Xiaomi isn’t exactly new to the car game anymore, but the Skynomad N70 marks a bit of a shift in strategy. Where the brand’s SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV went head-to-head with Tesla as full battery-electric vehicles, the N70 takes a different route: it’s a range-extender, meaning a small 1.5-litre petrol engine works alongside the battery to keep you moving once the charge runs low.
In China, that combination is proving popular. The entry-level N70 Pro kicks off at 209,900 yuan, which converts to roughly $31,275 AUD, while the flagship N70 Max starts from 239,900 yuan, or about $35,745 AUD. For context, the locally-built Tesla Model Y in China starts from the equivalent of around $39,270 AUD, and Xiaomi’s own all-electric YU7 opens at about $37,700 AUD. So the N70 genuinely undercuts both, despite being the larger vehicle of the bunch.
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Bigger dimensions, Bigger battery options
Size is where the N70 really separates itself from the Model Y. It stretches 4,960 mm long and 1,998 mm wide, with a 2,950 mm wheelbase, that’s about 163 mm longer in wheelbase than the standard Model Y. Even against the stretched, six-seat Model Y L, the N70 comes out slightly longer, noticeably wider, and taller, while costing a good deal less.
There are two battery choices. The N70 Pro runs a single rear motor producing 282 hp, paired with a 52 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery good for around 351 km of pure electric range. Add the petrol engine into the mix and total range climbs to an impressive 1,351 km. Step up to the N70 Max and you get dual motors making a combined 416 hp, a larger 76 kWh battery for 505 km of EV-only range, and a total range of 1,461 km, plus the Max adds air suspension for a more cushioned ride.
Well-equipped for the money
Xiaomi hasn’t skimped on the cabin either. Standard kit includes heated and ventilated seats front and rear, a 20-inch head-up display, a 16.1-inch central touchscreen and an 8.8-inch driver display. Front seats that rotate a full 180 degrees are a genuinely unusual touch for this price bracket. Audio-wise, the Pro gets a 14-speaker system, while the Max steps up to 25 speakers.
Why this matters for Australian buyers
None of this is confirmed for Australia yet, Xiaomi hasn’t announced local plans for the Skynomad N70, and there’s no word on right-hand-drive production or Australian pricing. But it’s still worth watching closely.
Range anxiety remains one of the biggest hurdles for EV buyers in a country as vast as Australia, and range-extender SUVs like this one offer a genuine middle ground: strong everyday EV range for city and suburban driving, with the security of a petrol backup for longer country trips or towing runs. If Xiaomi’s local arm eventually brings something like the N70 here, it would land in a segment already getting crowded with mid-size and large SUVs chasing value-conscious buyers who want space without Tesla-level pricing.
For now, the N70’s early success in China, with 100,000 pre-orders reported inside a week, is a strong signal that buyers everywhere are hungry for bigger, better-equipped SUVs that don’t ask them to choose between range and price. Whether that appetite makes its way to Australian showrooms is a story we’ll be watching.
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