Chery South Africa first teased us with the fully electric ‘Q’ back in May, hinting it would dethrone Geely’s E2 as the most affordable EV in SA. That was always going to be a tough ask, considering Geely’s R340,000 price tag. Chery hasn’t quite delivered on that front, confirming the Q’s starting price of R350,000. Eh, close enough.
For what you’re getting — a five-door electric hatchback that looks somewhat stylish — R350,000 isn’t so bad. It’s one of only four EVs in the country to be offered under the R400,000 mark, firmly placing Chery in the EV conversation. The Q hasn’t landed just yet, though Chery confirmed it’ll touch down in “early September”.
Chery on top?
It’ll be joined by a more comfortable ‘Elite’ derivative, which will set buyers back R400,000 at launch.
On paper, the Q seems perfectly capable, and arguably worth the price bump. It’s fitted with a single 90kW motor on the rear, with a 1225Nm torque output. It should, in theory, go further than its biggest competitors thanks to a 42.7kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery, which Chery claims will net approximately 400km on a single charge. That figure is tracked on the NEDC cycle, rather than the widely accepted WLTP cycle, however, so expect to see a lower, slightly more achievable range in practice.
The Chery Q looks to be a decent city slicker, measuring 4,195 mm long, 1,811 mm wide, and 1,570 mm high, with a 2,700 mm wheelbase. You’re getting 375 litres of boot space, though this can be increased to 1,450 litres when needed. There’s a frunk, too, rated for 70 litres.
It’s a pretty standard affair inside. The Q boasts a dual-tone dashboard with a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Behind it sits the 8.8in instrument cluster, while the centre console is dominated by a 5.6in 2.5K touchscreen. It’s still unclear what the company will save for the more expensive ‘Elite’ trim. Other than 17in wheels and a suite of assisted parking features, Chery hasn’t offered much incentive to cough up an extra R50,000.
We’ve still got a rough idea of what other bits to expect come September, judging by the Chinese model (via The Citizen). Push-button start will turn up, as will a 540-degree camera system. Front and rear parking sensors will keep you from denting your new EV, while a ventilated wireless charger sits in the vehicle’s centre console. Chery notes that we’ll have a clearer picture of the Q closer to the EV’s official launch in September.
