A Week With: 2023 BMW XM

If you’re trying to compete in the world of high-dollar, high-zoot, luxury SUVs, you’ve got a tall bar to clear. BMW’s latest effort shows that it’s got what it takes as it throws in everything but an espresso bar with the 2023 XM plug-in hybrid. 

Overview

The BMW XM is the brand’s halo luxury-performance SUV. At $167,395, this is not the bread-and-butter family wagon, but rather a bold statement. It’s got everything BMW knows how to make as standard or optional equipment, and that includes a plug-in hybrid driveline. 

Yet even with all that, there are some aspects that still need a little refinement. 

Exterior

Subtle simply won’t do for the outside of the XM. You need to know — and so does everyone else — that this is the hot rod of BMW SUVs. The XM we had for a week was equal parts storm trooper and Darth Vader with piano black over white bodywork and just a touch of brushed aluminum peeking out of the gloss black wheels. 

The signature kidney grilles are big, but not overwhelming as on the X7. Perhaps that’s because of the blackout front end treatment that hides them somewhat. Overall, the XM is a handsome SUV, as is the X5 on which it’s based. 

Interior

The interior of the XM is a masterpiece of simplicity. There’s the single glass screen stretching across the dash, which is de rigueur for premium vehicles right now. One basic knob for volume and on/off control is provided, but your climate controls are found on the screen or using the voice control. 

The thing you’ll notice about the interior is that the sport seats are very sporty and well-bolstered, but also very comfortable, which doesn’t always happen when automakers go for sporty. The second-row seat is also very comfortable for a 6-foot man. In our test vehicle, the seats were upholstered in $1,500 worth of optional red leather, along with the armrests and lower dash — honestly it looks as good as it feels. The red sets off the carbon fiber on the console and just generally makes the experience. 

Powertrain

BMW graced the XM with both its 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine and a plug-in hybrid electric motor mated to an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive. The package is good for 483 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, and the XM’s acceleration specs are 4.1 seconds to 60 mph and a top speed of 155 mph. 

Or you can spend $2,500 on the M Driver Package and the factory will relax the governor and let you claim a top speed of 168 mph. I say claim because let’s get real, the last guy to actually do that in my town (in an M3) wound up in jail waiting for his parents to bail him out and lost his driver’s license. 

One cool thing about the XM is that as a plug-in, you get 30 miles of range on the battery alone. Our real-world testing found that range to be real, and there’s plenty of performance in the electric motor. With a comparatively small battery, the XM recharges in about 3 hours on a 240-Volt Level 2 charger that is easily installed in your garage. 

Safety and Technology

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not specifically tested the XM, but the X5 on which it’s based got four stars on the agency’s five-star crash test rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the related X5 as a “Top Safety Pick,” just one step down from its top designation.

The XM is a luxury SUV, so it comes with pretty much every modern convenience and safety item as standard equipment, so you’ll get adaptive cruise, blind-spot assist, 360-degree camera, and BMW’s Active Driving Assist Professional, which combines lane keeping with adaptive cruise. You also get a very good 360-degree camera. 

The infotainment display is ultra-wide. The exact dimensions aren’t listed, and it doesn’t really matter. It’s big enough that the navigation is useful, and the surround camera system looks great.

The mobile device charging pad is under a panel on the console, and big enough to fit the latest large iPhone in its protective case. There’s also a super awesome Bowers & Wilkins audio option for $3,400, or you can make do with the Harman Kardon that comes as standard equipment. 

Driving Impressions

So the thing about the XM is that it does almost everything very well. It’s comfortable, it’s super fast, it’s tight and handles very nicely. It’s everything you would expect from a BMW M product. 

The complaint I have is the M Steptronic transmission. This is an amalgam of a traditional automatic, because it has a torque converter, and a dual clutch design that gives it fast shifting capability. Then the electric motor is integrated with the transmission, rather than living in the front or rear axles. 

I found it took a very delicate touch on the throttle to achieve a smooth takeoff. I felt like a kid with a learner’s permit trying to work the clutch on a 1970s Camaro. This has been an issue with BMW’s dual clutch transmissions from the beginning. I thought maybe it was just me, but consulting with other journalists who have driven the XM reveals that I’m not the only one to notice this. 

Apart from that, this SUV is all aces. If you love BMW’s take on performance with the M series, you’re going to love the XM. It’s got power, handling, tech, and plenty of space to haul stuff around. 

2023 BMW XM Specifications

Wrap Up

The XM is its own trim level, but you can wait a bit and upgrade to the Label Red and get even more power if you want it. BMW hasn’t announced the pricing on that one yet, but the standard XM starts at $159,000 before you add in the red leather, Bowers audio, and the driver package. 

Our test vehicle came to $167,395, which puts it in competition with the likes of the Aston Martin DBX, the Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes-AMG G63, and the Bentley Bentayga. If you’re shopping those models, the XM should absolutely be on your test drive list. 

2023 BMW XM ­— Frequently Asked Questions