There are few cars on the road today that announce themselves with the same unbridled confidence as the BMW XM.

• BMW’s first high-performance hybrid, combining a rumbling V8 petrol engine with an electric motor, this monster is not just a statement – it’s a manifesto on wheels.
• With its unapologetic design and mind-bending performance figures, it’s clear that the XM isn’t just for show – it’s here to make a statement.
• So, let’s get into it: what happens when BMW’s M division turns its gaze to a plug-in hybrid Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV)?
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The Sandton Times took the BMW XM for a week long test-drive. And there could be no better stretch to put this release to the test than a weekend getaway to The Palace of the Lost City at Sun City.

At first glance, the BMW XM grabs you by the collar and demands attention. The front is a dramatic piece of work: a set of aggressively split headlights sits above the infamous kidney grilles, which are surrounded by an eye-catching gold trim – well, depending on what colour combination and design you go for. BMW’s gone all-in on the bold front end, and it works.

There’s even a gold accent band running along the side, a subtle nod to the legendary M1 – BMW’s last true supercar. But subtle is relative in a car like this. The XM is large, imposing, and carries the weight of being BMW’s first M original since the ‘70s. It’s clear the designers had fun here.

Under the hood, the XM delivers a thumping 4.4-litre V8 with BMW’s M TwinPower Turbo technology. On its own, that engine is good for a mighty 489 horsepower. But this is a hybrid, remember? Add an electric motor into the mix, and suddenly, you’re looking at a total of 653 horsepower. That’s enough to make even the most jaded petrolhead’s heart skip a beat.

And here’s the kicker: it’s a plug-in hybrid. So, while it has enough grunt to outpace most supercars, it can also drive silently through the city streets using electric power alone. In full electric mode, the XM can cruise up to 55 miles (88 km) at speeds of 87 mph (140 km/h) – all without emitting a single puff of CO2. Let that sink in: a hulking SAV with the eco-credentials to match.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s gone soft. Far from it. This is an M car through and through. Floor the accelerator, and the V8 roars to life, accompanied by a soundtrack that will send shivers down your spine. With 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque, the XM rockets from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in a blistering 4.3 seconds. For something weighing in at over 2.7 tonnes, that’s supercar territory.

But power means nothing without control, and the XM delivers in spades. Thanks to BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the XM sticks to the road like a racing car, even when you’re putting down all that power. And if you feel like tackling something a little more rugged than tarmac, there’s even a 4WD Sand mode for desert romps.

The handling is bolstered by adaptive M suspension with active roll stabilisation, which does an excellent job of keeping the XM flat through corners. The ride? Supremely comfortable. BMW’s engineers have managed to strike the perfect balance between dynamic performance and the plush ride quality you’d expect from a luxury SAV.

Step inside the XM, and it’s clear this is no ordinary SUV. BMW calls it the M Lounge, and they’re not wrong. The cabin is awash in luxurious materials, from soft leather to intricate stitching. It’s more art installation than interior. The seats – oh, the seats – are thrones in their own right, with heating extending up the backrests and into the sides, ensuring every passenger rides in comfort, even if they’re just in the back. And there you even get a set of cushions to add to that lounge feeling.

The futuristic vibe continues with the 100 LED units embedded into the sculptural headliner, offering customisable ambient lighting. It’s all very dramatic, as befits the rest of the car. The BMW Curved Display dominates the dashboard, incorporating a 12.3-inch information display alongside a 14.9-inch control screen. And as you’d expect, everything is controlled via BMW’s intuitive iDrive 8 system, including the stellar Bowers & Wilkins sound system – because of course, you’ll want to soundtrack your every move.

On the road, the BMW XM is an experience in duality. In electric mode, it’s serene, almost eerily quiet, with only the synthetic hum of BMW IconicSounds Electric to remind you there’s even power being deployed. But switch to Sport or Sport Plus mode, and all that changes. The V8 bellows through the sports exhaust, the steering firms up, and the XM tightens its grip on the road, as if daring you to push harder.

The driving modes are incredibly versatile, offering everything from eco-friendly cruising to adrenaline-pumping excitement. And with a host of driver assistance systems, including lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control, and automatic navigation, the XM feels cutting-edge in every sense.

The BMW XM is, without doubt, one of the most memorable cars on the road we’ve driven this year. It’s part luxury cruiser, part eco-friendly hybrid, part roaring performance machine. It’s bold, brash, and utterly unapologetic – exactly what you’d expect from BMW’s M division.

Whether you’re cruising silently on electric power through the city or tearing up the tarmac with the full force of its hybrid drivetrain, the XM delivers an experience like no other.

The future just got a whole lot louder – and faster.

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