BMW XM (2027)

Car and Driver is impressed by the BMW XM’s speed and luxury but ultimately finds it under-refined. Its twin-turbo V-8 and electric motor produce 644 horsepower, pushing the SUV to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, while the battery managed a useful 29 miles of electric driving in testing. The cabin is spacious, plush, and packed with clever touches, including the curved iDrive display, illuminated audio tweeters, and even rear-seat throw pillows. Yet the XM feels less convincing away from full-throttle runs: its ride can be flinty, the powertrain occasionally lurches, and low-speed behavior lacks polish. At roughly $162,000 before options, it also faces sharper-riding, more composed rivals such as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes-AMG GLS63, and BMW’s own X7. It is an exciting, lavish brute, but not the effortlessly refined luxury SUV its price suggests.

What Car? is distinctly unimpressed by the BMW XM overall. Steve Huntingford praises its beautifully crafted, high-tech interior, exceptionally spacious rear seats, strong equipment list, and rapid performance—especially the 738bhp Label—but argues that the XM fails to feel special enough for its enormous price. Its heavy body, limited steering feedback, awkward powertrain transitions, inconsistent braking, and unsettled ride undermine both its sports-SUV credentials and its luxury brief. The 50e’s electric range is competitive, and motorway refinement is decent, yet rivals such as the Porsche Cayenne feel more agile while the Range Rover Sport rides better, carries more luggage, and costs less. The XM suits buyers prioritising straight-line pace, dramatic styling, and a lavish cabin, but Huntingford’s two-star verdict reflects a fundamentally flawed balance of performance, comfort, and value.

MotorTrend is intrigued by the BMW XM but remains unconvinced by its driving experience. The 738-hp plug-in-hybrid SUV is undeniably distinctive, brutally quick, spacious, and more exclusive than rivals such as the Urus, Cayenne Turbo, and G-Wagen. Its 31-mile electric range, improved 11-kW charging, customizable interior, and lavish technology add genuine appeal, while the XM’s dramatic styling makes it feel like a potential future icon. Still, the review argues that headline power cannot overcome a touchy throttle, cumbersome 6,000-plus-pound weight, limited cargo advantage, and mediocre 14-mpg efficiency. The XM is portrayed as a fascinating, comfortable cruiser for buyers seeking something unusual, but its nearly $200,000 price is difficult to justify until BMW retunes the powertrain and makes it more confidence-inspiring to drive.

Kirk Bell of Motor Authority is impressed by the BMW XM’s ambition but ultimately disappointed by its compromises. He praises the cosseting, richly equipped cabin, enormous power, sophisticated all-wheel-drive hardware, and genuinely useful electric range. The XM can feel spectacularly quick and occasionally manages about 30 miles without starting its engine, but its electric throttle is difficult to modulate and its most aggressive settings produce unpleasant powertrain surging. Bell is also underwhelmed by the mediocre gas mileage, busy ride, noticeable body lean, and sheer 6,062-pound mass, which blunt its sporting credentials. The styling is intentionally outrageous, though he finds the grille and gold trim more awkward than appealing. His central insight is that the XM tries to be a super-SUV, efficient plug-in hybrid, comfortable luxury vehicle, and off-roader simultaneously, yet never excels at all of them. It is capable and lavish, but misses the ultra-luxury bull’s-eye.

TopGear’s Ollie Kew is strongly unimpressed by the BMW XM, despite its formidable straight-line performance. The 644bhp plug-in hybrid V8 delivers startling acceleration, a quiet cabin, and the kind of presence BMW clearly intends to dominate American and Chinese markets. But Kew argues that the XM tries to be a luxury SUV, an M car, and an environmentally conscious hybrid simultaneously, succeeding convincingly at none of them. Its ride is punishing, hybrid response feels hesitant, and its heavy, awkward handling lacks the balance expected of an M car. The styling is portrayed as aggressively vulgar, inviting public judgment rather than admiration. Compared with the sharper X5M, more relaxing iX, and better-rounded Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, the much pricier XM feels like an overmarketed compromise—an engineering project undermined by commercial ambition.

Jeff Perez of Motor1.com is highly enthusiastic about the BMW XM, calling it a remarkable performance SUV and daily driver. He is especially impressed by its seamless plug-in-hybrid powertrain, explosive acceleration, agile cornering, precise steering, and ability to shift from ferocious to comfortable at the press of a button. The lavish cabin, clever details, intuitive iDrive 8 system, and roughly 30 miles of electric range further support its luxury credentials. Perez acknowledges that the XM is no BMW M1, and its split headlights, enormous grilles, and comically large wheels make its styling divisive. It is also heavier and slightly slower than some rivals, while lacking one-pedal driving. Still, those reservations barely dent his view: at $159,995, the XM feels justified by its refinement, capability, and unusually cohesive hybrid performance. His verdict is an emphatic endorsement of BMW’s electrified M-car future.

CAR Magazine’s Ted Welford is intrigued by the BMW XM but ultimately finds it excessive and hard to justify. He admires the astonishing performance of the 738bhp V8 hybrid, immense grip, powerful brakes, spacious rear cabin, and unusually plush, customizable interior. The XM also feels genuinely distinctive, with its dramatic design, illuminated prism roof, and unapologetically loud character. Yet its weaknesses are substantial: the styling is deeply divisive, the ride remains fidgety on 23-inch wheels, fuel consumption becomes punishing once the battery is depleted, and useful equipment such as adaptive cruise control costs extra. Welford views the XM as poorly suited to narrow, rough UK roads and considers a high-end Porsche Cayenne a smarter purchase. Still, he respects BMW’s audacity and sees the XM’s outrageousness as its central appeal, making it fascinating rather than conventionally desirable.

BMWBLOG’s Steven Paul is cautiously positive about the BMW XM, enjoying its effortless power while remaining unconvinced by its value. The twin-turbo V8 and electric motor produce 644 horsepower, making acceleration remarkably easy, and the XM handles its immense weight with surprising composure, predictable oversteer, and useful rear-wheel steering. Its quiet, richly appointed cabin, extensive amenities, and head-turning design also give it genuine appeal for affluent extroverts seeking something distinctive. Still, Paul finds the steering vague, the ride compromised on 23-inch wheels, and the interior insufficiently special for a roughly $170,000 SUV. Compared with the X5 M, X6 M, or X7, the XM offers little beyond its electric range and outrageous presence. His verdict is that it is competent, comfortable, and fun, but overpriced and somewhat under-equipped—worth considering only if exclusivity and attention matter as much as rational value.

U.S. News & World Report’s Brontë Wieland is impressed by the XM’s power but ultimately unconvinced by it. The plug-in hybrid SUV stands out with 644 or 738 horsepower, sharp infotainment graphics, strong standard equipment, and genuinely rapid acceleration. Its Sport and Sport Plus settings also help the heavy SUV handle winding roads surprisingly well. But Wieland’s enthusiasm fades around the XM’s $160,000-plus pricing, loud and excessive styling, gimmicky illuminated headliner, harsh ride, and disappointing 31-mile electric range. The reviewer questions whether the Label’s extra performance is meaningful when the standard model is already extremely quick and less expensive alternatives can match its acceleration. The result is a vehicle that feels powerful and distinctive, yet overly extravagant and oddly compromised—“too weird, too pricey and not special enough.”

Digital Trends’ Christian de Looper is impressed by the XM’s power and luxury but ultimately advises against buying it. The plug-in hybrid delivers startling acceleration, a spacious cabin, premium materials, and roughly 30 miles of electric range, making it especially appealing for short local trips. Its adaptive cruise and lane-keeping systems also make highway driving feel surprisingly effortless. Still, the XM’s polarizing, occasionally gaudy styling, dated-feeling iDrive interface, modest electric range, and three-hour charging time weaken its appeal. Most damaging is the roughly $159,000 starting price: de Looper sees the XM as an extravagant, over-the-top SUV with real strengths, but believes the Rivian R1S is a better tech-forward choice and the Mercedes-Benz GLS a more convincing luxury option. Only buyers specifically drawn to its distinctive style and unconcerned about value should consider it.