Chery QQ3 vs Chevrolet Spark
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 53% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| QQ3 | Spark | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 59 900 | R 99 900 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 1 047/m | R 1 746/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 73% | 73% |
| Retained after 3 years | 53% | 53% |
| Value after 3 years | R 31 971 | R 53 320 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 27 929 | R 46 580 |
| Value after 5 years | R 23 508 | R 39 207 |
| Our tier | Orphan & discontinued | Orphan & discontinued |
Chery QQ3 →
At R59,900 in 2008 the QQ3 was the cheapest new car in South Africa, with 0.8 and 1.1-litre engines. Build quality was basic and support faded after Chery's first-era exit, so survivors trade for pocket money. Buyers today treat it strictly as disposable A-to-B transport.
Known for: cheapest new car of its day
Chevrolet Spark →
Chevrolet's entry car was a fixture of the budget segment, built at the Port Elizabeth plant and sold in three generations including the stripped-out Spark Lite. The Campus special dropped the entry price to R99 900 in 2012. Used examples remain plentiful and cheap to run, though parts now come through aftermarket channels.
Known for: rock-bottom running costs and huge used supply
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Chery QQ3 or the Chevrolet Spark?
They are close to inseparable: 53% vs 53% retained after three years. Buy on price, spec and the deal you can get, not on resale.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Chery QQ3 loses about R 27 929 over three years and the Chevrolet Spark loses about R 46 580. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Chery QQ3 runs about R 1 047 per month and the Chevrolet Spark about R 1 746, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.