Every once in a while a car manufacturer will flex their muscles and introduce a car that stands out from the rest of the pack like it came from another dimension. Mercedes has done it with the SLS, Lexus with the LFA, and BMW has once done it with the i8. But gone are the days when supercars were the center of attention. Now, they share the spotlight with SUVs which is why the latest BMW flagship is just that, an SUV, and it’s a mighty one. With over 700 horsepower it’s the most powerful production BMW ever, and so far, the most expensive one. And while it does share its platform with the X5, that’s as far as the similarities go making the XM the most bespoke model as well. The BMW XM gets an exclusive powertrain, exterior and interior all of which is turned to eleven in terms of luxury, technology and power. It’s also fairly green with plug-in hybrid technology and an electric range of 30 miles which is enough for most people’s daily commutes. But before we go into more details, check out the ones currently for sale here at Exotic Car Trader.
With Mercedes building AMG only models for quite a while now, it’s not surprising that BMW decided to follow its steps and make a model to bear nothing but the M performance badge. And sure, every enthusiast would have loved for that to be a mid engined sports car, but a flagship SUV made much more sense in the current market. The result is a huge performance SUV almost the same size as the X7, but with the acceleration of an M5. That recipe is perfect on the face of it, but unfortunately journalists didn’t quite like it as there was too much compromise between comfort and performance, which is only natural considering it’s quite a hefty thing. At the same time, the styling wasn’t to everyone’s liking. The last BMW model whose look caused so much controversy was the E60 5-Series. As a result, the XM didn’t sell as well as BMW had hoped for with well under 1,000 units selling each year. Even so, the XM still has much more to offer than virtually any other BMW so let’s see what it’s like inside as a start.
The interior of the BMW XM is much more universally aesthetically pleasing than its exterior. It gets bespoke seat padding and color combinations. Moreover, all pillars and the roof liner are covered in beautiful alcantara, but that’s just the beginning. The roof liner is sculpted in interesting patterns and as ambient lighting shines over it at night, the roof becomes more intriguing than a starry sky of a Rolls Royce. The dashboard usually comes in two tone leather with contrasting seats and everything the driver touches is bound to be one premium material or another. And yet, it’s much more stimulating to the eyes with interesting details, reliefs, lines and colors covering virtually every inch of the cabin. The XM is also the first BMW model to benefit from the latest iDrive 8 system featuring 27 inches of screens, plus a few more in the back. Overall, no other BMW or Mercedes compares to how modern and urban the XM’s interior looks. As for technology, numerous driver aids come as standard as well as gesture controls. But as of 2025, all XMs will come standard with BMW’s autopilot allowing hands free driving at up to 85 mph, and featuring eye movement activated Active Lane Change system.
BMW is no stranger to crazy and wild designs but with that in mind the XM might just be a little too much. Naturally, the front is dominated by the giant kidney grilles, which, we have to say do look more proportional than those on the X7 and the M4. The front bumper features an additional intake that’s fairly subtle but the bumper itself is exaggerated with a two tone color scheme. The new signature dual headlights as seen on the i7 look a bit lost given how big the XM is, but they also make it look a bit more menacing. The side profile features a nice muscular haunch over the rear wheel and the front wings are just as pronounced so that despite its size, the XM doesn’t look overweight. Contrasting trim around the windows that blend into the wings adds to the flagship spirit that comes with the XM, and then we get to the rear end, great. The rear of the XM is arguably its worst angle. Although the laser tail lights look good at night, they are shaped in a weird way, but then the entire rear end is. Lines and creases are everywhere giving the aesthetic much more depth than it needs. The contrasting diffuser is a neat feature, but it eats up half the rear end which is a tad too aggressive. That said, the stacked quad exhausts pipes are more than welcome. However, paint the XM in black and it looks like nobody else could be driving it other than Batman himself, and even if you don’t like how it looks, that makes the exterior pretty cool if you ask us.
Unfortunately, with all the technology, hybrid batteries and the sheer size of the thing, the BMW XM tips the scales at over 6,000 lbs. In other words, it’s 600 lbs heavier than the X5 M Competition. And since the standard XM gets 644 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, it’s not that much more powerful either. As a result, the XM gets to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds as advertised by BMW. That’s nearly half a second slower than the X5. It’s true that the XM Label is quite a bit faster, but we are a bit disappointed that the, quote-on-quote, base XM is so underwhelming, especially considering its price. Top Speed isn’t that great either at 168 mph with the higher limiter as part of the driver’s package. And that’s another reason why the XM wasn’t as popular as it was supposed to be.
With a starting price of $160,000, or an estimated $168,000 for a 2025 model, the BMW XM finds itself in dangerous territory. For comparison, the faster and much more fun to drive Porsche Cayenne Turbo starts at less than $150,000. On the other hand, the X5 M Competition and the GLE 63 S both start at around $125,000. And again, both of those are faster and more engaging. With that, the only thing left justifying the XM’s price is the luxury and extravagant design. And we have to say that if that’s what you are after, by all means, go for it, but if performance is your primary goal, there are much better choices out there.
Ultimately, the BMW XM is one of the most striking SUVs on the road right now. With its looks, not even a Porsche or a Bentley will turn as many heads. The interior is even more mesmerizing with some extremely interesting innovations. But unfortunately, it also disappoints in one aspect where, to justify its name, it should outperform every other SUV on the market, and that’s performance. Whether you are looking to get into a new XM or any other performance SUV, consider buying it through Exotic Car Trader. By doing so you get escrow protection, delivery and first inspection just to name a few benefits, and at the same time, Exotic Car Trader makes the entire process as convenient as it gets. The same goes if you are selling a car with Exotic Car Trader, only in that case you also get a professional photographer at your door.
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