Xiaomi YU7 Max 2026 Review

Currently only available in China, Xiaomi has confirmed plans to take the brand’s automotive business international in 2027, meaning it’ll be some time yet before we see any right-hand-drive YU7s.

As such, any speculation on Australian prices would be just that, but in China, YU7 pricing starts at around ¥253,500 (A$55,000) and rises to ¥329,900 (A$71,650) for the flagship Max variant driven here.

That makes the YU7 somewhat pricier than local rivals like the Zeekr 7X on home soil, but slightly cheaper than comparable Model Y variants, suggesting we’d be up for a juicy head-to-head if/when it lands.

It’s also somewhat more expensive than the SU7 sedan, commanding a higher premium than an SUV normally would, a reflection of the improved cabin quality, stronger outputs and the fact that all variants now sit on the brand’s latest 800-volt ‘E-Platform 2.0’ architecture.

The line-up in China comprises Standard RWD, Pro AWD, and Max AWD variants.

Standard specification for the 2026 Xiaomi YU7 is extensive. Inside, it gets heated, ventilated, and memory front seats, heated rear seats, a Nappa leather steering wheel and a panoramic glass roof powered, while outside there’s a powered tailgate and 19-inch wheels.

The mid-range Pro adds height-adjustable dual-chamber air suspension and a 130kW motor on the front axle, but the Max that we drove is where the real action is.

Here, you’ll find Brembo four-pot callipers with perforated discs, soft close doors, additional soundproofing, an electrochromatic panoramic roof and an extra 11 speakers, taking the total to 25 with 7.1.4 surround sound.

It also gets significant performance gains and a larger battery.

Major options include 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels, which are curiously optional on all trims, zero-gravity front seats with massage function, Nappa leather upholstery, a giant HEPA filter and a powered frunk.

In China, the warranty coverage spans five years/100,000km for the vehicle and eight years/160,000 km for the battery, motors and electronic control systems.

The YU7 has yet to be tested by any national safety board but Xiaomi claims compliance with China’s latest five-star C-NCAP standards.

It’s worth noting the SU7, which uses the same platform, achieved five stars in the C-NCAP program and is the second-safest car ever tested by the organisation, so the precedent is good.

Passive protection includes seven airbags and a reinforced passenger cell.

Active safety technology is extensive, with all variants getting a roof-mounted LiDAR unit, a 4D millimetre-wave radar, 11 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and an NVIDIA DRIVE Thor chip with 700TOPS of processing power, which in China enables adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot and cross-traffic alert, automated parking and highway and urban assisted driving via the Xiaomi HAD system.

Given Xiaomi’s background in electrical goods, technology is an expected highlight in the YU7. It starts with the 16.1-inch 3K central display running Xiaomi’s in-house HyperOS software.

It’s a fast and clean system on its own merits but is also compatible with both Apple and Android devices if needed, and integrates with Xiaomi’s smart-home ecosystem, allowing drivers to check on and activate their connected home appliances like door cameras, air-conditioning, and even rice cookers, directly from the car.

The 1.1-meter HyperVision screen, essentially three screens projected onto a black strip at the base of the windscreen, looks incredibly neat and futuristic, and can be customised for navigation, media or driving data.

Playful animated assistants which react to the vehicle’s movements, also add a touch of novelty and charm to the whole operation.

Elsewhere, Xiaomi has deployed some rather nifty gadgets throughout the cabin, including magnetic mounting points around the cabin for accessories and programmable buttons, optional shortcut buttons under the main screen, powered quarter-inch thread attachments on either side of the dashboard, a powered rail behind the rear seats for lights and accessories like a projector, and even custom storage under the dash for Xiaomi walkie talkies and torches.

Even the normal tech in an EV is somewhat enhanced, including a removable 6.68-inch screen for rear passengers to control climate and entertainment features and dual 80W ventilated wireless phone chargers up front, as well as an optional 4.6-litre heating and cooling drawer and a voice-activated powered frunk.

In the range-topping Max variant, the YU7 produces 508kW/866Nm from dual motors, though Xiaomi doesn’t state the actual output of each motor.

That makes the YU7 good for a 0-100km/h sprint of 3.2 seconds, making it faster than both the Tesla Model Y Performance and Porsche Macan Electric.

As such, acceleration in the YU7 borders on the brutal, but Xiaomi appears to have successfully tamed the traction control that some have claimed at fault for the litany of SU7 crashes frequently seen on Chinese social media.

The YU7 Max is actually more powerful than the SU7 Max but is almost half a second slower to 100km/h, suggesting the YU7 has perhaps been dialled down a little to prevent similar infamy.

But it’s not just the flagship Max version that’s quick. The entry-level Standard, packing only a 235kW rear motor, still breaks the six-second barrier, hitting the century in 5.88 seconds, while the mid-range, dual-motor Pro, boasting 365kW/690Nm, will do the same in just 4.27 seconds.

Unlike the two lesser variants, which get a 96.3kWh lithium-ion battery, the YU7 Max gets a 101.7 kWh ternary lithium battery providing a claimed range of 760km on the CLTC cycle, which should equate to around 600km of real-world range.

That said, our test, which covered a variety or urban and highway roads, returned an efficiency figure of 14.1kWh/100km, equivalent to 721km of range, so the YU7 appears a reasonably efficient steer if you can avoid the temptation to plant the right pedal.

When it does come time to plug in, the YU7 Max’s fast-charging battery tech enables a charge from 10-80 per cent in just 12 minutes with the right charger, with 5.2C charging theoretically meaning a peak charge power of 528kW.

Given the local market’s appetite for comfort-oriented cars with vanilla personalities, Xiaomi’s commitment to developing cars that are genuinely engaging to drive is appreciated.

The YU7 is comfortably the most driver-focused SUV to come out of China, and while it still doesn’t quite match the precision and alertness of a Model Y, it gets pretty close and makes for a riveting steer.

Where it excels over the Model Y is in ride comfort, the dual-chamber air suspension delivering a ride quality that’s head and shoulders above the improved but still overly firm Tesla.

Both high frequency, coarse road surfaces and lumpier bridge connections are taken in stride, while road noise is also impressively suppressed, meaning you can make the most of those 25 speakers.

Multiple driving modes, including off-road and snow modes, coupled with the adjustable air suspension, mean the YU7 should have some level of soft-roading capability, while there’s even a mode for reducing motion-sickness.

The Porsche-inspired ‘Boost’ button on the steering wheel unleashes the full locker of power for 20 seconds

Xiaomi has clearly learned a few lessons from the development of the SU7, delivering an interior with a fit and finish that feels noticeably improved.

It’s one with considerably more style and thought, with each side of the dash featuring cockpit-like sculpting and either open-pore wood or real carbon fibre, making for a rather sporty effect.

With a microfibre roof lining, metal speaker grates, and faux-leather and fabric covering pretty much every remaining square inch in the YU7, it’s also a particularly inviting place to be.

Given the YU7’s long bonnet and low roof, it’s inevitable that it might feel a little tighter than something like the Zeekr 7X, particularly in the back seats, but with a body just under five metres long there’s still more than enough space.

The rear base cushions have enough tilt to give solid thigh support, and the backrest is electrically adjustable to 135 degrees, though taller passengers might find headroom a little tight when the seats are laid back.

Practicality isn’t spared either, the YU7 boasting a 141-litre washable frunk, and a 678-litre trunk that expands to 1758 litres with the rear seats down.

There’s also a 13.7-litre lockable glove box and a 5.2-litre storage drawer beneath the rear seat. Throw in the powered accessory outlets and extra gadgets and it’s clear that Xiaomi’s owners really gave the interior considerable thought.

The 2026 Xiaomi YU7 Max shows just how quickly China’s tech brands are mastering the EV landscape.

For only its second car, Xiaomi has delivered a genuinely sophisticated product with strong performance, clever technology and luxury-level refinement.

Styling may borrow from established European cues, but the execution feels cohesive and premium, while the YU7’s interior quality, thoughtful features and long-range efficiency demonstrate that Xiaomi has moved beyond imitation to genuine innovation.

For Australian buyers reading and watching from afar, the YU7 will be one to follow closely.

If Xiaomi brings it here at competitive pricing, it will undoubtedly lead to a few concerned glances at the likes of Tesla, BYD, Zeekr, and Polestar.

For context, it outsold the Model Y in China in October. Let that sink in.

2026 Xiaomi YU7 Max at a glance:Price: Around $100,000 (est., plus on-road costs)
Available: 2027 (expected)
Powertrain: Dual permanent-magnet synchronous motors (AWD)
Output: 508kW/866Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 101.7 kWh lithium-ion
Range: 760 km (CLTC)  (~600 km WLTP est.)
Energy consumption: 14.1 kWh/100 km (test average)
Safety rating: Not tested
Kerb weight: 2405 kg

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