Tesla has had the premium electric vehicle market all to itself for years, but Xiaomi is making it clear why that should change. The company has just launched its new generation SU7, whose improvements in design, performance, comfort and safety are hard to miss.
What’s new about the design?
The SU7 builds on its existing design and offers an even more premium experience. The exterior retains its signature look, including waterdrop headlights and halo taillights, while featuring cleaner detailing and a sportier front grille.
Inside the cabin, almost every surface you touch has been wrapped in soft-touch material, the seats are more comfortable and the ambient lighting now wraps the entire cabin in a continuous 3,636mm wide band of light.
The driver’s seat is 18-way adjustable and the front passenger can recline to a 123-degree zero gravity position. The rear seats are also wider, thicker and recline further, making them much more comfortable on long journeys.
The onboard refrigerator has been upgraded to a drawer-style unit that cools more quickly, and there are three new exclusive cabin scents created in collaboration with fragrance brand DOCUMENTS.
The software experience is equally sophisticated. The XiaoAi voice assistant now remembers past conversations, understands complex multi-step commands, and can control apps on your phone and car with a single instruction.
The updated navigation system adds 3D landmarks and real-time traffic events. You also get Xiaomi’s new XLA-supported driving architecture, wet road detection and a dedicated owner management mode.
Is the range good enough to avoid Tesla?
The numbers are a convincing argument. The entire range now runs on the HyperEngine V6s Plus engine. The Pro variant leads with a CLTC range of 902 km (560 miles), while the Standard variant delivers 720 km (447 miles) and the Max variant delivers 835 km (518 miles).
What sets it apart from most electric vehicles and puts Tesla to shame is its fast-charging technology, which can achieve a range of up to 670 km (416 miles) in just 15 minutes. It’s almost as good as a gas car.
Can Xiaomi XU7 beat Tesla on price?
The Xiaomi SU7 is available in Standard, Pro and Max variants starting at RMB 219,900 (US$31,867), RMB 249,900 (US$36,215) and RMB 303,900 (US$44,040), respectively. This means that Xiaomi SU7 not only outperforms Tesla, but also does so at a lower price.
There are nine color options, including three new additions: Coastal Blue, Blazing Red and Viridian Green. Pre-orders are now possible via the Xiaomi EV app.
