Chery Chery Q vs Jetour T1 i-DM

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Chery Chery Q in South Africa

Chery Chery Q

Upcoming
Launch price pending
Upcoming in South Africa Confirmed launch information and specifications remain visible while final availability is pending.
VS
Jetour T1 i-DM in South Africa

Jetour T1 i-DM

T1 i-DM Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 689,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 100 kW 🔧 220 Nm ⛽ 90.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Chery Q
Fuel Economy T1 i-DM
🛡 Safety T1 i-DM
📦 Practicality T1 i-DM
🔑 Ownership T1 i-DM

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Chery Q T1 i-DM
Maximum Power - 100 kW @ 5200 rpm
Maximum Torque - 220 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Engine Size - 1499 cc
Claimed Mileage - 90.9 km/l
Ground Clearance - 190 mm
Boot / Load Bay - 574 l
Airbags - Front, front side, and front/rear curtain airbags
Kerb Weight - 2000 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty - 7-year/200,000 km vehicle warranty

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

T1 i-DM dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Chery Q +9 pts
Efficiency T1 i-DM +48 pts
Safety T1 i-DM +94 pts
Practicality T1 i-DM +21 pts
Ownership T1 i-DM +12 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Chery Q

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

T1 i-DM

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Chery Q

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

T1 i-DM

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Chery Q T1 i-DM
Model Introduced Year - 2026
Generation - Current local listing
Facelift History - Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since - 2026
Facelift Version Ending - Current
Body Style - SUV
Model Year - Current
Production Status - Active
Segment - SUV
Vehicle Type - SUV
Gross Combined Mass Kg - 3948 kg
Tare Mass Kg - 2000 kg
Spec Chery Q T1 i-DM
Drivetrain Layout - 2WD
LSD Available - Not Applicable
Transfer Case - Not Applicable
Differential Lock - Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters - Not Applicable
Gearbox - Automatic
Final Drive Ratio - Not Applicable
Number of Gears - Not Applicable
Transmission Type - Automatic
Clutch Type - Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator - Not Applicable
Drivetrain - 2WD
4WD Engagement - Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range - Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range - Not Applicable
4WD Selector - Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles - Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock - Not Applicable
Gearbox Type - Automatic
Low Range Ratio - Not Applicable
Low Range - Not Applicable
Axle Layout - 2WD
Rear Differential Lock - Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds - Not Applicable
Gear Shift Type - Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

T1 i-DM leads by 33 points

T1 i-DM dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 33 points
Data 78% confidence
72
#1 Winner

T1 i-DM

78% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 98 Check Performance 41
Performance 41
Efficiency 98
Safety 94
Practicality 71
Ownership 62
Leads by 33 points
39
#2

Chery Q

11% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Performance 50 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 50
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Chery Q +9 Efficiency T1 i-DM +48 Safety T1 i-DM +94 Practicality T1 i-DM +21 Ownership T1 i-DM +12

High confidence result.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

T1 i-DM

Performance 41/100
Efficiency 98/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 71/100
Ownership 62/100

Chery Q

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Jetour T1 i-DM wins with 72 pts vs 39 pts for Chery Q

In structured scoring, T1 i-DM emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Chery Q may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the T1 i-DM edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Chery Q 50 vs T1 i-DM 98. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Chery Q 0, T1 i-DM 94. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Chery Q 50, T1 i-DM 62. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Chery Q 50, T1 i-DM 71. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Chery Q 50, T1 i-DM 41. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The T1 i-DM edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The T1 i-DM scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Chery Q and T1 i-DM in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Chery Q scores 50 vs 41.

Efficiency: Chery Q scores 50 vs 98.

Safety: Chery Q scores 0 vs 94.

Practicality: Chery Q scores 50 vs 71.

Ownership: Chery Q scores 50 vs 62.

Final structured scoring gives T1 i-DM the advantage in this comparison.