BMW has unveiled its most powerful production vehicle ever in the form of the all-new 2024 XM SUV. This plug-in hybrid performance behemoth packs a mighty punch with up to 738 horsepower in the range-topping Label Red trim. Even the "base" XM makes a stout 644 hp from its twin-turbo V8 engine and electric motor combo.
Starting at $159,995, the XM doesn't come cheap. But for that hefty sum, you get blistering straight-line performance along with a richly appointed cabin befitting a BMW flagship. The automaker says the regular XM can hit 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, though our testing showed an even quicker 3.4-second sprint time. The 738-hp Label Red model is claimed to need only 3.7 ticks to reach 60.
On the road, the XM deftly blends power and poise. The plug-in powertrain delivers explosive acceleration from a stop, with the electric motor providing an extra shove before the twin-turbo V8 takes over. Handling is surprisingly sharp for such a large and heavy vehicle, though the ride can get busy over rough surfaces without an available air suspension.
Where the XM excels is in the cabin, with standard niceties like a curved digital instrument/infotainment display, leather upholstery, and massive 23-inch wheels. The five-passenger interior is impeccably constructed from high-grade materials and there's decent cargo room too. More lavish options include vintage-look brightwork trim and an illuminated headliner.
On the downside, the XM suffers from some pretty heinous fuel economy ratings even for a plug-in hybrid - just 12 mpg city and 17 highway by the EPA's testing. We managed a more respectable 20 mpg at a 75 mph cruise, or up to 49 MPGe when factoring in electric driving.
The XM's other main demerits are its controversial and excessively busy front-end styling, and the lack of a more spacious third-row option for such a large SUV. But if you can look past those issues (or perhaps embrace the love-it-or-hate-it looks), the XM is a wildly powerful status symbol that coddles occupants in leather-lined lap of luxury.
This mega-BMW certainly won't be for everyone given its stratospheric pricing and polarizing presence. But for those seeking the ultimate fusion of electrified muscle and premium accommodations in an SUV package, the 2024 XM delivers it all in one brash, excessive package. Let's just hope its eye-watering costs don't preclude too many buyers from experiencing this uniquely BMWflavored take on the super-SUV formula.
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