Is this the next big thing out of China? 2026 Xiaomi YU7 electric SUV launches with epic power, 835km range targeting Tesla Model Y

The high-profile Chinese EV start-up Xiaomi Auto has belatedly launched its much-anticipated first ever SUV, the all-new high-performance 2026 Xiaomi YU7 mid-size battery electric SUV segment.

Xiaomi’s Tesal Model Y fighter was originally supposed to have launched back in April until the brand was caught up in multiple controversies concerning its SU7 sedan.

The most serious of all was involving a fatal crash at the end of March when a vehicle hit a barrier and caught fire, raising concerns over its autonomous driving aids, door lock mechanisms and battery safety.

READ MORE: No fires, no explosions! China raises bar for battery safety with strict new rules coming for 2026
READ MORE: Red Hell! 1139kW Xiaomi SU7 Ultra targets Porsche, Rimac and VW electric Nurburgring lap records
READ MORE: New Chinese Xiaomi SU7 EV wants to humiliate Porsche Taycan with its speed and 1200km range

That led to a rushed rewriting of various Chinese regulations relating to battery safety and autonomous driving.

Other issues for the division of the Xiaomi consumer electronics company have concerned SU7 owners discovering paid-for performance-boosting dual air ducts that were purely decorative, complaints over warped front bumpers and a backlash over a software update that limited the power output.

All that hasn’t stopped strong interest in the YU7, with around 200,000 pre-orders reported after the reveal of its specifications.

That’s not a big surprise considering the SU7 has proved a big hit in China since its 2024 launch, even outselling the Tesal Model 3.

However, the recent controversies have slowed demand for the SU7.

Xiaomi has already announced its intention to roll out its vehicles globally but has yet to confirm plans that involve its arrival Down Under.

Blending its McLaren-style front lamps and a shape that looks reminiscent of the previous generation Porsche Macan, the new YU7 SUV goes on sale in China this July with three powertrain that include a dual-motor version with upwards of 508kW.

Blurring the boundary between medium-sized and large SUVs, the YU7 is based on the firm’s Modena architecture and measures in at a considerable 4999mm long, 1996mm wide and 1608mm tall, with a long 3000mm wheelbase.

The base YU7 RWD gets a single e-motor what drives the rear wheels and produces 235kW and 528Nm of torque for a 5.9 second 0-100km/h dash.

The mid-spec YU7 Pro AWD adds a second motor to boost power and torque to 365kW/690Nm for a 4.3 second 0-100km/h sprint.

The fastest YU7 Max, meanwhile, produces the full 508kW and 866Nm of torque and beats the Porsche Macan Turbo by 0.1sec with its 3.2 seconds 0-100km/h acceleration.

All variants come with Xiaomi’s powerful 800-volt silicon carbide electrics that sees as much as 620km of range added in 15 minutes.

While the RWD car with a 96.3kWh battery can cover the maximum 835km between charges, the Pro AWD with the same power pack can still drive up to 770km.

The flagship Max gets a larger 101.7kWh nickel manganese battery in place of the other versions’ lithium iron phosphate cells.

It can cover 760km before needing to be plugged in – although all those impressive-sounding ranges were recorded on the lenient Chinese CLTC test cycle.

Fresh tech introduced on the YU7 include an armoured bulletproof cage for the battery and A- and B-pillars that offer high levels of rollover protection.

All YU7s come with LiDAR and Nvidia Drive AGX Thor hardware that, combined with radar and cameras, should see it possess level 3 autonomous driving for a fully driverless experience in restricted geofenced places, like highways.

Tech carried over from the SU7 sedan include a digital key, Nappa leather ‘zero gravity’ seats that recline and feature a ten-point massage function up front, with the firm’s first SUV getting a pair of recliners in the second row.

Within, it’s also hard to miss the 1.1m-wide HyperVision screen that places three screens behind a single piece of glass that runs a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip for super-quick boot-up times of just 1.35 seconds.

Over-the-air updates, meanwhile, can be carried out in less than 15 minutes.

Pricing has yet to be unveiled in China, but it will reportedly be pitched above the SU7 sedan, while also have a start point undercutting the Tesal Model Y that starts at about the equivalent of about $55,000.