New Xiaomi YU7 beats the Tesla Model Y on power and range

Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi has been making headlines recently with its SU7 saloon and subsequent Nürburgring lap time record, but now it’s branching out into the lucrative SUV class with this, the YU7.

We saw the YU7 pretty much undisguised late last year thanks to some leaked images on Chinese social media site Weibo, but now Xiaomi has confirmed the Tesla Model Y rival’s technical specifications – including its power and range. 

Three versions of the YU7 will be offered – Standard, Pro and Max, mirroring the SU7’s line-up (before you get to the track-focused SU7 Ultra, at least). The YU7 in Standard guise comes with a 96.kWh battery that Xiaomi says is good for 519 miles of range, although it’s worth remembering that all range figures are achieved under more lenient CLTC testing. The Pro version comes with the same battery and 472 miles of range, while the Max, with its larger 101.7kWh pack, manages 478 miles. 

The reason why the Max doesn’t have the longest range is down to the various electric motor layouts, because like the base SU7, the YU7 Standard comes with a single motor on the rear axle with 320bhp. Above that, the Pro and Max get dual motors with total outputs of 496bhp and 690bhp respectively. The Standard completes 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, with the Pro taking 4.2 seconds and the Max providing a supercar-like 3.2-second dash.

Sitting on the same 800-volt platform as the SU7, the YU7 can replenish 10 to 80 per cent of its battery in 12 minutes according to Xiaomi.

The exterior of the YU7 borrows plenty of stylistic elements from the SU7, suggesting the brand will have a consistent family face for its growing model range. We thought the four-door SU7 bore some resemblance to the Porsche Taycan when it was revealed and we can imagine Xiaomi is a fan of the Ferrari Purosangue’s look, because there’s a whiff of the V12-powered Italian in the YU7. This is most apparent in the headlight cluster, which incorporates a sleek horizontal LED strip, curved surfacing on the body, an air outlet behind the front wheel and, to the rear, a customary wraparound light bar. 

The Chinese electric car measures 4,999mm in length, 1,996mm in width and 1,600mm in height – making it longer and wider than the Tesla Model Y, but the same height. For interior space, Xiaomi says the YU7 “surpasses competitors in similar segments” while there’s a 141-litre frunk under the bonnet, 678-litre boot in the back and up to 71 litres of cabin storage. 

At first, the interior looks almost identical to that of the SU7 with a large 16.1-inch touchscreen sitting on the dash. On top, you’ll notice Xiaomi has added a new full-width display measuring 1.1 metres side to side – similar to BMW’s upcoming Panoramic iDrive. Called the HyperVision, it includes sat-nav, driver instruments and even media for the passenger side.

As yet the Xiaomi brand will only sell the YU7 in China, with no confirmation for UK sales for any of its existing models. However, given how many new Chinese car brands have launched in Europe over the past few years – with some, such as BYD and MG, enjoying huge success – we suspect we could be seeing more of Xiaomi in the near future.

There's plenty of competition for the Xiaomi to face! These are the best electric SUVs to buy...