Before the new Chery Q EV goes on sale at the beginning of September, we have been given a preview of what to expect behind the wheel.
With the emergence of new energy vehicles in South Africa, new niche segments have developed. One of these is small, affordable EVs, a case in which Chinese brands have been keen to make.
First, BYD launched the Dolphin Surf at a starting price of R340k. Almost a year later, China's best-selling car in 2025, the Geely E2, landed on local shores. There's also the Dongfeng Box, which seems less well-known than the aforementioned nameplates. All three EVs have been keen to pique interest, and the margins between them are quite narrow in terms of range and pricing.
Now another player is entering the segment: the Chery Q, set to go on sale in South Africa at the start of next month.
Behind the wheel
I was given the opportunity to drive the Chery Q briefly from the Waterfront to Sea Point in Cape Town. First impressions: a neat dual-tone interior with hard plastics throughout, sufficient power under the pedal for urban driving, and brakes that could do with a bit more sensitivity.
I'd have loved to test it on the open road to get a sense of its overtaking ability, but at a claimed top speed of 140 km/h, and going by how much power I felt on tap, I suspect it may struggle to overtake comfortably. Worth noting, too, that I drove it with four people on board.
The most appealing thing I noticed was the amount of leg and headroom for rear occupants. At 1.8m tall, my legs could stretch out comfortably in the back seat, impressive for a car this compact.
Specs and pricing
Chery will introduce the Q locally at the beginning of September, with pricing starting at R350,000 and running up to R400,000. It's powered by a 90kW motor paired with a 42.7kWh battery, giving a claimed range of up to 400km on the NEDC cycle.
Despite its compact 4,195mm length, the Q rides on a 2,700mm wheelbase, which goes some way to explaining the generous rear legroom I experienced. Boot space starts at 375 litres and expands to 1,450 litres with the rear seats folded, and there's a separate 70-litre front trunk for extra storage.
Inside, the dual-tone dashboard I noticed is paired with an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a large 15.6-inch central touchscreen running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip. A column-mounted gear selector frees up space on the centre console.
Chery has also put together a pre-order package that includes a seven-year/150,000 km warranty, a home wallbox charger and portable charging equipment.
Final thoughts
On this brief drive, the Chery Q feels like a genuine contender in the affordable small-EV space. Chery has become a household Chinese car brand name in South Africa, and with the Q sitting in the affordable EV space with a cute exterior design, I suspect it will do well in Mzansi.
The real test will come with a longer drive on the open road, where I'll get a proper sense of how it handles overtaking and daily highway duties.
