We’re at a point in time where smartphone manufacturers like Xiaomi can pretty much try their hand at new and untested industries. In fact, the veteran brand has been doing it for the past decade, offering countless accessories, appliances, and even electric cars. Building on its highly-successful SU7 and SU7 Ultra, the company recently announced the latest addition to its EV lineup in the form of the Xiaomi YU7, an electric SUV.
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One major highlight of the YU7 is its price—the car starts at RMB 253,500 (around £25,800 when converted), making it one of the more “affordable” EV choices on the market. Xiaomi is clearly targeting bigger names such as Tesla, especially considering this pricing scheme. With that being said though, the YU7 also comes in a couple more variants, including a Pro ultra-long-range AWD model at RMB 279,900 (£28,500), and the Max AWD model at RMB 329,900 (£33,580).
The YU7 is powered by Xiaomi’s HyperEngine V6s Plus, and the company in particular claims that the Max version capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 kph in a swift 3.23 seconds. Drivers can also expect considerable range, with the Standard model capable of an 835 km CLTC range, as per Xiaomi’s testing. There’s also an integrated 800V silicon carbide platform inside, which allows the YU7 to support ultra-fast charging, and a quick 15 minute top-up can add around 620 km of range in just 15 minutes. Additionally, the YU7 features Xiaomi’s “Smart Chassis,” which includes adaptive suspension, a tight 5.7m turning radius, and even a “Motion Sickness Relief Mode” designed to enhance comfort for passengers.
Despite its more competitive pricing, Xiaomi has designed the YU7 with a premium look all over. The car’s exterior is customizable with nine different colour choices, and is matched with a an interior that features soft-touch materials, Nappa leather seats, and a generous 1,758 L of expandable trunk space. Xiaomi adds that it’s prioritized safety with the YU7’s design, which integrates 2200 MPa high-strength steel and an “Armor-Cage” hybrid body that, according to the company, has successfully undergone crash testing.
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Like many other EVs, the YU7 is packed to the brim with smart features—at its core, the car’s brains are powered by an NVIDIA DRIVE AGX ThorTM platform that supports features like Xiaomi’s HyperVision Panoramic Display and the Hyper Xiao AI Voice Assistant, with Apple CarPlay support in the mix as well. While pre-orders are currently open via the Xiaomi EV app and WeChat Mini Program, it should be noted that the YU7 is exclusively available for Chinese markets at the moment.
