Other Technology | May 5, 2024
The first buyers of the Xiaomi SU7 have received the electric car and the initial impressions are very positive.
Xiaomi seems to have achieved the impossible: creating an affordable electric car that boasts performance and technology capable of competing with the best in the sector. Xiaomi has accomplished what Apple could not, at least on paper, and its rivals are already feeling it, with a drop in Tesla’s sales that is very concerning for Elon Musk.
Is the price of the Xiaomi SU7 as good as it seems? That has always been the risk. That expectations for Xiaomi’s first electric car would be so high that it would be impossible to meet them; that after the initial excitement, the market would be flooded with second-hand units from unhappy drivers. Fortunately, it seems that will not be the case.
Indeed, Xiaomi’s car is now in the hands of journalists and the first drivers, who have already been able to sit in the car and test it; and everything indicates that the promises have been more than fulfilled.
The first non-promotional videos of the Xiaomi SU7 are already circulating on the internet, from both the first owners and enthusiasts who have visited one of the dealerships that now have the vehicle on display. In person, it appears to be as impressive as in the marketing materials.
Technology is, obviously, one of the key features of the Xiaomi SU7; but more importantly, Xiaomi has responded to drivers’ complaints about touchscreens.
One of the videos that went viral on TikTok shows a unit of the SU7 with some of the add-ons that are available, and one of the most striking is a row of physical buttons for the screen. These buttons are installed at the bottom of the touchscreen; they allow access to basic functions like the climate control without the need to navigate through menus.
Xiaomi has boasted of a very user-friendly system for the screen that allows dividing the screen into three separate apps or functions (such as climate control, map app, and music player). However, it is also aware that many drivers have lost their taste for touchscreens (or never had it), and this option will be ideal in that case.
While this is an optional feature, and therefore comes at an additional cost, it is also part of the launch promotion for the Xiaomi SU7 and is included in some versions like the SU7 Max. In the videos, another add-on that can be seen is a classic-style odometer installed at the top of the screen.
Another option that has caught a lot of attention is the tablet holders in the rear seats. Although they are compatible with many tablets (including the iPad), the holder features a connector designed for the new Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro, which can charge the tablet using the car’s batteries.
Using this tablet, rear passengers can connect to the car’s main screen and select songs to play or mark places on the map app for the driver to head to. In turn, the driver and the front passenger can send content to the tablets, such as movies from their mobile phones. Thus, they can be the perfect distraction for long trips.
