Press a button, and the seats and centre console of the Xiaomi SkyNomad N90 Max start to move. To the sound of calm, meditative music, the cabin of this five-metre-plus hybrid turns into a proper lounge. Add a huge amount of space, excellent massage seats, a superb sound system and very well-tuned steering, all for roughly the price of an ordinary sedan, and you have to ask: how is this possible?
Two years after my first, very positive drive in the Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan, the brand has moved forward again, and in a new direction. We spent half a day with the SkyNomad N90 Max in China to see what Xiaomi’s first big family SUV is really like.
What Is the Xiaomi SkyNomad N90?
The SkyNomad N70 and N90 are a pair of full-size crossovers that differ from the SU7 and YU7 in two important ways:
- Powertrain: the SU7 and YU7 are pure electric vehicles, while the SkyNomad models are series hybrids (range-extender EVs)
- Design: the SU7 and YU7 have a clear Porsche-inspired look, while the SkyNomads follow a much more eclectic style
Exterior Design: Practical, Not Pretty
The SkyNomad N90 borrows ideas from several very different cars:
- Front end: smooth and rounded, recalling mid-1980s models like the Ford Sierra and Volkswagen Passat B3 with their “jelly mould” styling
- Rear side panels: the heavy shape of the rear flank echoes the Rolls-Royce Cullinan
- Rear lights: the closed bracket-shaped LED graphics resemble the Zeekr 9X, a sign that Chinese brands now borrow from each other too
Is the N90 a beautiful car? Honestly, no. But the interior tells a different story.
Interior: More Office Than Car at First Glance
My first reaction was confusion. The cabin looks more like an office than a car:
- Plain, flat panels covered in soft faux leather
- A centre console that looks like a chest of drawers, complete with two real drawers
- Large bracket-style interior door handles
- A simple, minimalist layout similar to rival models from Li Auto
At least there is a proper instrument display for the driver.
Did Xiaomi Copy Li Auto? Not Exactly
The SkyNomad N90 is clearly a product of Xiaomi’s marketing team, who looked closely at the success of Li Auto’s family SUVs. But the N90 takes a simpler approach than the second-generation Li L9, which focuses on advanced driver assistance and a complex active air-hydraulic suspension (Livis).
Here is what the SkyNomad offers instead:
- Driver assistance: a main 128-line lidar and a processor rated at 700 trillion operations per second. In China, this level of hardware now appears even on budget cars around 100,000 yuan
- Suspension: double wishbones at the front, multi-link at the rear, and electronically controlled dampers
- Air springs: single-chamber only
- No active anti-roll bars and no rear-wheel steering
- Brakes: conventional floating calipers, despite a kerb weight of 2.8 tonnes
- Electrical system: 400 volts, not 800
Seats, Comfort and Practicality
Despite the simpler engineering, the SkyNomad is very comfortable from the moment you get in:
- First- and second-row seats are very comfortable, with top-class ventilation and massage functions
- Power-operated doors open very wide
- Large door openings make getting in and out easy
- Completely flat floor throughout the cabin
- 34 storage spaces around the interior
- Seat transformation is controlled either with physical buttons or through a menu with several preset layouts
The Lounge Mode: How the Seats Transform
This is the SkyNomad’s party trick. At the press of a button:
- The third-row bench (a genuine three-seater) moves back and folds its cushion upright
- The second-row seats slide back and move slightly towards the centre
- The centre storage box moves closer to the second row
- The front seats rotate 180 degrees one after the other
Then you take out the special table, and you are ready to pour tea for everyone.
The top-of-the-range Lynk & Co 900 can do something similar, but there the lounge is formed by the second and third rows. In the Xiaomi, passengers sit face to face in the main seats of the first two rows, which are far more comfortable. There are also many other layouts to choose from.
Performance: Stronger Than Expected
I did not expect much from the powertrain on paper:
- Front motor: 210 kW permanent-magnet synchronous motor
- Rear motor: 100 kW induction motor
- Total torque: 540 Nm
- Power-to-weight ratio: roughly 150 hp per tonne
That is still plenty, and the N90 feels quick. It will not set records, but this big SUV is responsive and lively. The brakes are surprisingly capable for its weight, and the pedal feel is well judged.
Chassis and Steering: The Biggest Surprise
The chassis is where the SkyNomad really impressed me:
- Adjustable ride height: from a car-like 164 mm up to 214 mm for rough roads
- In the lowest setting: quick, precise responses
- Body roll: moderate and predictable
- Handling balance: close to neutral
- Steering: about three turns lock to lock, but with a large front-wheel steering angle, so the response feels just right for a car this size
- Steering feel: light but informative, with a clear centre position and weight that builds smoothly as soon as you turn the wheel
- Road feel: you sense the road surface through the wheel, but sharp impacts are filtered out
- Ride comfort: very good, with no floating or wallowing, and bumps are absorbed well
Battery, Range and the Hybrid System
The N90 Max carries a high-output 76 kWh NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) battery under its flat floor.
- Official CLTC electric range: 464 km
- Realistic electric range: close to 300 km
- Drag coefficient: just 0.26
For longer trips, there is a 60-litre fuel tank and a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine that acts as a generator. It is closely related to the engine used in Changan and Dongfeng hybrids and is supplied by Dong’an, Changan’s engine division. For Xiaomi, it has been optimised for better thermal efficiency and features:
- Direct fuel injection
- A Morse chain-driven timing system
- Miller cycle operation
Xiaomi claims a combined CLTC range of 1,700 km. That is optimistic, but more than 1,000 km on a full tank and full battery is realistic. Oil changes are due every three years or 30,000 km.
Luggage Space
With all seven seats in use, Xiaomi says the cargo area behind the third row can be expanded to as much as 1,800 litres without making things too tight for passengers. That makes the N90 a genuine long-distance family car that can carry both people and luggage.
Why There Is No Rear-Wheel Steering
The lack of rear-wheel steering is not mainly about saving money. The engineers wanted the rear suspension to be as compact as possible, which is also why they chose H-shaped lower arms. Based on how well it drives, this has not hurt the handling at all.
Safety Features and Water Wading
Xiaomi has clearly invested heavily in safety:
- Wading depth: up to 75 cm
- Flotation: the car can stay afloat for up to three minutes, enough time to open the windows and get out if something goes wrong in water. This is a more practical solution than the emergency side-window breaking system in the Zeekr 7X
- Airbags: 12 in total, including 4 dual-chamber airbags
- Crash sensors: 9
- Anti-pinch protection: all 39 electric motors, including those for the seats, windows and optional side steps, stop at a force of 150 newtons to protect children’s fingers
Notice how many numbers are in this review? That is because Xiaomi shares detailed technical data openly in its press releases. More Chinese carmakers should do the same.
Price and Versions
- SkyNomad N90 Max: 270,000 yuan (about $40,000)
- SkyNomad N90 Max Explorer Edition: about 30,000 yuan more, with a pop-up camper roof that lets you stand up inside
Can It Compete With the Li L9, Lynk & Co 900 and Zeekr 9X?
I am not sure the SkyNomad will be as desirable as its main rivals, for two key reasons:
- Design: it lacks the prestige and presence of its competitors
- Power: rivals like the Li L9, Lynk & Co 900 and Zeekr 9X offer more performance
But that is not really the point. The SkyNomad N90 is designed above all as a car for family travel.
A Quiet, Private Cocoon for the Family
Parking is becoming very difficult in China, even in smaller cities, so Chinese buyers place great value on interior space. The SkyNomad works like a comfortable cocoon you can escape into with your family:
- Excellent cabin quietness, helped by powerful active noise cancellation
- A sound system of almost 5 kW. It could not read my test USB drive, but the sound is clearly superb
- An intercom function that lets you hear what is happening outside, but only when you want to
Xiaomi’s Rapid Rise in the Car Industry
This is a company that started making phones only about 15 years ago. Apple never managed to launch its own electric car, while Xiaomi is already setting industry records. The Xiaomi YU7 GT has officially become the fastest production crossover on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. I have already driven it too, and I will share my impressions soon.
Verdict: A Serious New Player in the Family SUV Market
The Max is the first version, and we can expect a simpler Pro and a more powerful Ultra, especially as Xiaomi has no shortage of strong electric motors. A more prestigious design can come later too.
What we liked:
- Clever, flexible lounge-style seat transformation
- Very comfortable seats with excellent massage and ventilation
- Outstanding steering and well-balanced chassis
- Good ride comfort
- Over 1,000 km of real-world range
- Strong safety features, including flotation and anti-pinch protection
- Very competitive price
What we didn’t like:
- Plain, unattractive exterior design
- Less power than key rivals
- Simpler suspension and brakes than some competitors
- Office-like interior styling
So Li Xiang of Li Auto and Li Shufu of Geely should take note: there is a serious new player in their segment. The slogan “Innovation for everyone,” embossed into the SkyNomad’s faux leather, is not just marketing. It is the new reality.
Photo: Leonid Golovanov
This is a translation. You can read the original article here: Наш тест Xiaomi SkyNomad N90 Max: товарищам Шуфу и Сяну приготовиться?
Published October 16, 2026 • 9m to read
