Xiaomi Debuts YU7 Sales, Prices Start at an Affordable $35,300, Undercutting Tesla Model Y

Xiaomi officially debuted the sales of the highly anticipated YU7 compact crossover, which will be Tesla Model Y's direct competitor in China. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun announced earlier that the YU7 would be positioned as a high-performance luxury SUV with a price to match, and he wasn't joking. The YU7 entry model is priced similarly to the Model Y RWD, being only 10,000 yuan ($1,395) cheaper.

The cheapest Xiaomi YU7 is the RWD Standard trim, which starts at 253,500 yuan (35,300). At the other end of the scale sits the Xiaomi YU7 Max, a high-performance AWD SUV priced at 329,900 yuan ($45,970). The AWD Pro trim is in the middle, with a starting price of 279,900 yuan ($39,000). This is pitted squarely at the Model Y LR AWD model, which starts at 313,500 yuan ($43,685). It's clear from this positioning that Xiaomi bets the YU7 Pro will be the most popular variant and priced it accordingly, significantly undercutting its Tesla rival.

Xiaomi has expanded the color palette and is now offering the YU7 in no less than nine vibrant finishes. Besides the Basalt Gray, Lava Orange, Titanium Silver, and Emerald Green, which we know from the unveiling, the YU7 will be offered in Pearl White, Ocean Blue, Dusk Purple, Shadow Teal, and Dawn Pink. The Pearl White paint features a subtle bluish pearlescent sheen, while the other colors incorporate aluminum and pearl powders, creating a fine metallic sparkle under the light.

There's a wide range of wheel and tire combinations to cater to range-conscious customers as well as those who favor dynamics over economy. The same abundance of optimization options continues in the cabin, with four interior color options: Pine Gray, Coral Orange, Twilight Blue, and the newly introduced Ash Gray & Iris Purple Dual-Tone.

Xiaomi uses double laminated glass across all trims, although the top-of-the-line Max variant benefits from better sound insulation thanks to an acoustically-treated panoramic roof. This also features smart dimming on the Max trim, while all trims provide SPF100 sun protection.

Xiaomi ruled out the possibility of offering a three-row variant of the YU7. Lei Jun stated that the YU7 is an SUV, with S standing for "Sport." Thus, he wanted the YU7 to live up to this description with impressive performance and state-of-the-art dynamics. Xiaomi touts the fastest 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) acceleration of any SUV priced under 800,000 yuan ($111,500), with the YU7 Max needing only 3.23 seconds (2.98 seconds with rollout).

The entry-level trim delivers 835 km (519 mi) of CLTC range thanks to a 96.3-kWh battery. This makes it the longest-range pure electric SUV with a sub-100 kWh battery. The AWD configurations Pro (96.3 kWh battery) and Max (101.7 kWh battery) also deliver CLTC ranges of 760 km (472 mi) and 770 km (478 mi), respectively.

Although the Xiaomi YU7 works best with the company's mobile devices, the crossover has also been optimized for Apple iPhone users. The YU7 supports UWB remote unlocking, as well as remote control options available via Xiaomi EV app widgets on the home screen and through Control Center shortcuts. Apple CarPlay can be pinned as a desktop widget and supports simultaneous use of CarPlay and in-car apps on the same screen.