A Luxury SUV That’s Wild In Every Way

We are no strangers to seeing juiced-up BMW SUVs; models like the BMW X5 M, BMW iX M60, and BMW X4 M are among BMW’s fiercest performance SUVs with horsepower outputs on par with supercars. However, BMW has a not-so-secret weapon in its arsenal, an SUV that stands alone for unbelievable power and unique design.

This BMW SUV line is a creation of its own. Its output is over 700 horses; it is kitted out with track-worthy performance features, and it is an instant head-turner on any road. This new BMW performance SUV is wild for every good reason. We are, of course, talking about the 2026 BMW XM.

The 2026 BMW XM Label Boasts An Outrageously Powerful Engine

The Most Powerful BMW Ever: Over 700 Horsepower From A Single Engine Option

At the heart of what makes the latest iteration of the BMW XM an insane ride is its powertrain. Under the hood is a plug-in hybrid 4.4-liter M TwinPower S68 V8 mated to a 25.7-kWh battery and one high-performance motor integrated into the transmission. Unlike previous model years of the XM, this is the sole offering for the U.S. market; previous years were available with slightly lower outputs. This year, BMW is telling us to go hard or go home.

A rest-to-60 time of under four seconds may sound like a very achievable feat in the modern market; we have seen seemingly unsporty models crack it, but it is worth bearing in mind that the BMW XM is a gargantuan, posh, and heavy luxury SUV. It tips the scales at 6,094 pounds and measures in at 201 inches in length by 88 inches in width.

The 2026 BMW XM is built around BMW’s familiar 4.4-liter bi-turbo S68 V8, but this being the most powerful BMW SUV ever, things are a little different. The mill is designed with a cross-bank exhaust layout that tucks the turbos into the V, shortening airflow paths. BMW pairs that with Double-VANOS cam timing, Valvetronic variable lift, and high-pressure direct injections, all wrapped in a reinforced aluminum block.

What makes the BMW XM’s engine a real standout, though, is the hybrid system and how it is packed. A single synchronous eDrive motor is built straight into the eight-speed M Steptronic auto transmission, not just hung off the side as we see elsewhere. The motor sits ahead of the gearsets and works directly with the input shaft, allowing it to work the wheels in EV mode and blend torque with the V8 smoothly without a separate power split device.

The lithium-ion battery used can be charged up to 11 kW AC, which is just one of the upgrades the XM has received this year, and provides instant torque. BMW says that, alone, the S68 V8 can kick out 557 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, while the motor rig brings another 194 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque to the party. The BMW XM is now the most powerful BMW ever created; if that’s not wild, considering what is available, we don’t know what is.

It Is A Supercar Wrapped In An SUV’s Body

The BMW XM Is More Than Just Fast In A Straight Line

3.6 seconds to 60 mph is good going for something of the 2026 BMW XM’s grandiose nature, but that is not where it ends for performance guts, not by a long shot; the BMW XM is the definition of track DNA for the road. Even if its proportions don’t show it, underneath the body lies genuine M-Division artistry.

The XM rides on an M-specific chassis with adaptive suspension, electronically controlled dampers, and active roll stabilization, which actively counters body roll in the corners instead of relying on passive anti-roll bars; Integral Active Steering adds rear-wheel steering for tight cornering, and massive M compound brakes handle stopping power.

The M xDrive all-wheel drive system actively manages torque distribution front to rear, working with an electronically controlled M Sport rear differential, so you get traction from standstill and on looser roads at speed. Performance tires wrap around reinforced 23-inch by 10-inch front wheels and 23-inch by 11-inch rear wheels, and are staggered in size (275/35 at the front and 315/30 at the rear), so you get immense traction when accelerating and a stable ride in the corners.

The bodywork also plays a big role here; the BMW XM is made to be driven as if you stole it, and thanks to front air curtains, an adjustable rear spoiler, lightweight aluminum panels, and a low-mounted hybrid battery, balance is kept in check, making this beast of an SUV designed to feel agile. Large vents channel air to the brakes, engine, and battery, and the chiseled exterior design helps to cut through the air.

The 2026 BMW XM Label’s Polarizing Exterior Design…

But We Are Talking About It

There is no disguising the fact that the BMW XM is not the most popular BMW model to ever roll out, and alongside a plethora of other gripes people have about it, its exterior design is among the most debated. We can look at this in two ways. The first way is that it is a bit of a gaudy, in-your-face look that only a mother could love; the second way is that it was built to stand out in a very crowded luxury SUV market and be a standalone model for BMW. Either way you look at it, it does stand out.

It is very easy to moan about the look of the BMW XM; the massive kidney grilles, sharp creases, and aggressive front fascia aren’t exactly subtle. The huge proportions, thick roofline, clashing slim lines, the almost clunky look from certain perspectives, and the overly busy design are not to everyone’s liking either.

Whether you love or hate the look of the 2026 BMW XM, though, everything has a purpose. The massive kidney grilles aren’t just for show; they guide airflow to cool everything that is getting you to 60 in under four seconds. The beefy fenders, pronounced haunches, hood channels, and sharp creases along the body help the gargantuan XM slice through the air; the slim, angular headlights and integrated trim aren’t just aesthetic, they help with airflow and weight distribution, and even the massive proportions serve more of a purpose than just making it stand out on the road.

The tall roofline and wide stance create an exceptionally spacious interior while also showing the market that, yes, it doesn’t matter how big it is, it can still perform and offer a classy ride at the same time. At the end of the day, the BMW XM was designed as a standalone performance SUV that would turn heads from a distance, and whichever camp you are in concerning its looks, from a design point of view, there is no denying that it hits home that an XM is roaring up the street.

The XM Label Offers Oodles Of Athletic Class Inside

High-End Comfort And Classy Materials Everywhere

If there is one thing we think that most would agree on, though, it is how BMW M has designed the interior of the new XM. It is plush with a capital P. The cabin is wrapped in BMW Individual Merino Leather, in options like Night Blue with Vintage Coffee or Silverstone with Black, covering seats, doors, and almost everything you can touch inside. The rear seats aren’t an afterthought either, and they are fully cushioned and color-matched to the leather.

It isn’t just leather that BMW has been generous with; Alcántara headliners, carbon fiber, metal trim, and ambient lighting all give the cabin a cozy yet sporty feel. For techy drivers, the XM boasts a Live Cockpit Professional rig running iDrive 8 and includes a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 14.9-inch central touchscreen, a HUD, wireless charging, and you can choose to add a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system as well. In the back, rear-seat passengers also get touchscreens, if you opt for them.

Up front sit multi-way power-adjustable seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions; a heated steering wheel is standard fare, and the rear seats are also available with heated backrests and ventilation. We think that the BMW XM has one of the best luxury SUV interiors on the market today. This sentiment doesn’t just stretch to what you get inside, but also how much room you get.

2026 BMW XM Interior Dimensions (Front/Rear)

The 2026 BMW XM also boasts 40/20/40 split rear seats, and while they don’t fold totally flat, they do recline somewhat to provide a very relaxing place to be for rear-seat sitters. Plus, the trunk has a high load height, so in some ways, it can be seen as quite a versatile full-sized luxury SUV, despite having a far smaller cargo capacity than some of the full-sized market stalwarts.

The 2026 BMW XM Label Stands Alone In The BMW SUV Lineup

The $160,000 Price Tag Confirms That

The 2026 BMW XM is a very polarizing luxury performance SUV; it is fast and comfortable, but the exterior is not to everyone’s liking; it has genuine M-Sport performance goodies, but it won’t be too much use on anything looser than gravel or a bit of sand. Above everything, though, it is exceptionally expensive. The 2026 BMW XM MSRP is $160,000 before any optional extras that we have mentioned. At the factory-built level, this makes it the most expensive BMW on sale today. But is it worth the huge price tag?

We could argue that being the most powerful BMW ever created could warrant such a high price tag, and it is set up to be driven wildly, but despite everything that it has going for it, it has not been successful. When we say that this year’s BMW XM is a standalone, that isn’t an exaggeration. The BMW XM debuted back in 2023 as a single model boasting a 644-horsepower 4.4-liter V8. Between 2024 and 2025, the BMW XM was also available as the XM Label Red, to complement the base trim, but this year, it is only available as the 2026 BMW XM Label. The reason for this is low sales in previous years, and BMW saying they want to refine the XM into a single model.

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Bespoke Performance That Happens To Haul Families

The BMW XM is not based on other SUVs like the X3 M or X4 M; it is a bona fide model of its own, built from the ground up as a bespoke model. That made it the first M model to be bespoke-built, not based on something else, since the BMW M1. Despite this, though, its main competition, like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and Audi RS Q8, are both more popular and higher-regarded as super SUVs.

The BMW XM has it all on paper, but misses the mark for many performance gurus, though, that doesn’t need to matter. It is not the most revered BMW model, but we do still think it is wild for all the right reasons. Nothing else looks like it; it is a unique build for the Bavarian powerhouse, it is the most powerful road-going BMW in existence, it oozes supercar swagger (especially with its price), it is luscious inside, it is fast for its weight category, and it has track-worthy DNA in one very distinct package. If that doesn’t say super SUV, we don’t know what does.

Sources: BMW