Driver’s diary: how Tesla Model 3 and Xiaomi SU7 compare on the Chinese road

“Driver’s diary” is a content series that spotlights car enthusiasts and their personal experiences behind the wheel. In this edition, a Guangdong-based business owner born in the 1990s shares insights from owning both a Tesla Model 3 and a Xiaomi SU7, offering a firsthand comparison of the two models.

The following transcript has been edited and consolidated for brevity and clarity.

I’ve been driving my Tesla Model 3 for over four years now, and it has taken me to countless places. As for why I bought the Xiaomi SU7, the reason is simple: I already own many Xiaomi devices, and I was impressed by CEO Lei Jun during the launch event. So, in April 2024, I placed an order for the SU7.

After waiting for about six months, I finally received my car in September 2024. Since I drive a lot for work, my SU7 has already logged 10,000 kilometers.

These two cars are arguably the most widely discussed electric vehicles today, and many people around me have asked the same question: “What’s the difference between them? If I’m buying a car now, should I go for Xiaomi or Tesla?” I can only share my personal experience in the hope that it helps others make an informed decision.

Performance and driving experience

In my opinion, the Xiaomi SU7 is well-equipped for daily commuting, whereas the Tesla Model 3 feels like a go-kart that’s all about the joy of driving.

On paper, the SU7 has an impressive acceleration time of 2.78 seconds—sounds cool, right? But in reality, I almost always drive in comfort mode and rarely use the full power. I only tested the acceleration a few times when I first got the car to show it off to friends.

For everyday driving, Tesla’s throttle response, braking, and steering feel smoother, especially when it comes to regenerative braking. The SU7 has a noticeably stronger deceleration effect when you lift off the accelerator, making it feel less refined. Its braking feel also isn’t as intuitive as Tesla’s.

Even with regenerative braking set to the lowest level, the Model 3 still offers a more seamless driving experience.

The Tesla EV’s smaller size and nimble handling make it a joy to drive alone—it gives me that feeling of close-knittedness between man and machine. But it also rides like a true go-kart. The suspension is stiff, speed bumps feel like jumps, and road noise is quite pronounced. If you frequently drive on highways or with passengers, the Model 3 isn’t the most comfortable choice.

The SU7, on the other hand, is larger and wider, giving it a more planted feel. Without aggressively flooring the accelerator, it actually drives like a BMW 5 series car or an Audi A6L—so stable that you might not even notice when you reach 120 kilometers per hour on the highway.

Technology features

These days, I find myself driving the Xiaomi SU7 more often, mainly because it offers a more complete set of features:

• First, seat ventilation: My older Tesla Model 3 doesn’t have ventilated seats, which means sweaty seat stains in hot weather—not the most comfortable or visually pleasing experience.
• Second, the built-in fridge: I probably wouldn’t have paid extra for it, but since early orders in April came with a complimentary fridge, I’m quite happy with it. It’s great for keeping drinks cold in the summer—both practical and a nice little luxury.
• Third, voice assistant: Xiaomi’s voice control is significantly better than Tesla’s—faster response time, higher accuracy, and seamless integration with my home’s Xiaomi smart speaker. Now, before I even leave home, I can say, “Turn on the car’s heater,” and it gets done. This is a huge convenience over Tesla.

That said, I do find Xiaomi’s infotainment system less user-friendly than Tesla’s.

Tesla’s interface is well-known for being simple, direct, and convenient. Everything is accessible from a single main menu, and climate controls are always just one tap away.

Xiaomi’s system, in contrast, doesn’t automatically return to the home screen after opening the control panel. Also, adjusting the air vent direction is tricky as the interface lacks contrast, making it hard to see.

When I first got the SU7, I couldn’t even find the defogging button and had to rely on voice control. It seems Xiaomi put so much emphasis on voice commands that it overlooked touchscreen usability.

As for autonomous driving, Xiaomi’s highway and urban navigate-on-autopilot (NOA) feature is free, whereas Tesla charges at least RMB 32,000 (USD 4,480). Naturally, free driver assistance is more attractive.

Since I frequently drive on elevated highways for work, Xiaomi’s NOA does save some effort. However, since this is Xiaomi’s first year developing smart driving features, there’s still room for improvement.

For example, on one elevated highway I regularly use, the SU7 often veers off course. After reporting it to Xiaomi, that stretch of road is now unsupported for NOA, and I can only use lane centering control (LCC) there. Since then, I’ve noticed that NOA requires manual intervention more frequently.

Tesla’s NOA is widely praised in overseas markets, but its price tag is steep. Even if it becomes available in China, I’m not sure I’d pay for it. For now, domestic EV brands have the advantage in smart driving. Xiaomi’s NOA isn’t perfect yet, but since it’s free, it will likely improve over time.

Range and energy efficiency

Since I live in Guangdong, where winters are mild, and I have home charging, range anxiety isn’t a big concern.

My Xiaomi SU7 Max can reach almost 600 km on a full charge with careful driving. Even with aggressive acceleration, it still manages 500 km. However, since it uses a ternary lithium battery, I typically only charge to 80% for battery longevity, giving me a practical range of over 400 km.

My Tesla Model 3 has a shorter range. When it was new, it could do 400 km, but over the years, that has gradually dropped to 370–390 km.

Tesla claims that displayed range degradation doesn’t necessarily reflect real-world performance and that loss slows down over time. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I have noticed some key differences in battery drain. Xiaomi’s overnight idle drain is 2–3%, while Tesla’s weekly idle drain is about 3%. Other Xiaomi owners told me that the laser radar remains active at night, which could explain the faster idle drain.

Closing thoughts

Both cars have their strengths. The Tesla Model 3 offers a superior driving experience, with smoother performance and lower noise levels. The Xiaomi SU7 is packed with features, has free smart driving, and is more affordable—but that also means some areas still need refinement.

Every time I switch from the SU7 back to my Model 3, I realize how much I’ve gotten used to voice control in the Xiaomi. Tesla requires more manual operation, making it feel like a step backward.

In the end, it’s all about personal preference. If I’m driving alone, I prefer the Model 3. But if I have passengers, I’d rather take the SU7.

In a few years, I’ll likely replace one of them with an SUV. Whether I sell the Tesla Model 3 or the Xiaomi SU7 will depend on resale value and long-term reliability.

Ultimately, looks and performance influence buying decisions, but affordability and practicality shape long-term satisfaction.

This article was prepared by Xu Caiyu and was originally published by 36Kr.com