BMW XM: How does the M car goliath mask its mass on the road?

At 2.8 tonnes and 5.1 metres long, BMW’s gargantuan XM SUV isn’t a typical M division offering. But, with a prodigious powertrain and standard Yokohama tyres, can it still deliver a thrilling drive?

Despite sporting one of the most storied lineages of any in-house performance division, until recently, BMW’s M team had only ever made one bespoke model: the 1978 M1 supercar. So it came as a shock when the grand sequel wasn’t some limited-run, purist-focused track weapon, but rather a hybrid SUV that’s larger than a fully-fledged Range Rover. 

What was the method behind their madness, then? Well, much like BMW’s latest M5, the XM throws out the rulebook and proves that you really can have your cake and eat it. Sure, it’s vast — and quite practical, as a result — but there is real BMW M DNA running through those enlarged veins. 

Starting with the engine lineup, which has been condensed for the 2025 facelift, the XM offers truly blistering acceleration — as well as unexpectedly strong fuel economy. Those looking for the best blend of power and performance will likely opt for the entry-level XM 50e, which sports a 468-bhp hybridised inline 6 capable of 0-60 mph in just 5.1 seconds and a WLTP mpg of between 176 and 201.8. Granted, the latter figures do take a significant dip when the battery is discharged, but real-world fuel economy is still drastically stronger than you’d expect of a near-three-tonne SUV.

Things get even more remarkable when you ascend to the top-rung variant: the XM Label. Now pairing that hybrid system with a turbocharged V8 engine, the flagship XM pumps out a staggering 738 bhp and just as much torque. The net result? Allowing for a 1-foot rollout, the Label shoots to 60 mph in a mind-blowing 3.5 seconds and on to a limited 155-mph top speed. 

However, this isn’t the first performance SUV to prove that massive horsepower means rapid acceleration. No, what sets the XM apart from many similar machines is its ability to hide that mass in the turns. So how does it manage to defy the laws of physics? By utilising an array of clever tech. First up, there’s adaptive M suspension and active roll stabilisation to keep the body flat and level when you’re pushing on. Then, a combination of rear-wheel steering and a specially tuned BMW xDrive all-wheel drive system, enhance agility and help to slingshot this performance palace on wheels out of tighter turns. There’s even an M Sport differential which shuffles that mighty torque between the wheels to mitigate understeer on corner entry. 

That’s certainly a formidable package of performance-enhancing gear, but without the right tyre width, compound, and tread pattern, none of it would perform at its best. Which brings us to the reason why BMW decided to use Yokohama Advan Sport V107e tyres for this highly challenging application: they’ve mastered versatile performance.

As an OE-approved fitment for BMW, V107e’s bespoke tread pattern has been designed to blend dynamic handling and refined comfort — two of XM’s strongest assets. Moreover, the Ultra Micro Silica compound offers limpet-like grip on both dry and wet roads and has no trouble deploying all 738 horses at the XM Label’s disposal. Handily, though, such precision and traction doesn’t come at the expense of refinement or the XM’s impressive efficiency — V107e’s reduced rolling resistance ekes out every last inch from the XM 50e’s 52-mile battery. 

Ultimately, then, though the XM’s loud styling and sprawling footprint might not be to some M fanatic’s tastes, it really does seem to combine the best of all worlds when it comes to performance, efficiency, and comfort. But what do you think? Has BMW’s second-ever bespoke M car reinvented the magic formula, or gone a little too far off-piste?

Hero image credit:  Damian B Oh