you can use the kit with the manufacturers' own software.
CR Ultra vs CR Ultra P comparison table
| CR Ultra | CR Ultra P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €1,489.95 | €1,749.95 |
| Makes | 174 | 174 |
| Screen | 10.1″ touchscreen, 1280×800 | 10.1″ touchscreen, 1280×800 |
| Processor and memory | Quad-core 2.0 GHz · 4 GB / 128 GB | Quad-core 2.0 GHz · 4 GB / 128 GB |
| Battery | 12,600 mAh | 12,600 mAh |
| Operating system | Android 10 | Android 10 |
| VCI | Wireless VCI | Wireless CR Link with J2534 |
| J2534 pass-thru | No | Yes |
| CAN-FD and DoIP | Yes | Yes |
| Online programming | 13 makes | 13 makes |
| Service functions | 40 | 40 |
| OBD-I adapters | 10 included | 10 included |
| Battery tester | Included | Included |
| Updates | 3 years free, then optional renewal | 3 years free, then optional renewal |
Figures from icarsoft.com. Actual coverage of each function depends on the make, model, year and control unit.
What they have in common
Both are workshop platforms with dealer-level diagnostics on every system, a topology map (you see every control unit in the car at a glance, and which ones have faults), bidirectional control and cloud-based ECU programming for 13 makes. They also give access to the FCA Secure Gateway (SGW) on Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and others, which requires a paid AutoAuth account.
The 40 service functions cover what comes through a workshop every day: oil, EPB, SAS, BMS, DPF, injectors, ABS bleeding, immobiliser, TPMS, suspension level, adaptive headlights, automatic gearbox learning, AdBlue/SCR, NOx sensor, GPF, coolant bleeding, high-voltage battery, gateway calibration and more.
The case contents are the same too: 10 OBD-I adapters (BMW 20-pin, Mercedes 38, Nissan 14+16, Fiat 3, Mitsubishi/Hyundai 12+16, Toyota 17 and 22, Honda 3, GM/VAZ 12 and Chrysler 6), a battery tester module with clamps, the BMW F-Chassis cable, an RJ45 cable and a USB-to-Ethernet adapter for DoIP.
What J2534 is and why you might need it
SAE J2534 is a standard that lets a diagnostic interface act as a bridge (pass-thru) between a PC and the car. With a J2534 VCI you can run the manufacturer's official software on your computer and reflash control units with the original calibration, just as a main dealer would. That software and its licence are bought separately from each manufacturer.
If your workshop already reprograms with official tools, or wants to start, the CR Ultra P saves you buying a separate J2534 interface. If you have no plans to use manufacturer software, the online programming for 13 makes that both include is usually enough, and the CR Ultra costs you €260 less.
Add-ons: heavy vehicles and EVs
Neither one diagnoses trucks out of the box. iCarsoft offers an optional heavy-duty package for each (HD2000 on the CR Ultra, HD6000 on the CR Ultra P). According to the official comparison, the CR Ultra P also supports optional diagnostics for electric vehicles and their batteries, which is not listed for the CR Ultra.
If most of your work is on trucks, a dedicated tool such as the iCarsoft HD V4.0 may suit you better; you will find it under truck diagnostic tools.
Topology and programming in practice
The topology map changes the way you start a diagnosis. Instead of going into each control unit one by one, you see the car's network drawn out with every module and its status, and within seconds you know where faults are stored and which modules are not responding. When a communication fault lights up several warning lights at once, that diagram helps you find the module or network section behind it.
Online cloud programming is mostly used when you replace a control unit, or when the manufacturer has released corrected software for a known fault. The tool downloads the file and loads it into the car. It is delicate work: do it with a battery support unit connected and without rushing, because an interruption halfway through can leave the control unit unusable.
Before deciding, think about the jobs you have done over the last few months. If you have hardly replaced any control units, the CR Ultra is more than enough. If you send programming jobs to another garage or to the dealer, that is the case for the CR Ultra P.
Updates
No difference here: both include 3 years of free updates, after which renewal is optional and paid. It is worth weighing against the CR Max range, which has free lifetime updates but less coverage and no online programming.
Which one to choose
- CR Ultra: a multi-brand workshop that wants topology, online programming, OBD-I adapters and a battery tester in one case, without working with manufacturer software.
- CR Ultra P: a workshop that reprograms, or wants to, with official software via J2534, or plans to take on electric vehicles. For €260 more you get the CR Link VCI and the door open to pass-thru.
If these tools are more than you need, the CR Max P gives you 50 functions, OE coding and DoIP for much less; we compare them in which diagnostic tool to buy for a garage. Every professional option is under workshop diagnostic tools.
