1. Introduction / Styling & Appearance
2. Driving Experience
3. Interior and Features / Space and Practicality
4. Competition and Conclusion

Interior and features 

A PHEV, what more a high-performance one, adds to the cost of the car but the XM also justifies its higher price tag inside too.

The iX and predecessors pioneered the concept of BMW interiors as lounges, so the XM continues that idea with what BMW calls, wait for it, the M Lounge. Wisecracks aside, it does have a unique interior ambience. If the iX’s inside is an eco-living space, then the XM’s interior is like an upscale motoring clubhouse on wheels.

It has the same attention to detail, generous space and headroom, alcantara and leather everywhere –  but M-ified with sport seats, red perforated leather, extensive carbon trim. There’s a new feature in the ceiling  too, a textured headliner in Alcantara which is lit by 100 LEDs for dynamic lighting effects when you switch drive mode, or enter the car.

The base infotainment technology features are what we’ve seen in the iX and 7 Series, namely BMW’s OS 8 with the Widescreen interior comprising of the 12.3-inch driver’s display, and 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display, supplemented by an iDrive controller, and extensive voice control (Intelligent Personal Assistant).

At the XM’s price level, we expect there to be extensive differences in the interior choices and execution (and price), so it doesn’t do the car justice to delve too deeply into this without seeing what choices customers will have when the car lands in Singapore. 

Space and practicality 

The XM is probably the most spacious coupe-SUV around. BMW M didn’t go hog-wild with the plunging roofline, so headroom is quite generous, even with the textured headliner that takes up the space of a panoramic sunroof. 

With a wheelbase in excess of three metres, legroom is tremendous. The leather wrap-around concept of the rear seats would mean less space in a lesser SUV, but the XM will ably swallow two adults in that space with lots of room to spare, with even three people being more than bearable.

Amenities are similar to the iX, there’s four-zone climate control, USB-C ports, space for tablet holders in the rear seat backs. Boot space isn’t distinguished at ‘only’ 527-litres, expandable to 1,820-litres. That’s about similar to an X5, but less than the X7’s capacious 327-to 2,120-litres. The boot is also where you will find what we thought was bespoke luggage, but turned out to be the World’s Fanciest Charge Cable Bag, complete with a tether to keep it in place despite G-forces. Very M, and a nice touch. 

1. Introduction / Styling & Appearance
2. Driving Experience
3. Interior and Features / Space and Practicality
4. Competition and Conclusion

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