Chery QQ Ice Cream

Model Overview

The Chery QQ Ice Cream is a micro urban EV commuter under Chery New Energy. Slotting into the iconic QQ product line-up, it represents the debut production model under Chery's iCar ecosystem. The vehicle officially made its market launch on 28 December 2021, positioned as a "Happy MINI SUV" with the core concept of a "Fun Big Toy", swiftly penetrating the A00-segment pure electric commuter market. As of May 2026, the models currently on sale are the facelifted versions launched on 10 January 2026, offering four variants: Sweet Fun Edition, British Edition, Racing Edition, and Queen Edition, with official retail prices ranging from RM43,900 to RM49,900. Factoring in dual scrapping subsidies and government incentives, the effective entry price drops to as low as RM34,000. The 2026 line-up champions a "Factory Bespoke" strategy, targeting younger niche buyers through four distinct styling themes to take on micro electric rivals such as the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV and Changan Lumin. First non-commercial private owners across the entire range enjoy a lifetime warranty covering both the vehicle and its core EV powertrain components.

Design Language

The 2026 QQ Ice Cream adopts Chery's "360° Smiling Language" design philosophy, featuring a full-width smiling LED light bar up front that visually mirrors the rear tail light assembly. The exterior body panels are made of lightweight polymer composites that offer high scratch and wear resistance. The key design highlight of the 2026 model lies in its "one car, multi-style" bespoke approach: the Queen Edition adopts a retro-luxury theme with green and wood-grain decals, generous chrome garnishes, and a vintage roof rack; the Racing Edition leans into an aggressive blacked-out mecha aesthetic complete with red racing stripes, an aggressive front splitter, and a rear wing; the British Edition features classic touring decals for a heritage vibe; the Sweet Fun Edition sports vibrant dopamine hues tailored for youth-centric tastes. In terms of dimensions, the standard version measures 3,030 mm in length, 1,496 mm in width, and 1,637 mm in height, with a 1,960 mm wheelbase, whereas the Racing Edition extends to 3,102 × 1,496 × 1,655 mm due to its sporty bodykit. By comparison, the initial 2021 debut model was slightly more compact at 2,980 × 1,496 × 1,637 mm on the same 1,960 mm wheelbase, available in seven pastel shades including Taro Purple, Sea Salt Blue, and Mint Green, featuring a rounder, retro "kei-car boxy" silhouette. Inside, the 2026 cabin is offered in two colour themes—Amber Glow and Wizard of Oz—accented by soft-touch suede-like leather trims, while the 9-inch infotainment touchscreen housing features a retro radio antenna styling motif for an added touch of fun.

Powertrain and Performance

The powertrain has undergone significant performance upgrades across model iterations. The original 2021 model was powered by a rear-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 20 kW and 85 Nm of torque, paired with either a 9.6 kWh or 13.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, achieving an NEDC-rated range of 120 km and 170 km, respectively. For 2026, performance has seen a substantial boost: the entire range is now equipped with a rear-mounted electric motor delivering 30 kW (around 41 PS) and 90 Nm of torque, with a top speed of 100 km/h. The rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) layout provides balanced weight distribution and confident off-the-line traction. Juicing the motor is a 17.4 kWh LFP battery pack, raising the CLTC-rated pure electric range to 220 km across all variants, with battery cells sourced from tier-one manufacturers like Gotion High-Tech. Charging capability is another headline upgrade for 2026—22 kW DC fast charging now comes standard across the board, allowing a 30% to 80% state of charge (SoC) in just 0.55 to 1.25 hours, while AC slow charging takes 5 to 11 hours, a marked improvement over the previous 6 to 8 hours charging window. Overall energy consumption is rated at around 12 to 13 kWh per 100 km, ensuring exceptionally low day-to-day running costs.

Chassis and Handling

The chassis architecture adopts an RWD layout, which is a standard yet efficient packaging solution in the micro EV segment. Suspension duties on the 2026 model are handled by front MacPherson struts and a 3-link non-independent rear suspension. The earlier 2021 model shared a similar suspension configuration. Electric Power Steering (EPS) comes standard across all variants, enabling a tight turning radius of just 4.0 metres, offering effortless manoeuvrability when navigating narrow city streets, old housing estates, and tight parking bays. With a featherweight kerb weight of 768 to 778 kg and a wheel-at-each-corner layout, the car remains exceptionally nimble in urban traffic. Stopping power is handled by front disc and rear drum brakes, paired with a regenerative braking system to recuperate energy during deceleration and bolster range. Overall chassis calibration is tuned squarely for light-footed urban commuting, with ride comfort taking clear precedence over sporty driving dynamics.

Cabin and Features

Taking centre stage in the 2026 QQ Ice Cream's smart cabin is a 9-inch floating touchscreen infotainment display, packing navigation, radio, music, video playback, and voice commands, alongside smartphone mirroring support. The system supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, with higher variants featuring remote vehicle telematics via a dedicated mobile app. A digital LCD instrument cluster supplies vital readouts such as road speed, battery level, and remaining range, while tactile physical buttons and rotary dials are retained beneath for intuitive high-frequency controls. On the comfort front, upper trims gain a leatherette multi-function steering wheel and an illuminated driver-side vanity mirror. The cabin also cleverly integrates three standard 1/4-inch screw mounts for accessories like phone holders and action cameras, catering directly to content creation on the go. The seats feature two-tone upholstery with 4-way manual adjustment for the front occupants; while boot space is minimal with the rear seats upright—suitable only for small miscellaneous items—folding down the rear bench opens up practical cargo room. Up to 22 practical storage cubbies are dotted throughout the interior for everyday knick-knacks. An Easy-Entry front seat tumble mechanism is standard across all variants, sliding the front seats forward with one touch to ease ingress and egress for rear passengers, especially children and senior citizens.

Safety and Driver Assistance

On the passive safety front, the 2026 QQ Ice Cream is constructed around a closed cage safety cell, with high-strength steel accounting for 69% of the body structure alongside crash boxes integrated into the front longitudinal members for enhanced crash energy dissipation. The original 2021 model featured an all-high-strength steel cage structure, one-piece die-cast aluminium front door frames, X-shaped interlocking crossmembers, and structural stainless-steel riveting. A driver's airbag is standard across the range, while a front passenger airbag is available depending on the trim level. Active safety kit includes ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and Hill Start Assist (HSA). For parking convenience, rear parking sensors and a reverse camera are fitted across the lineup, with the high-definition reverse camera standard on all except the baseline model. An Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) for low-speed pedestrian warning is also equipped on select variants. In line with segment norms and its basic commuter brief, Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are omitted.

Market Performance and Reception

The Chery QQ Ice Cream's sales run has traced a textbook boom-to-bust trajectory. Ahead of its official launch in late 2021, the micro EV secured 10,000 blind pre-orders in just 7 hours and 27 minutes, garnered 15,624 online bookings within 24 hours, and amassed 63,479 pre-orders prior to its rollout, sparking an unprecedented frenzy in China's micro EV segment. The year 2022 marked its commercial peak, posting stellar annual deliveries of 97,800 units. However, sales soon entered a downward spiral: volume dipped to just over 60,000 units in 2023, contracted further to around 40,000 units in 2024, and dropped to approximately 29,800 units in 2025, reflecting continued year-on-year shrinkage. Monthly deliveries plunged to 1,574 units in August 2025 (a drop of over 50% YoY), before sliding below the 1,000-unit mark to just 941 units in December 2025. While Chery New Energy broke into the industry's top tier with annual sales of 903,800 units in 2025 (up 54.9% YoY), the QQ Ice Cream contributed merely ~30,000 units, representing an increasingly negligible share.

With the 2026 facelift, Chery aims to revitalise the nameplate through major mechanical upgrades—a higher 220 km CLTC range and standard 22 kW DC fast charging—alongside a distinct "bespoke lifestyle" positioning, shifting the narrative from pure budget utility to emotional appeal. This strategy seeks to stave off intense price and scale pressure from the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV while fending off larger five-door hatchbacks like the BYD Seagull and Wuling Bingo that have lured buyers away. Customer feedback shows that early adopters widely lauded the QQ Ice Cream for its cute styling, high value proposition, and nimble handling. However, amid sagging sales and aggressive segment rivals, the 2026 model faces an uphill battle: retail prices have crept up noticeably from the original base price (raising the entry barrier from RM29,900 to RM43,900), and monthly volume has occasionally dwindled to double digits. Sustaining relevance in the cut-throat micro EV segment remains an existential hurdle. All told, while the Chery QQ Ice Cream has pivoted from a basic "people's EV" to a "lifestyle city runabout", whether this repositioning can win back market share ultimately depends on whether car buyers will vote with their wallets.