The Race Is On
They are already driving them. The lowest-cost version of the Xiaomi YU7 Standard Edition hit the road in China this May, priced at a staggering 235,502 yuan. That translates to about 34,660 US dollars. It’s a sharp cut, too, sitting 20,002 yuan lower than the previous entry-level model.
Why the drop? Because the sales are slipping. Since January 2025, Xiaomi’s SUV deliveries have been going down, month after month. By April, they handed over just 9,876 YU7 SUVs. That was a 27.2% drop from the previous month. Not great. The new standard model launches right alongside the high-performance GT version, trying to plug the leak.
Less Power. More Range?
You don’t get the full monster here. The standard edition uses a single motor on the back axle, pumping out 235 kilowatts of peak power. Roughly 315 horsepower. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.9 seconds. Top speed? 220 kilometers per hour. It’s fast, but not terrifying.
The battery is where they saved money. A 73 kilowatt-hour CATL Shenxing LFP pack. This smaller battery still gives you a CLTC range of 643 kilometers. If you wanted more juice, the more expensive RWD Long Range model uses that same motor but pairs it with a beefier 96.3-kilowatt-hour LFP pack.
So why buy this one? Price, mostly. But don’t think the tech was gutted.
Tech That Costs Money
“You still get the Nvidia Thor chip, delivering a massive 700 TOPS of computing power.”
It’s not just a bare-bones commuter. The car sees everything. A LiDAR sensor, four cameras, eleven other cameras, a 4D radar system, and twelve ultrasonic sensors surround the chassis. The brain inside the car thinks hard.
It looks expensive, too. Silver-plated panoramic roof. Four-piston brake calipers up front. A wide, 1.1-meter HyperVision screen dominates the cabin. Underneath, there’s a seven-link independent rear suspension and double wishbone front suspension to handle the curves. Dimensions stay the same: roughly 5 meters long, 3-meter wheelbase.
Grabbing Them Fast
Xiaomi is pushing hard for volume. They said online you can pick up the car two hours after you place an order. That’s insane speed. They’re throwing in some extras, too: five years of low-interest financing and about $442 off for custom paint jobs.
It’s a blunt instrument designed to keep the production lines full. Is it enough to turn the trend around? We will see in the next few months. Maybe.
