By Sala Masindane

When the news broke of the latest pure M car since the rare BMW M1, the internet was at a standstill. Not only because we haven’t had one in almost 50 years, but also because it was going to be a plug-in hybrid. Fast forward to recently, the XM was in our garage, and we spent some time with the behemoth.

Polarizing Looks

At the front, the illuminated large grille is flanked by split, slim headlights with other noteworthy exterior features being a flat, near seamlessly fitted rear window with BMW logos engraved into it, reminiscent of the M1, and large 23-inch wheels. Its sinister and bold exterior design exudes a supreme presence that had all the masses turning their heads wherever we travelled.

Does the interior match up with the 7-series?

Inside, the cabin is posh and premium along with great tech. The ambient lighting flows well into the dash, doors and the roof. The cabin also includes a luxurious M lounge featuring a 14.9-inch curved display, a prism structured headliner, a photo mount-style border, and 100 LED units for illumination. The XM may be a performance SUV, but the rear bench feels more like the one in the i7 in terms of comfort and there’s also great legroom. The XM has a boot capacity of 527-litres, which seems small for a vehicle of its size, but this is due to it hybrid drivetrain.

Does it perform like an M?

Under the hood of the XM is a 4.4-litre turbopetrol V8 that has outputs of 360kW/650Nm. It is complemented by a 29.5kWh battery pack and an electric motor that adds 145kW/280Nm to deliver a combined output of 480kW and 800Nm. The power generated by the drive duo is channeled to the road via BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. BMW claims the XM sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.

The acceleration of the XM is reminiscent of its M4 sibling but is more remarkable as it weighs 2.7 tonnes. That is partly thanks to the 29.5kWh lithium-ion battery and electric motor. Once the 4.4-litre turbopetrol V8 kicks in, a great soundtrack can be heard from the stacked exhaust. The ride quality is not as luxurious as you’d expect, it is smooth on the highway but does get unpleasant on bumpy roads.

Final Word

The XM is one those that anyone with a spare R3,400,000 need to have in their garage. The looks are daring, the interior is great, and performance is amazing. There’s certainly case for it, should you be in the market for such.