TLDR;
Marques Brownlee reviews the Xiaomi SU7, a Chinese electric car, to determine if it lives up to the hype of potentially dominating the US market. He highlights its impressive specs, premium features, innovative software, and modular design, all at a competitive price point. While the car isn't currently available in the US due to political and economic factors, its existence signals a potential shift in the EV market, pushing for higher standards and greater competition.
- Xiaomi SU7 has impressive specs and premium features at a competitive price point.
- The car features innovative software and modular design.
- The car's existence signals a potential shift in the EV market.
Intro [0:00]
The video addresses the common sentiment that Chinese electric cars could dominate the US market due to their advanced technology and affordability. Marques Brownlee aims to evaluate the truth behind this claim by reviewing the Xiaomi SU7.
The Xiaomi SU7 [0:34]
The Xiaomi SU7, specifically the SU7 Max trim, is a fully electric four-door sedan from Xiaomi, known for its diverse range of tech products. It retails for around $42,000 USD. It boasts a 101 kWh battery, dual-motor all-wheel drive, 673 horsepower, and 320 miles of range, rivaling the Tesla Model 3 Performance in terms of specs. The car's design borrows elements from various premium brands like McLaren, Lotus, Porsche, Polestar, Lincoln, and Mercedes-AMG, blending them into a unique aesthetic.
Interior Features [3:06]
The interior of the Xiaomi SU7 is well-designed and equipped with premium features such as comfortable, heated, and ventilated leather seats, a Porsche-like heated steering wheel, a bright heads-up display (HUD), and a 16-inch primary display. It includes practical storage solutions, a flashlight powered by the car's battery, and real hardware controls for essential functions. Additional features include air-cooled 50-watt wireless chargers, a panoramic sunroof, Alcantara headliner, a 25-speaker audio system, and ambient lighting that syncs with the music. The rear passenger experience is enhanced with Xiaomi tablets as screens. The software is smooth and integrates seamlessly with the Xiaomi ecosystem, offering features like wireless screen mirroring, smart home accessory connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay. A notable software feature is the navigation voice being directed solely to the driver's headrest speaker, minimizing interruption to the music for other passengers.
It's Modular! [6:34]
The Xiaomi SU7 features a modular interior design with mounting points for various accessories. These accessories include an extra speedometer and trip display, a magnetic car mount, a USB hub, high-quality microphones for karaoke, and even long-range walkie-talkies. This modularity allows for extensive customization of the interior hardware layout, catering to both maximalist and minimalist preferences. Additional features include active noise cancellation and high-quality surround sound.
Driving Impressions [8:03]
The Xiaomi SU7 offers multiple driving modes, with the default comfort mode providing a soft and comfortable ride due to its air suspension. The car's power delivery can be customized, ranging from fully rear-wheel drive to fully front-wheel drive. Sportier modes, such as Sport Plus, enhance accelerator responsiveness, firm up the steering, and provide a more engaging driving experience. The car achieves 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds and includes launch control and a boost button for maximum power. Handling is comparable to a Tesla Model 3 Performance or BMW i4. The car also features active seat bolsters that provide additional support during turns. The build quality is exceptional, with excellent sound isolation and active noise cancellation. The car is equipped with Xiaomi's self-driving system, which performs well even on smaller, single-lane roads.
Are we cooked? [13:39]
The Xiaomi SU7 is not currently available in the US, but it demonstrates the potential for Chinese EVs to disrupt the market. The car offers a combination of great software, features, build quality, versatility, range, and driving experience. If a car like this were available in the US for $42,000, it would likely be very successful. While political and economic factors may prevent its entry into the US market, it is expected to be available in Europe in 2027, posing a challenge to the competition there. The existence of cars like the Xiaomi SU7 raises the bar for all EVs, pushing for better performance and more complete features.
