Lei Jun's statement that the goal of the Xiaomi SU7 is to be the best-looking, best-driving, and smartest sedan under 500.000 yuan has made this car very controversial, with some netizens even claiming that the Xiaomi SU7 will be bought less and less!
However, in reality, it sold 14.296 units in just one month in June, while the BYD Seal, a benchmark model in the 200.000 yuan range, still couldn't match the sales of the Xiaomi SU7. Both cars are positioned as sporty, but how big is the gap between them?
Today, we tested the top configurations of both cars: the Xiaomi SU7 four-wheel-drive max version with dual motors front and rear, 673 horsepower, 838 Nm of torque, and a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 3 seconds.
The Seal Glory four-wheel-drive performance version has dual motors front and rear, 530 horsepower, 670 Nm of torque, and a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 3.8 seconds. Both cars have supercar-like power, but the Xiaomi SU7 clearly has more power. So, will there be such a big difference in driving?
Let's start with the BYD Seal. The power of this car is beyond its class. In the past, to experience such performance, you could only choose a million-yuan supercar, but now this Seal can give you a similar experience. The improvement in domestic car technology brings real benefits to consumers.
Even though this car has strong power, full acceleration won't make you uncomfortable. I've driven some electric cars where the acceleration at start was too abrupt, making me feel nauseous after multiple tests. However, the power setup of this Seal is completely different.
At the moment of starting, it doesn't output maximum torque but first gets the car moving, then outputs power linearly, giving an overall more advanced driving experience.
In terms of handling, it feels a bit like the BMW 3 Series, with a tightly tuned chassis. However, the steering wheel isn't as precise and has some play, but under normal driving conditions, it's still easy to drive.
The chassis of this car is worth mentioning. It uses independent suspension with a double wishbone front and multi-link rear. At low speeds, it effectively filters road vibrations, but doesn't completely isolate them, providing a relatively clear road feel. As the speed increases, the suspension stiffens significantly, and the quick rebound of the suspension offers good support in corners, making it the best-handling model among all BYD cars.
Now let's talk about the Xiaomi SU7. There's no need to discuss power anymore since the Xiaomi SU7 wins over the BYD Seal. However, the Xiaomi SU7 is not just about performance. If you switch to comfort mode, the chassis is still very comfortable. On bumpy roads, the suspension is very resilient without feeling too hard, and with its flexible steering wheel, it's very easy to drive in the city.
But if you switch to sports mode or press the "real man" button, it immediately turns into a beast. The throttle becomes more aggressive, the car jumps forward with just a slight press, the steering becomes more sensitive, the suspension stiffens, and full acceleration can even make you feel breathless.
This feeling is similar to the maximum torque output of a V8 engine in an internal combustion engine car, especially since the Xiaomi SU7 also has simulated exhaust sound, making it feel like driving a supercar.
Its chassis uses the same suspension as the Seal but adds an air suspension and CDC variable damping shock absorbers, allowing customization of suspension stiffness. Unexpectedly, the seats also have lateral support, enhancing the driving posture with both suspension and seat support, making you feel like you never want to drive another car after driving the Xiaomi SU7.
However, it must be said that the top version of the Xiaomi SU7 is 50.000 yuan more expensive than the top version of the Seal. Whether it's worth it or not can be seen from the car sales chart, but we cannot ignore another issue: the entry-level version of the Seal and the Seal DMI start at only 149.800 yuan, offering higher cost performance and meeting the needs of more consumers.
