Xiaomi SU7 2026: we tested it in China. How it goes and how the revamped hi-tech sedan is built

The SU7 Max, the one we had the chance to test, is more distinct: it uses a twin motor (asynchronous front and pmsm rear) with 690 hp (508 kW) of total power, 866 Nm of maximum torque and a 101.7 kWh net lithium battery. 0-100 takes 3.08 seconds, top speed is 265 km/h, and the cltc range is 835 km. The equipment is completed with Brembo four-piston brakes, drilled discs and low-metallic pads.

The second generation retains the proportions and distinctive features of the first: the teardrop-shaped headlights at the front and the ring-shaped taillights remain recognisable identity elements.

The most obvious aesthetic changes concern the front grille, which has been redesigned with a more pronounced C shape and wider brake cooling ducts. The 4D millimetre radar is now integrated directly into the grille, with a visually cleaner result, although it is probably positioned too low with a high risk of damage and malfunction due to dirt.

Almost 100 per cent of the high-touch surfaces are covered in soft-touch materials, the steering wheel is made of Nappa leather with chrome trim, and the four main buttons are made of a shiny galvanic finish. The feeling of being in front of a premium car is immediate.

At the centre of the dashboard, above the double-height tunnel, is the 16-inch display with 3K resolution; the screen in front of the driver is 7-inch, while the head-up display, standard on the SU7 Max, simulates a 56-inch screen. The XiaoAi voice assistant supports conversations with persistent memory, real-time web search and visual recognition of vehicles, buildings and signs. In our test it not only identified that the car driving in front of us was a Tesla Model 3 but also specified that the body colour was not a standard one and was therefore customised by the user.

The front seats of the Max are electrically adjustable to 18 positions and include movable side bolsters that activate during cornering and sudden acceleration. The passenger seat can optionally be configured in the zero-gravity position: a kind of chaise longue with a dedicated massage mode.

The interior is particularly quiet: the SU7 Max introduces acoustic laminated glass on the windscreen and panoramic roof, as well as high-density sound-absorbing materials throughout the cabin.

Xiaomi's V6s Plus engine reaches up to 22,000 rpm and, in the Max's dual-motor configuration, allows sports segment performance while maintaining a claimed consumption of 11.7 kWh/100 km. In our test, conducted partly in the chaotic city traffic of Beijing and partly on hilly roads, consumption was around 16 kWh/100 km.

Cell-to-Body technology integrates the battery into the body structure and fast charging allows a claimed range of 670 km in 15 minutes.

The Max's closed double-chamber semi-air suspension offers three modes and four levels of height adjustment, with a total travel of 50 mm. The system uses gps data and the front camera to automatically raise or lower the stance depending on location and the presence of dirt roads.

The system also automatically detects if the road surface is wet by integrating data from the rain sensor, outside temperature, microphones and cameras to activate a dedicated mode that manages torque distribution on the front axle and limits the intensity of the regenerative brake.

The SU7 is a hyper-tech sedan that fully expresses the Software-Defined Vehicle concept. To handle all the hi-tech features the range mounts Nvidia chips with 700 tops of computing power, alongside a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for infotainment management. The adas perception system includes a lidar, 4D millimetre radar, 11 HD cameras and 12 ultrasonic radars.

Most functions are controlled by voice, including setting regenerative braking, mirror positioning and even airflow direction. The xla assisted driving architecture also makes use of voice control for lane changing, speed adjustment and safety distance. The information to which the system has access is very precise: it is possible to navigate by parking space in multi-storey car parks, to know how many seconds are left before the traffic lights change or which is the smoothest lane in the event of an accident queue. This information does not come from the flood of cameras covering every single metre of Chinese roads but from information from other cars that create a kind of giant shared data network. The system adapts to the characteristics of the driver: only after the first 100 km are certain functions such as adaptive cruise control enabled, and it takes 300 km to enable all the autonomous driving assistance functions.

The body uses high-strength steel (up to 2,200 MPa), the doors incorporate anti-intrusion steel beams, and standard on the entire range are 9 airbags, anti-abrasion crossbars under the battery pack with bullet-proof coating, and a system for emergency power disconnection within 4 ms. The battery is also remotely monitored via the cloud 24 hours a day.

The driving position is comfortable, the 690 horsepower available can be felt immediately, and five driving modes can be selected that rather radically alter the personality of this SU7. In addition to the classic Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes, there is one called Beginner, dedicated to those not yet familiar with electric cars, and a customisable one that allows you to set the steering response, engine response, suspension responsiveness and traction distribution between front and rear.

In Sport and Sport+ modes, the sound of a roaring internal combustion engine is reproduced, and pressing the red button under the steering wheel makes full power available for a few seconds, complete with a 'warp effect' on the central display.

The steering is extremely precise and the braking system all in all well-tuned. The extreme quietness of the cabin and the immediate availability of over 800 nm of torque mean that you don't immediately realise how fast you are going, and slowing down such a heavy car is certainly not easy.

Xiaomi has confirmed its intention to bring its vehicles to Europe in the coming year. The starting prices for the Chinese market for the Standard, Pro and Max versions are 27,500 euros (219,900 RMB), 31,000 euros (249,900 RMB) and 38,000 euros (303,900 RMB) respectively. Obviously there is no point in doing a simple currency conversion, but the Chinese manufacturer has always adopted a rather aggressive strategy to enter new markets and this time too it has promised to impress.