Xiaomi Takes Aim at Range Rover with New Skynomad N70 and N90 Luxury SUVs

Xiaomi's Skynomad N70 and N90: A Range Rover-Sized Bet on Luxury

Xiaomi has unveiled two new large SUVs, the Skynomad N70 and N90, in a clear push upmarket into the luxury family segment. The two models are essentially the same vehicle in different lengths: the N70 measures just under five metres with two rows of seats, while the N90 is around 300mm longer and adds a third row in a 2-2-3 layout. Xiaomi has sized the pair to match the current Range Rover and drawn styling cues from Europe's flagship SUVs, including a boxy, upright stance that echoes the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

The interior is the main battleground. Individual seats can rotate 180 degrees, tables and other modular furniture can be fitted, and the N70's second row can slide back into the luggage area, a configuration Xiaomi likens to a London taxi that unlocks generous rear legroom at the expense of boot space. The cabin itself is restrained by modern Chinese standards: an 8.8-inch driver display, a 16.1-inch central screen, a 20-inch head-up display and a 21-inch fold-down screen for second-row passengers, with a movable centre console instead of a fixed unit.

The Skynomads also mark Xiaomi's first hybrid powertrains. Single- and dual-motor versions are aided by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that acts purely as a generator once the battery is depleted. The twin-motor variant produces 415bhp and reaches 62mph in 5.5 seconds, which Xiaomi says is a deliberate trade-off for range and efficiency. With the larger 76kWh battery, the N70 is claimed to cover up to 313 miles on the CLTC cycle, roughly 250 miles under WLTP, and Xiaomi quotes fuel economy of around 45mpg on the Chinese cycle once the petrol engine takes over.

Xiaomi does not yet sell cars in the UK or Europe, but says it aims to be selling there by 2028 at the latest. Its existing models, the SU7 saloon and YU7 crossover, have generated long waiting lists in China, but the Skynomads enter a far more contested segment where Li Auto and Aito already hold substantial share.

Why the Skynomads Are Xiaomi's Toughest Launch Yet

First Hybrid Signals a Strategy Shift

Xiaomi's car business has so far been built around fully electric models, and the SU7 gave the brand instant attention with its Porsche-like positioning. The Skynomads break with that in two ways: they add petrol assistance for the first time, and they prioritise space, comfort and family flexibility over outright performance. The numbers back that up: 415bhp and 5.5 seconds to 62mph are deliberately moderate, while Xiaomi is emphasising around 250 miles of WLTP-equivalent battery range and roughly 45mpg once the generator wakes up. In a Chinese market squeezed by a slowing economy, offering hybrid flexibility at a lower price than rivals such as the Zeekr 9X or Li Auto L9 looks like a pragmatic hedge: customers avoid charging anxiety, and Xiaomi opens a route to buyers who are not yet ready to go fully electric.

The Range Rover Comparison Is Not Accidental

The Skynomads' dimensions — just under five metres for the N70 and around 300mm longer for the N90 — closely track the current Range Rover, and the upright, imperious styling carries echoes of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Xiaomi is aiming at the same emotional territory: Chinese families who buy luxury SUVs in large numbers and value presence and interior flexibility. The London-taxi-style sliding second row, rotating chairs, tables and fold-down screens are attempts to out-innovate established premium players on practicality rather than badge prestige. The open question is whether Xiaomi's brand carries enough weight in a segment where buyers often value status as much as specification.

Europe Is the Real Prize and the Biggest Test

Xiaomi has said it wants to sell cars in Europe by 2028, and the Skynomads would fit neatly as a cut-price alternative to the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, Chery Tiggo 9 and forthcoming Jaecoo 9. But entering Europe means navigating homologation, emissions rules and trade measures that have already complicated Chinese vehicle expansion. The N70's WLTP estimate of around 250 miles is credible but not class-leading, and the hybrid layout may help in markets where charging infrastructure is patchy. The bigger unknown is pricing: Xiaomi's proposition depends on undercutting established European and Chinese rivals while still making money on a complex, high-content vehicle.

Established Players Are Already Entrenched

In China, the Skynomads will not have the market to themselves. Li Auto and Aito have built substantial share in the large SUV segment, and the Zeekr 9X competes at the premium end. Xiaomi's existing SU7 and YU7 have enjoyed long waiting lists, but those are performance and crossover products aimed at a younger, tech-first audience. The luxury family SUV buyer is more conservative, more focused on space and perceived quality, and less likely to be won over by headline specifications alone. A successful launch will require Xiaomi to convert its smartphone-era brand equity into trust in a very different purchase decision.

What the Skynomad Launch Means for Rivals and Buyers

For established premium SUV makers, the Skynomad launch effectively sets a timetable for the next pricing battle: Xiaomi has said it wants to be selling cars in Europe by 2028. For buyers, the practical questions are simpler.

• Audi, Volvo and other European incumbents have a clear window before Xiaomi arrives; the decisive factor will be how far below the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 the Skynomads are priced when European specifications are confirmed.
• European buyers should treat the 313-mile CLTC range figure with caution: Xiaomi itself points to roughly 250 miles under WLTP, and real-world results will depend on the larger 76kWh battery and the petrol generator's 45mpg economy once it kicks in.
• In China, the immediate test for Li Auto and Aito is price: Xiaomi is explicitly aiming to undercut rivals such as the Zeekr 9X and Li Auto L9, so expect the large luxury SUV segment to become more competitive on equipment and monthly payment offers.
• Anyone considering the N70 should weigh the flexible sliding second row against the obvious boot-space compromise; the N90's 2-2-3 layout is the choice for households that need seven seats.