Chinese vs. American EV: How Xioami's SU7 compares to the Tesla Model 3

• Chinese EVs have grown in numbers and capabilities over the past few years.

• Xiaomi made headlines as Ford CEO Bill Farley praised its SU7 model.

• The SU7 is cheaper than the Tesla Model 3

From BYD to Xpeng to Xiaomi, the number and variety of Chinese EVs hitting the market has exploded in recent years, forcing a reckoning among Western automakers.

One in model particular, the Xioami SU7, has received significant attention in the US after Ford CEO Jim Farley revealed on a recent podcast that he'd been driving one for the past six months and didn't want to give it up.

How does it compare to competitors? The SU7, which translates to "Speed Seven" in Chinese, most closely matches the specs of Tesla's Model 3. Here's how the two models stack up:

The Xiaomi SU7 is cheaper.

The SU7, Xioami's first car and sold only in China, comes in three versions starting at 215,900 yuan, or about $30,400. Even the most expensive version, the high-performance SU7 Max, won't break the bank with a starting price of 299,900 yuan, or about $42,200.

By comparison, the base Tesla Model 3 starts at 231,900 yuan or about $32,600 in China (much cheaper than in the US), while the range-topping all-wheel-drive variant starts at 335,900 yuan or $47,300.

The Tesla and Xiaomi have similar looks.

The Model 3 is undeniably a Tesla. The compact sedan's overall shape bears a strong resemblance to its big brother, the now-iconic Model S sedan.

The SU7's styling is fairly derivative but attractive, drawing elements of its front end from the McLaren 750S supercar and its overall shape from Porsche's Panamera sedan.

Despite its more upright appearance, the Model 3 is actually the same height as the SU7, although the Tesla is a full 10 inches shorter nose-to-tail.

How kind of tech do they have?

The SU7's cabin is high-tech and thoroughly modern. Though Xiaomi is best known outside China for its smartphones, the consumer-electronics conglomerate makes everything from TVs and smart speakers to connected housewares like lights and air conditioners.

As part of the Xiaomi ecosystem, the SU7 is integrated with the company's other products, allowing for remote voice control of household appliances from the vehicle.

In front of the driver is a small 7.1-inch rotating digital instrument cluster and a gigantic 56-inch head-up display projected onto the SU7's windshield. Atop its center stack is a massive 16.1-inch infotainment screen with smartphone mirroring. The SU7's rear cabin is equipped with seatback mounting points for tablets that can be connected to the car's infotainment system.

The SU7 also offers Xiaomi Pilot, software that the company says allows for assisted self-driving and self-parking.

The Model 3's cabin is a demonstration of high-tech minimalism. The entire in-car experience is focused on the Tesla's 15.4-inch central touchscreen, which serves as both the instrument display and its infotainment screen. Rear-seat passengers can have access to their own eight-inch touchscreen with entertainment options and climate controls.

The Model 3 also comes with handy features like Sentry Mode, which monitors the vehicle's surroundings, and Dog Mode, which keeps your pets safe while you're away from the car.

As with all Teslas, the Model 3 comes with the company's signature Autopilot semi-autonomous driving tech.

The Xiaomi has a longer range and faster acceleration

Both the SU7 and Model 3 have impressive range and performance.

Car Magazine reported that the base SU7 has a 74 kWh battery pack and a max range of 434 miles, while the SU7 Max has a larger 101 kWh pack and a range of 497 miles, using the Chinese CLTC standard.

The base Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive sold in China has a range of 377 miles, while the Model 3 Long-Range All-Wheel Drive has a range of 443 miles.

According to Xiaomi, the base SU7 can add up to 217 miles of range in just 15 miles using a fast charger, while the SU7 Max can add up to 317 miles of range in that same timeframe.

Xiaomi says the current range-topping Max can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 2.78 seconds, which bests the high-performance Model 3's time of 3.1 seconds.

Xiaomi's newest SU7 Ultra is set to be even faster.

Xiaomi recently unveiled a new high-performance variant called the SU7 Ultra. It boasts three electric motors that produce a total of 1527 system horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 1.98 seconds.

In October, an SU7 Ultra prototype set the fastest lap ever of Germany's famous Nürburgring for a four-door car with a time of 6 minutes, 46 seconds.

The SU7 Ultra is set to go on sale in March with a starting price of 814,900 yuan or about $114,700.

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