Xiaomi YU7 schools Tesla Model Y at every turn with the largest battery in the category

After teasing the design and interior of its first electric SUV, Xiaomi has now unveiled the YU7 crossover that is destined to challenge the Tesla Model Y.

Dubbed a "luxury performance SUV," the Xiaomi YU7 takes design cues from its SU7 sedan predecessor, namely the signature headlights and body curves.

Xiaomi YU7 price and release date

• July 2025
• ~$34,700 (exp.)

Xiaomi said that it will launch the YU7 in July, when it will become available to buy for the general public in China.

The pricing would be very competitive, as the company's founder and CEO Lei Jun has achieved a cult entrepreneurial following and is often called the Elon Musk of China for his work ethic and value-for-money offerings like the Redmi phone and smartwatch line.

The Redmi Watch 5, for instance, goes for less than $50 over at Amazon, and comes with 18 days of battery life, more than 140 workouts, and Bluetooth calling with dual-mic noise cancellation.

The Xiaomi YU7 price tag is no exception as it will reportedly start from about a $35,000 equivalent, a tad below the Model Y in China, all the while it beats its specifications at most every turn.

Xiaomi YU7 vs Tesla Model Y specs

As can be expected from a modern electric SUV hailing from a Chinese automaker, the Xiaomi YU7 beats the Model Y in charging speed by a factor of two thanks to the 800V powertrain, but that's not the only thing it excels at compared to Tesla's bestselling vehicle.

The YU7 has a much larger, 96.3 kWh LFP battery for the Standard RWD and the Pro AWD versions, while the top shelf Max variant has a performance ternary battery with a 101.7 kWh capacity. Xiaomi's Lei Jun noted that the YU7 is the SUV with the largest battery in its category, despite the very competitive price tag.

Needless to say, the Xiaomi YU7 offers longer range on a charge than the Tesla Model Y, too, with the Standard RWD model clocking in the impressive 518 miles. The single-motor Model Y, on the other hand, is rated for just 446 miles on the same CLTC cycle standard that China uses to test range, as it comes with a smaller battery.

CLTC is about a quarter more generous than the EPA rating, so 390 miles on a charge is a more comparable metric, which would still beat the Model Y RWD sold in the US. The same goes for the Xiaomi YU7 Pro dual-motor AWD version that is rated for 479 miles on a charge, and even the YU7 Max version that is the equivalent of the Model Y Performance trim.

The 690 HP Xiaomi YU7 Max is as fast as the 2026 Model Y Performance would be, too, accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 3.2 seconds, or about what is expected from the new Performance trim that was recently caught testing at a racetrack.

The first Xiaomi SUV is larger than the Model Y as well, and comes with air suspension for added comfort. Inside, the company noted that it has done away with gauge cluster displays, opting for a HUD projection across the driver's entire field of view instead.

The self-driving duties are taken care of by a dedicated Nvidia Thor chip with 700 TOPS performance, and Xiaomi said it will reveal all that the YU7 is capable of closer to the July release date when it will announce the finalized pricing of the Standard, Pro, and Max trims.