What is the purpose of a 600 hp family SUV, even if it’s Zero Emission?

With the YU7 Max SUV, Xiaomi is pushing its automotive ambitions even further, but is it going too far?

Following the success of the SU7 sedan, the Chinese tech giant is targeting the highly competitive family SUV segment. But not with just any specifications. 570 horsepower, 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and advanced digital integration, all in a five-seater format. A technological monster, admittedly “zero emissions,” but one might wonder if the promise of extreme performance still makes sense in a vehicle meant to transport a family.

The Xiaomi YU7 Max is impressive on paper. Two motors, all-wheel drive, 800 V battery, ultra-connected HyperOS infotainment system, augmented reality heads-up display… and a 0 to 100 km/h faster than a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. Xiaomi’s SUV checks all the boxes for a powerful, technological, and environmentally friendly vehicle.

But is such power really needed to take the kids to school or go on vacation? Even while being quiet, an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in under 4 seconds is more about technical demonstration than real need. The enjoyment of a family vehicle is often measured more by comfort, safety, trunk space, or range, rather than its ability to compete with a supercar on an empty highway.

SUV + sport + zero emissions = logic?

Despite its sleek look and sharp aerodynamics (drag coefficient of 0.229), the YU7 is not a sports SUV in the strict sense. It is heavy, fitted with low-resistance tires, and its suspension clearly favors comfort. Xiaomi has resisted the temptation of the extreme — no adaptive suspensions, no drift mode, no “ring record.” We are far from a Lotus Eletre or a Ferrari Purosangue. The YU7 Max aims to be fast and efficient, but without aggression.

This is where it shines. Generous space, useful technologies, excellent sound insulation, deep integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem… The YU7 checks all the boxes of the modern family car. Its trunk reaches 670 liters, its rear seats are adjustable, and the interior ambiance resembles more of a mobile living room than a race cockpit. In short, Xiaomi has designed a fast family car, not a family sports car.

One more philosophical question remains. Is a 570 hp SUV, even electric, coherent? From an energy standpoint, this type of vehicle remains very demanding. Weight, aerodynamics, size necessitate large batteries, thus requiring more resources to extract and move more mass. Yes, it doesn’t burn oil. But is that enough to make it virtuous? Is the purchase of such a vehicle driven by needs or by a desire to check all boxes — comfort, performance, design, technology — even if it creates a paradox?

The YU7 Max perfectly embodies an era where we want everything, right now: power, zero emissions, luxury, technology, with seemingly no compromise. Xiaomi has designed an excellent product, and its commercial success is no surprise. But it raises the question, wouldn’t it be more reasonable to apply such intelligence to more modest vehicles? Progress does not necessarily mean lightning-fast accelerations. Unless that is just the price to pay for electric cars to finally appeal to all audiences… even thrill-seekers.

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