BMW XM review

Introduction

If you're the sort of person who thinks bigger is better, the BMW XM plug-in hybrid is likely to appeal. Developed by the brand's M performance division, it's not only physically big, at just over 5.1m long, but in range-topping form has the most power and the largest price tag of any BMW SUV on sale.

It's certainly an imposing looking machine, with its angular lines, bluff front end and squared-off wheelarches. What’s more, you get ultra-slim LED headlights, which flank a split front grille that takes up so much real estate it might as well have its own postcode.

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What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

3.0 50e 25.7kWh SUV 5dr Petrol Plug-in Hybrid Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (476 ps)

Expected annual mileage	6000
Term months	48
Deposit months	12
Monthly payment	£1,445.11
Initial payment	£17,341.32

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• No admin fees
• Free returns within 30 days*

In partnership with

£17,341 initial payment, 48 month contract, 6000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

But does the BMW XM feel special enough to justify the huge amount it costs, and how does it compare with rivals such as the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid and the Range Rover Sport P460e? That’s what we’re going to be exploring in this review.

What’s new?

November 2025 - After repeatedly saying it wasn’t planning to let journalists drive the XM in the UK, BMW finally relents

June 2025 - The original 644bhp engine is discontinued in favour of the more powerful V8 from the sold out Red Label edition

March 2024 - A new entry-level XM 50e goes on sale, with 469bhp

April 2023 - Limited edition Red Label version of the XM is introduced, with 738bhp

March 2023 - We publish our first impressions of the XM, based on a drive in the US

September 2022 - Production version of the XM is unveiled, with 469bhp

November 2021 - BMW XM Concept revealed in Miami

Overview

The BMW XM definitely has its strengths, including an interior that’s as spacious as it is beautifully built. However, dynamically the car lacks focus; it’s not as fun to drive as the best sports SUVs, and it doesn’t ride as well as a luxury SUV should. Indeed, it doesn't ride as well as plenty of sports SUVs that also handle better.

Pros

• Strong performance
• High-quality interior
• Loads of room for five people

Cons

• Ride never settles
• Capable rather than fun in the corners
• Very expensive

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

How fast is it and which engine is best?

Two versions of the XM are currently on sale: the 50e, which comes with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, and the XM Label, which substitutes that for a 4.4-litre V8. However, both also feature an electric motor that can either power the car on its own or in conjunction with the engine.

In the 50e the combined output is 469bhp, which gets it from 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds. That’s 0.4sec down on the time of the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid and makes it one of the slower BMW M cars. But that’s like saying it’s one of the friendliest great white sharks; it still feels rapid by most standards, and indeed gets to 62mph 0.4sec quicker than the Range Rover Sport P460e.

Besides, if you want one of the fastest sports SUVs around, there’s the XM Label. This produces a whopping 738bhp, and can dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in just 3.8 seconds. The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is similarly ballistic, but the only Range Rover Sport with comparable performance is the much thirstier SVR model.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

This is a heavy car (it weighs more than 2.6 tonnes), and you’re aware of that bulk shifting onto the outside wheels when you turn into a corner at speed. But when the suspension is in its sportiest setting, it does a good job of fighting body lean.

There’s also loads of grip you can draw on once you’ve got the car settled, and the steering responds crisply. However, it doesn't offer as much feedback as the Cayenne's, and that car also feels lighter and more playful in bends.

This would be fine if the XM rode more comfortably than its arch rival, but it doesn't. Instead, it never settles, even when you put the adaptive suspension in Comfort mode.

And don't go thinking it's just the Cayenne that shows up the XM; while they're not plug-in hybrids, the Aston Martin DBX, Audi RS Q8 and Lamborghni Urus all manage to feel more supple and more agile.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

We tried the 50e, and when this is in its default Hybrid driving mode (there are others that prioritise zero emissions running or reserving battery power for a later point in your journey) it pulls away more or less silently. But switch on the sports exhaust system and put your foot down, and its engine sounds suitably muscular – if a little digitally enhanced.

A bigger issue is the fact that it doesn’t always blend petrol and electric power together particularly smoothly, so it can be hard to judge just how much you need to depress the accelerator – especially from low speeds.

Likewise, the brakes can be a bit inconsistent in the way they respond in Comfort mode; they’re better when you switch to Sport.

On the motorway, you hear a fair bit of wind noise from around the door mirrors, but the XM is surprisingly good at isolating you from any roar generated by its wide tyres, and the engine fades into the background at a steady cruise.

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

You can run purely on electric power for up to 52 miles (officially) in the 50e and 50 miles in the XM Label. Then, once the 25.7kWh (usable capacity) battery they both use is flat, a full charge from an 11kW home wallbox takes 2 hours and 45 minutes.

By comparison, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid and Turbo E-Hybrid – which can be charged in around the same amount of time – have electric ranges of 51 miles and 48 miles respectively.

Meanwhile, the Range Rover Sport P460e can officially travel for up to 72.7 miles before it needs to trouble its petrol engine. However, its battery is limited to a maximum charging rate of 7.4kW, so needs around 5 hours to be topped up.

“I can't help thinking that the XM would be a more rounded car if, in this instance, BMW’s M division had put aside its usual aversion to air suspension.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

While some recent BMWs have disappointed in this area, the XM shows the brand still knows how to craft a special interior.

Leather and soft Alcantara sit alongside genuine metal detailing. Plus, there isn't a stitch out of place, and the spectacular contoured roof panel changes colour with the driving mode.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

You get a lofty driving position on a par with a Porsche Cayenne’s, with this resulting in a good view down the road ahead. That said, the Range Rover Sport perches you even higher and makes it easier to judge where the front corners of the car are.

Likewise, over-the-shoulder visibility could be better – in this case because the side windows are comparatively shallow and the rear pillars quite chunky. Fortunately parking sensors (front and rear) and a 360-degree camera are standard.

The front seats are hugely supportive and adjustable, letting you electrically change everything from the depth of the base to the width of the backrest and the degree of lumbar support. What’s more, you can save your preferred settings, and the seats are heated, ventilated and equipped with a massage function.

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

A configurable digital instrument panel sits in front of the driver, with this curving seamlessly into a huge, 14.9in infotainment touchscreen. The software is responsive and the graphics clear. And while you can use the touchscreen to make selections, when you're driving it's less distracting to use the voice control or a rotary control dial that’s positioned between the front seats.

True, it’s a little disappointing that the climate controls are on the screen, instead of separate, physical controls. But at least these icons are always on display, and overall the XM’s dashboard still sets the standard for usability.

There are numerous driving settings to choose from, but you can save your favourites, then quickly access these via the red M buttons on the steering wheel.

“The next generation of BMWs will do without a rotary control dial. But this simple feature is brilliant at minimising distraction, so I’m delighted it’s present in the XM.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

How much space does it have for people?

The XM isn't available as a seven-seater, unlike the smaller BMW X5 and similar-sized BMW X7. However, it provides palatial space for five, including limo-like rear leg room.

Indeed, here it trumps both the Porsche Cayenne and the Range Rover Sport, despite these also being big five-seaters. And while a central rear passenger has to contend with a bit of a hump in the floor, the footwells are so huge that there’s still plenty of room for everyone’s feet.

As a bonus, there’s loads of in-car storage, including huge door bins front and rear. Plus, you get a wireless charging tray to complement the four USB-C charging sockets that are standard, and the cupholders in the front of the car are both heated and cooled.

How much room is there for luggage?

The XM’s boot has a 527-litre capacity, which is slightly down on the 545 litres provided by the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid and well behind the 647 litres of the Range Rover Sport P460e.

It’s also a little disappointing that there’s no underfloor area where you can store the charging cables; instead they live in a leather bag that takes up a fair bit of the available space, although it can at least be tethered to the side of the boot to stop it sliding around.

If you need to carry longer items, the rear seats can be folded down to lie almost flat. Plus, they split in a handy 40/20/40 configuration.

“I reckon the height of the boot floor from the ground will cause issues for some people; if you’re got an old dog, for example, you’ll probably have to lift it in and out. But at least there’s no load lip to heave luggage over.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

Even the 50e costs more than £110,000, while the XM Label comes in at more than £150,000. Or, to put it another way, the BMW XM is significantly pricier than equivalent versions of the Porsche Cayenne, while the Range Rover Sport P460e is also available for less, even in its ultra-luxurious Autobiography trim.

You’re also predicted to lose more in depreciation with the XM than you would with either of these key rivals.

However, it’s not all bad news; you do at least get a long list of standard equipment, including soft-close doors, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, heated rear seats and a Harman/Kardon surround sound audio system.

Officially, the 50e averages 64.2mpg and the XM Label 50.4mpg, although – as with any plug-in hybrid – what you get in the real world will vary dramatically depending on the typical length of your journeys and how frequently you charge the battery.

Is it reliable and how long is the warranty?

We didn’t have enough responses from XM owners for it to be included in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, but BMW finished a highly creditable sixth (out of 30) in the brand league table, whereas Porsche was 19th and Land Rover 26th.

As with other BMWs, you get a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, while the XM’s drive battery is covered by a separate eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

As a niche model, the XM hasn’t been crash tested by the independent safety experts at Euro NCAP. However, it does come with a comprehensive list of active safety aids, including active blindspot monitoring, lane change and lane keep assist, and an automatic emergency braking system with pedestrian and cyclist recognition.

As you’d expect, the XM also has a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and engine immobiliser system.

“The optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound audio system sounds fantastic, but it costs £4400, so personally I’d stick with the standard Harman Kardon Surround Sound system, which still has 16 speakers and 415 watts of power.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Buy it if…

- You care more about straight-line pace than handling finesse

- You want an interior that feels properly special

- You regularly carry tall adults in the back of your car

Don’t buy it if…

- You want a sports SUV that’s comfortable as well as fast

- You’re planning to buy outright, so care about resale values

- You don’t like to draw too much attention to yourself

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