The 2026 Chery QQ3 EV revives one of China’s most famous budget nameplates as a thoroughly modern little electric car — and the market responded with 56,879 orders at launch. Built on Chery’s new T12 native EV platform, the QQ3 is a compact, rear-wheel-drive hatchback offering up to 420 km of CLTC range, a 15.6-inch screen on a Snapdragon 8155 chip, and even optional ADAS — all from a Chinese starting price of roughly ¥58,900 ($8,200–8,540). As the walkaround reviewer sums it up, “I like this design, it looks cute,” and at this money it squares up directly against the BYD Dolphin and Seagull. It’s a lot of usable, tech-forward EV for the price of a cheap city runabout.
Performance & Powertrain
The QQ3 EV is, unusually for a budget car, rear-wheel drive, with a rear-mounted motor in two outputs: a 58 kW (78 hp) / 90 Nm version and a punchier 90 kW (121 hp) / 115 Nm version, with a top speed of 125 km/h. Two LFP battery packs are offered: a 29.48 kWh pack for 310 km CLTC and a 41.28 kWh pack for 420 km CLTC. DC fast charging takes the battery from 30–80% in no more than 16.5 minutes (the reviewer measured around 15 minutes to 80%), and both slow and fast charge ports are fitted. It’s a city-first EV — modest power, sensible range, and the rear-drive layout gives it a tighter turning circle and a slightly more fun-to-drive character than the front-drive norm at this price.
| Architecture | BEV, single rear motor |
|---|---|
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Power | 58 kW (78 hp) or 90 kW (121 hp) |
| Torque | 90 Nm / 115 Nm |
| Battery | 29.48 / 41.28 kWh LFP |
| Range (CLTC) | 310 / 420 km |
| Fast charge | 30–80% ~16.5 min |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | BEV, single rear motor, RWD |
|---|---|
| POWER | 58 kW (78 hp) / 90 kW (121 hp) |
| TORQUE | 90 Nm / 115 Nm |
| TOP SPEED | 125 km/h |
| BATTERY | 29.48 kWh / 41.28 kWh LFP |
| RANGE (CLTC) | 310 km / 420 km |
| DC FAST CHARGING | 30–80% ~16.5 min |
| PRICE (CHINA) | ¥58,900–78,900 ($8,200–11,440) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 4,195 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,811 mm |
| Height | 1,569 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm |
| Cargo | 375 L / 1,400 L folded |
| Wheels | 16-inch, 205/60 R16 |
At 4,195 mm long on a 2,700 mm wheelbase, the QQ3 EV is a compact hatchback — but that long-for-its-length wheelbase (a benefit of the flat-floor EV platform) frees up a surprisingly spacious cabin. The walkaround highlights a 375-litre boot that grows to 1,400 litres with the rear seats folded, opened by a powered tailgate, plus a small front trunk. It rides on 16-inch wheels with 205/60 R16 tires and about 170 mm of ground clearance. The design is deliberately friendly — rounded surfacing, full-width connected LED lighting front and rear — aimed at young first-time buyers who want something that looks cute but feels modern inside.
| LENGTH | 4,195 mm (165.2 in) |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,811 mm (71.3 in) |
| HEIGHT | 1,569 mm (61.8 in) |
| WHEELBASE | 2,700 mm (106.3 in) |
| CARGO | 375 L / 1,400 L folded |
| GROUND CLEARANCE | ~170 mm |
How It Compares
Verdict
- Outstanding value — from ~$8,200 with up to 420 km range
- Rear-wheel drive, rare and fun at this price
- Quick 30–80% charge in ~16.5 minutes
- Big 15.6-inch screen + Snapdragon 8155; optional ADAS
- 375 L boot (1,400 L folded) + frunk, roomy for its size
- Cute, modern design — 56,879 orders at launch prove the appeal
- Modest power and 125 km/h top speed — strictly a city/commuter car
- CLTC range is optimistic vs real-world / WLTP
- Brutally crowded budget segment — BYD, Geely, Wuling all fight here
- ADAS and the bigger battery cost extra (top trim ~$11,440)
- No AWD or performance option
- China-market car; export availability unconfirmed
The QQ3 EV is proof that the floor for a genuinely good electric car keeps dropping. For around $8,200 Chery gives you up to 420 km of range, a 15.6-inch Snapdragon-powered screen, optional driver assistance, a 375-litre boot and — unusually — a rear-wheel-drive layout that should make it more fun than its rivals to thread through a city. It’s no performance car, the CLTC range will shrink in the real world, and the budget EV segment it’s entering is the most cut-throat in China. But the 56,879 launch orders tell the story: as a cute, tech-forward, sub-$10k city EV, the reborn QQ3 nails the brief, and it’s one of the most appealing budget electric hatchbacks on sale.
