Marques Brownlee Gets Behind the Wheel of Xiaomi’s SU7 Max

Marques Brownlee, popularly known as MKBHD, put his hands around the Xiaomi SU7 Max’s leather steering wheel and eased onto the pavement just outside a nondescript office building. In China, this 4-door costs $42000 and has 673 horsepower from dual motors, a 101kwh battery that claims 320 miles of range, and can accelerate like a real supercar.

Brownlee got began by slipping into the front seat, which fit him like an old glove. The leather felt amazing in his hands, warming or cooling with the touch of a button, and the heated steering wheel kept his palms warm against the coastal chill. Up front, the heads-up display projected speed and navigation details onto the windshield, which were clear enough to cut through glare but not so bright that they interfered with driving. The instrument cluster was hidden behind the wheel, leaving the attention on a 16-inch touchscreen that responded exactly like his phone. He experimented with the controls, seeing how having actual buttons for climate and drive modes simplified things. The doors and center console feature plenty of storage space, and the console even has a concealed pocket with a lantern powered directly by the battery. Brownlee took out his Xiaomi phone and placed it on a 50w wireless charging pad, where it charged to a safe temperature over the course of several hours.

Brownlee was surprised by its modularity, which included hidden mounts on the dashboard and doors that looked like secret compartments. He installed a magnetic phone holder and then added a secondary display for travel information, all without needing to use any tools. A USB hub plugged into one port, powering all of the crew’s devices, while microphones dangled from another socket for the occasional impromptu singalong. Software brought it all together, displaying his phone’s screen on the dash or connecting to the house cameras with a simple tap. Apple CarPlay connected wirelessly, and its interface expanded across the entire display. He planned a route to the hills, and the system worked its magic, bringing in traffic information and even syncing texts to read aloud. That type of polish is uncommon at such a low starting price.

Handling became apparent on the twistier roads of New Jersey. Brownlee pushed it into curves, feeling the chassis simply settle low and wide, the tires biting in without protest. The air suspension simply absorbed mid-corner bumps, making the ride smooth and calm. The active bolsters in the seats squeezed him on the sides during leans, keeping him in place, which seemed bizarre at first, as if the car was anticipating his movements. When compared to a Tesla Model 3 Performance, it held its line with similar composure or matched the balance of a BMW i4, however a Porsche Taycan definitely edged it out in razor-thin accuracy. Brakes comfortably hauled it down from speed, with regenerative braking combining with friction pads for a smooth stop.