Xiaomi and Huawei, two of the most representative companies in China's smartphone industry, have extended their competition to the automotive industry. In many mall showrooms, these two digital giants are often side by side, both attracting a lot of attention. So, who really understands car manufacturing better? After trying out the Xiaomi SU7 and then the Zhijie S7. the difference between Xiaomi and Huawei becomes clear!
Table of Contents
First Impressions of the Xiaomi SU7
From a popularity standpoint, the Xiaomi SU7 is almost the hottest new energy sedan at the moment. The exhibit cars are always surrounded by crowds, which shows the high demand for the SU7. The exterior design of the Xiaomi SU7 is quite successful. Even though it resembles some classic global models, excellent designs often converge. With a length close to 5 meters, a 3-meter wheelbase, and a wide and low coupe-like body, it has a strong sports car vibe. This makes the Xiaomi SU7 easily gain immediate approval from consumers, especially young ones.
Inside, the Xiaomi SU7 focuses on simplicity. The originality of the interior design has significantly improved. For a domestically produced car at this price range, the materials used are naturally not an issue. There is a large area of soft materials and stitching, complemented by matte metallic gray trim, providing a good texture. Xiaomi's ingenuity in expanding functional components is commendable. The original openings for phone holders and multifunctional buttons on the screen give users plenty of choices at an affordable price. Although the quality of some buttons can be improved, it already matches the level of traditional luxury brands and other joint venture brands at the same price range.
Potential Shortcomings of the Xiaomi SU7
Compared to the exterior and interior, space might be the potential shortcoming of the Xiaomi SU7. Due to its coupe-like body outline, the rear space is not very spacious. The height of the rear seat cushion affects comfort, and the seats are not very soft, making the rear seating experience only slightly better than the Tesla Model 3. It can't be compared to other family sedans. However, the car is mainly targeted at young people and many single individuals, directly aiming at Tesla.
The Appeal of the Zhijie S7
After checking out the Xiaomi SU7. we visited the adjacent Huawei store, where the new Zhijie S7 was prominently displayed. The Zhijie S7. like the Xiaomi SU7. has a wide and low body stance, almost the same width and length, but it is 2 cm taller and has a 5 cm shorter wheelbase, making it slightly more suitable for family use. The greatest advantage of the Zhijie S7's exterior is the confidence it exudes, thanks to its original design.
The new family-style front through-type headlights combine with the fog light area to create sporty air intakes, giving the rounded front end a sporty feel. The side of the Zhijie S7 has more streamlined roof lines, smoothly transitioning to the rear, forming a near water-drop shape with a drag coefficient of only Cd0.203. compared to the Xiaomi SU7's Cd0.195. The rear features streamlined through-type tail lights, making the overall look more elegant than the Xiaomi SU7.
Features and Interior of the Zhijie S7
The Zhijie S7 features frameless doors, double-layer soundproof glass in the front, and all models come standard with electric suction doors. Xiaomi SU7 only has electric suction doors in the top model, and all versions use single-layer glass. Details like black logos and black wheels retain the sporty appeal young people love. Especially recommended are the black or silver paint options for a more handsome visual effect.
The interior of the Zhijie S7 also adopts a simple, wrap-around layout. Besides the LCD dashboard and large central screen, there are almost no physical buttons, similar to the Xiaomi SU7. However, there are significant differences in the details. The Zhijie S7 features a 12.3-inch full LCD dashboard, much larger than the Xiaomi SU7's 7.1-inch strip display, making data more intuitive and easy to read. The central screen is a 15.6-inch display, powered by the HarmonyOS system, offering smooth operation at the top tier level. It also has two wireless charging slots for phones in the front, while Xiaomi only has one on the driver's side.
Performance and Comfort Comparison
Although both cars exhibit good workmanship, Xiaomi's leather wrapping and buttons lean towards the meticulous craftsmanship of Xiaomi phones, while the Zhijie S7's leather is softer, and its buttons have a heavier metallic feel, adding a touch of warmth and luxury. However, the Zhijie S7's steering wheel design might require some getting used to.
In terms of space, the Zhijie S7 offers balanced front and rear space. The front visibility is excellent, making it more suitable for female drivers. The rear seating experience is quite good for a pure electric sedan. Despite the inevitable intrusion of the battery into the passenger compartment, the Zhijie S7's higher body, more arched roofline, and thicker, softer seats ensure basic comfort for the legs and head of rear passengers. The Xiaomi SU7. due to its inherent design, falls short in this aspect. Despite its longer wheelbase, the rear seating experience is less comfortable.
Power and Range
The Zhijie S7 offers five versions. The single-motor version has a power of 215 kW and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, outperforming Xiaomi's single-motor version. The base model has a CLTC pure electric range of 705 km, with a maximum range of 855 km. Xiaomi offers three versions: the single-motor version accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, with a base model range of 700 km (5.28 seconds for 0-100 km/h), and a maximum range of 830 km. However, only the top version of Xiaomi features an 800V platform, while all Zhijie S7 models come standard with an 800V platform, providing a significant charging speed advantage. The Zhijie S7 also benefits from Huawei's ADS intelligent driving, which is considered a benchmark in various tests, with features like remote parking being effortlessly handled. Overall, the Zhijie S7 offers more options, while Xiaomi's essence lies more in its top model.
Finally, the rise to fame of the Wenjie M7 was not due to absolute parameter superiority but its drastically increased cost-performance ratio after a price drop. Will the Zhijie S7 make such a strategic move? Or do you think the Zhijie S7 needs a price cut?
