High performance and SUV are terms that don’t usually go together. Even at the best of times or with the best examples, the combination leads one to wonder if the two terms aren’t better left separated. The XM is the first SUV to be developed from the ground up by BMW’s M division and we sent Road Test Editor Kyle Kock to drive it in the Overberg region of the Western Cape to see if it overcomes the stigma.
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What are we driving?
It’s not an X3 or X5, or even a X1 for that matter. This is only the second model designed and developed as a standalone M model in 45 years; the first was the legendary M1 supercar from 1978. That fact alone means everyone is going to have high expectations for the BMW XM, and I was no exception. And for those who aren’t aware of BMW’s low-emission plans for the future, the XM is also a preview of what BMW is planning for the next generation M5 super sedan.
Why is the BMW XM significant?
There are a number of really cool technological advancements on the XM, but of major interest is the powertrain that in all likelihood will be used on the next-generation M5. Yes, there’s the familiar 4,4-litre turbopetrol V8 up front that makes 360 kW at 5 400 r/min and 650 N.m of torque between 1 600 and 5 000 r/min up. But it’s supplemented by a fifth-generation electric motor that on its own makes 145 kW and 280 N.m of torque—combined the two make up totals of 480 kW and 800 N.m.
How much does the XM cost?
The XM is available to order immediately for R3,4 million. BMW also used the launch of the XM locally to announce that just five units of the XM Label Red will be made available locally in the first quarter of 2024.
What’s it like to drive?
Visually, the XM is an assault on the sense of sight. Leading the launch convoy on the picturesque R62 from Barrydale to Franschhoek, I was able to take in just how striking the XM is in motion. Looking back at the XM’s square jaw, octagonal kidney grilles with their borders lit-up, gaping airdam and daytime running light slits that sit just above the actual headlamps, the word that comes to mind is commanding. The XM is all sharp angles and creases and you won’t be able to take your eyes off it.
It’s a theme that continues with the cabin. Up against the roof, there are all sorts of triangular shapes made up of the acoustic diffusion panel where the panoramic roof blind would normally be. It’s easy to get comfortable in the bucket-style seats, sit back and hold the thick-rimmed BMW M steering wheel.
Outright performance is obviously substantial considering those peak outputs. They’re nothing to scoff at and sportcars driver will easily be caught napping if they’re not careful. What’s the catch? Well, it’s not perhaps the fastest outright, because there’s competition from within BMW’s own stable in the form of the X6 M, but then that’s not the point of the XM. It’s a technological showcase.
With that in mind, I made sure that I hopped into one that had the most percentage of battery charge after the lunch break on the launch. Pointed back home toward Cape Town, in electric mode I managed to get up to 120 km/h before the turbopetrol motor kicked in, though BMW claims up to 140 km/h is possible in pure electric mode, and up to 90 km of electric range.
What are the BMW XM’s rivals?
There’s really nothing like it as a performance hybrid. But you can easily mention the Aston Martin DBX, Range Rover Sport P460e, Maserati Levante Trofeo and Porsche Cayenne Coupe. Around R1 million separates the cheapest from the most expensive, but they all serve up similar driving experiences. The closest to the XM in price and drivetrain though is the Range Rover.
Verdict
I went on the launch thinking that the XM would disappoint me somewhere, but to be completely honest here, it didn’t. Yes, I know it’s heavy and that weight is the bane of vehicles that are driven dynamically, but on the open road with fast-flowing corners and long stretches of unoccupied tarmac, it was flawless. As a showcase of where BMW is with hybrid technology, it’s astonishing, and I think the Label Red that will arrive next year will put others in the segment on notice.
BMW XM Fast Facts
Price: R3 400 000
Engine: 4,4-litre twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 480 kW combined
Torque: 800 N.m combined
0-100 km/h: 4,3 seconds
Top speed: 250 km/h
Driven wheels: All
Fuel consumption: 1,6 litres/100 km combined
CO2 emission: 36 g/km
