Chery QQ3 EV coming to Malaysia as Chery Q, Proton e.MAS 5 rival with up to 420 km range

KUALA LUMPUR: Chery is preparing to bring back one of its most recognisable small-car names for Malaysia, but the car attached to it has changed completely.

The new Chery QQ3 is no longer the tiny petrol hatchback that appeared here briefly in the mid-2000s. For its third generation, the QQ3 has become a fully electric five-door hatchback, and for our market, it is expected to be introduced under the simpler Chery Q name.

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The model was displayed at Auto China 2026, where it formed part of Chery’s growing electric vehicle push. Its Malaysian arrival is being touted for early 2027, which would place it in the same conversation as the upcoming Proton e.MAS 5 and other compact EVs like the Wuling Bingo aimed at first-time electric car buyers.

A familiar name, but a very different car

The QQ name may carry some budget-car memories, but the new QQ3 EV is not a direct remake of the old model. This is a much larger and more mature product, measuring 4,195 mm long, 1,811 mm wide and 1,573 mm tall, with a 2,700 mm wheelbase.

That puts it well beyond the old city-car mould. In fact, the wheelbase is one of the clearest signs that Chery is not simply building a tiny urban runabout. The QQ3 EV is designed to offer proper cabin space, usable boot capacity and enough range to work as a daily family EV rather than a second-car novelty.

Compared to the Proton e.MAS 5, reports from China indicate that the QQ3 EV is slightly larger overall, with a longer wheelbase as well. That could become an important point if both cars end up competing in Malaysia, as space, practicality and perceived value will matter just as much as price.

Visually, Chery has gone for a friendly, rounded design rather than something aggressive. The QQ3 EV gets compact proportions, soft lighting elements, short overhangs, black wheel arch trim and semi-hidden door handles. It looks cheerful, but not cheap, which is probably exactly what Chery wants from a revived QQ model.

Built on a dedicated EV platform

Underneath, the third-generation Chery QQ3 EV is based on Chery’s T12 battery-electric vehicle platform. Unlike many budget-oriented small cars, it uses a rear-mounted electric motor, making it a rear-wheel-drive hatchback.

In China, there are two motor outputs. The lower-powered version produces 58 kW and 90 Nm, while the stronger variant produces 90 kW and 115 Nm. In more familiar terms, that translates to around 78 hp for the base version and around 121 hp for the higher-output model.

The top speed is listed at 125 km/h, which tells you quite clearly what this car is about. It is not chasing performance headlines. Instead, the QQ3 EV is being positioned around efficiency, compact-EV usability and affordability.

Two battery options, up to 420 km CLTC range

The QQ3 EV is offered in China with two LFP battery options, a 29.48 kWh pack and a larger 41.28 kWh pack.

The smaller battery delivers a claimed 310 km CLTC range, while the larger battery increases the figure to 420 km CLTC. As always, CLTC numbers tend to be more optimistic than what Malaysian drivers would see on highways, especially at sustained higher speeds. Still, the larger-battery version should give the QQ3 EV enough range to move beyond purely city use.

Charging performance is another strong point on paper. Chery claims the QQ3 EV can charge from 30 to 80 percent in around 16.5 minutes using DC fast charging. Vehicle-to-load functionality is also available in China, with reported output of up to 6.6 kW depending on variant.

That gives it an extra lifestyle angle, especially for buyers who like the idea of powering small appliances during outdoor trips, events or emergencies.

Practicality could be its real advantage

For a compact EV, the QQ3 EV appears to have been packaged with daily use in mind.

Boot space is listed at 375 litres, expanding to 1,450 litres when the rear seats are folded. It also gets a 70-litre front trunk, which is useful for charging cables, small bags or items you do not want rolling around in the main boot.

These numbers matter because affordable EVs cannot rely on price alone. Malaysian buyers will still ask the same practical questions, can it carry a family, can it handle weekend errands, can it replace a petrol hatchback or small crossover, and is the boot big enough for actual use?

On paper, the QQ3 EV seems ready for those questions.

The chassis specification also gives it a more grown-up feel. The QQ3 EV is listed with multi-link rear suspension, which is not always a given in this segment. It also has a 5.2-metre turning radius, useful for tight urban roads, parking lots and older residential areas.

Big screen, Snapdragon chip and ADAS

Inside, the QQ3 EV follows the current Chinese EV template, with a clean dashboard and a large central screen handling most of the cabin functions.

China-market versions feature a 15.6-inch 2.5K infotainment screen, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip. That chip is commonly used in more tech-heavy Chinese-market cars, so its presence in a compact EV gives the QQ3 a more upmarket feel.

Other reported equipment includes heated and ventilated seats, a power tailgate, ambient lighting and Chery’s Falcon 500 intelligent driving assistance system. In China, the system supports highway assistance functions, although the final Malaysian ADAS package remains to be confirmed.

As usual, local specification may differ. Features such as seat ventilation, advanced driver assistance, V2L output, charging speed and battery options will depend on how Chery Malaysia chooses to position the car.

China pricing shows the intent

In China, the QQ3 EV was launched with four trim levels and limited-time pricing from 58,900 yuan to 78,900 yuan.

A direct conversion places that at roughly RM38,000 to RM51,000, but that figure should not be read as a guide to Malaysian pricing. Taxes, import structure, distribution cost, equipment level and brand positioning will all affect the final number here.

What the China pricing does show is Chery’s intention. The QQ3 EV is meant to sit in the affordable EV space, but without looking or feeling like a stripped-out product.

That is exactly where the Malaysian market is heading next. The first wave of EV buyers here largely dealt with premium pricing, long-range SUVs and lifestyle models. The next wave will be more practical. Buyers will want lower entry prices, decent range, easy ownership and enough cabin space to justify switching from a petrol car.

The Chery Q could fit neatly into that space if priced correctly.

Could be an important model for Chery Malaysia

For Chery, the Q would also give the brand something very different from its current Malaysian line-up.

At the moment, Chery’s local identity is built mostly around SUVs, through models such as the Omoda 5, Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro. A compact electric hatchback would give the brand a fresh entry point, especially among urban buyers, young families and those considering their first EV.

It would also allow Chery to compete in a segment that is about to get much more crowded. Proton has already made it clear that the e.MAS brand will not stop at one model, while Wuling is also expected to play in the affordable EV hatchback space.

If Chery can bring the Q in with the right price, decent range and a strong equipment list, it could become one of the more serious challengers in Malaysia’s next affordable EV fight.

The QQ name has been here before

For older Malaysian car buyers, the QQ badge may sound familiar.

The Chery QQ was sold in Malaysia in the mid-2000s through Alado. Back then, it was a very different kind of car, a tiny 0.8-litre petrol hatchback aimed at budget-conscious buyers. The manual version was priced below RM40,000 at launch, while a later AMT version was also introduced.

Sales were modest, but the QQ gave Malaysia an early look at Chery during the brand’s first export push.

Nearly two decades later, the same small-car name is being revived in a completely different form. The original QQ arrived here as a cheap and cheerful petrol city car. The new QQ3 EV, or Chery Q for Malaysia, is being lined up as a larger, more sophisticated electric hatchback for a very different era.

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