mReview: Chery Q — a compact city hatchback missing a few features, yet surprisingly practical

Chery Q – A compact car with big interior, surprisingly practical despite missing a few specs

What’s Great?

• Superb suspension tuning that turns every drive into a genuinely enjoyable experience.
• Automated parking assist on the top trim... at an impressively accessible price point.
• Exceptionally roomy rear passenger accommodation.

What’s Good?

• Generous trim lineup tailored to different needs, from no-frills entry to fully loaded.
• Go-kart-like driving feel, even if the motor isn't blistering.
• Great energy efficiency, provided you don't cruise at high speeds continuously.

What’s Not Great?

• No automatic climate control.
• No rain-sensing wipers, nor a rear windscreen wiper.
• While rear legroom is vast, the seat cushions feel slightly narrow for taller adults.

The Chery Q comes with intriguing performance figures. It's a compact electric car with a cabin that belies its exterior footprint, paired with a suspension setup that copes surprisingly well with Thai road surfaces.

While many rival B-SUV electric cars strive for massive bodies and endless spec-sheet features, driving the Chery Q in the real world is a delightful surprise. Its four-wheel independent suspension works harmoniously. Although there is a touch of body lean during high-speed evasive manoeuvres, standard (and slightly spirited) driving feels remarkably composed—inspiring far more confidence than several cars in the 700,000–800,000 THB bracket.

Combined with its endearing looks and go-kart-like feel, driving it feels like piloting a fun toy car. The motor delivers its power through mid-to-top revs, adding an engaging ICE-like driving sensation.

Curves dominate its styling—flirting with classic lines without going full retro. Chery brought in designers with VW backgrounds for this project, resulting in its cheeky, adorable front fascia.

As a budget-friendly EV, it lacks an active grille shutter system up front. If you own one, do keep an eye on clearing road debris from the air intake below the front number plate.

Power comes from a single rear-mounted electric motor (RWD) producing 122 hp (90 kW) and 115 Nm of torque, with a claimed top speed of 139 km/h. While those paper figures look modest next to rivals, all trims share a 400 km driving range (NEDC) and support 85 kW DC fast charging, replenishing 30–80% in just 16 minutes.

On paper, it might seem underpowered, but real-world mid-to-top torque delivery makes zipping around city traffic a blast. It handles relaxed road trips admirably with plenty of overtaking punch—the only scenario where it struggles is overtaking at higher speeds above 120 km/h, where acceleration tapers off.

Real-world charging performance is equally solid. During testing, charging from just over 20% for a standard 30-minute charging station session topped the battery up to around 92%.

Dimensions stand at 4,195 mm long, 1,811 mm wide, and 1,568–1,574 mm tall (depending on wheel choice), keeping it nimble for daily driving. Yet a long 2,720 mm wheelbase opens up impressive rear cabin space.

Its compact footprint makes urban driving effortless, backed by excellent all-round visibility. What we love most is the blind-spot camera system—it activates blind-spot camera feeds automatically even without flicking the indicator, proving immensely useful during heavy downpours when side mirrors get obscured.

Despite the 2,720 mm wheelbase, it turns in a tight 5.2-metre turning radius, making it a true city car capable of squeezing through tight capital city traffic with ease.

Interior options are simple. Across five exterior colours, only the Creamy Beige exterior unlocks a Minty Mix interior; all other paint options get a sleek Cool Black interior. Equipment levels are well chosen, despite a few quirky omissions.

What's included is remarkably generous for a sub-550,000 THB car: a 540-degree surround camera system, a large central display featuring Chery's cute interactive avatar with 8 selectable characters, wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, and an external mic speaker system from the mid trim upwards.

What's missing is slightly puzzling for 2026: basic features like automatic climate control and automatic wipers are absent—even on the range-topping Quint test model. A rear windscreen wiper is also missing, which can hamper visibility in heavy rain.

P.S. We thoroughly enjoy the tactile climate control thumbwheels—far easier to use on the move than fiddly soft-touch screen buttons!

Rear passenger space is a genuine surprise—vast legroom thanks to the 2,720 mm wheelbase, plus handy under-seat space to tuck away shoe boxes or storage trays. Oh, and factory privacy glass on the rear windows comes as standard!

A standard front trunk (frunk) wasn't enough for Chery, so they added an electric front hood release in all trims. Tapping a button pops open a generous 70-litre front storage compartment with complete ease.

The rear design isn't flashy, but is it distinctive? Absolutely. You can spot it as a Chery Q from a mile away, thanks to matching curved tail-light signatures. Top-spec Quint models also gain an electric power tailgate.

Boot space is respectable, offering a base 375 litres (similar to the ORA 5) that expands to 1,450 litres with the rear seats folded down. Note that the folded rear seats don't lie completely flat with the boot floor.

The Chery Q emerges as a formidable threat in the 500,000 THB segment—fast charging, pleasant driving dynamics, fun tech, and cheeky styling. While the lack of a rear wiper is a minor flaw, overall execution for urban usability deserves genuine praise.

Pricing across the three Chery Q variants:

• Qlick: 449,900 THB (RRP 469,900 THB) – Great entry value for basic needs; no ADAS, basic convenience features.
• Qool: 479,900 THB (RRP 499,900 THB) – Adds upgraded convenience and tech.
• Quint (Top): 519,900 THB (RRP 539,900 THB) – Loaded with smart tech, including automated parking assist and a power tailgate.

Author’s Note – Missing basic options are easily forgiven given such aggressive pricing that is bound to give competitors a headache. If you can manage rainy mirror visibility, the Chery Q offers an extraordinarily complete city car package.

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