Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="741" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-min-1000x741.jpg" alt="BMW XM car Partridge of Hampshire Muddy Stilettos review" class="wp-image-33912" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-min-1000x741.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-min-800x593.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-min-768x569.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-min.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Desirable, practical and <em>very</em> fast, the new BMW XM is the first M-exclusive car since the iconic BMW M1, sold in the late 1970s and early 1980s. A check-me-out motor appealing to existing luxury SUV owners, (and perhaps those with Lamborghinis, Bentleys and Range Rovers in their garages too), at over 5.1m long it&#8217;s not only physically big but also has&nbsp;the most power and the largest price tag of any BMW SUV to date. </p>



<p>Put simply, the BMW XM is the new king of the SUV castle.</p>



<p>Loaned to Muddy by Hampshire-based independent BMW experts <a href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/partridge-of-hampshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Partridge of Hampshire</a>, representing BMW across the county, I was keen to see what you get in this hefty car with its hefty price tag. (Spoiler alert: a lot).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-drive">THE DRIVE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-Robyn-min.jpg" alt="Muddy Stilettos test drives the BMW XM car Partridge of Hampshire Muddy Stilettos review" class="wp-image-33909" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-Robyn-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-Robyn-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-Robyn-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-Robyn-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Initially, the BMW XM is surprisingly stealth-like. Creeping off the driveway, the electric silently glides us off. Driving on electric gives less punch than you get with the petrol engine. But it was actually perfect for cruising around the New Forest (where wild ponies and cows have the right of way across the roads). </p>



<p>The steering is really light and the suspension soaks up most bumps and cracks in the road. (And there’s a lot of potholes here in the New Forest).</p>



<p>Heading over the cattle grids and out onto the motorway, the BMW XM feels super punchy and gets up to speed quickly. When the 4.4-litre V8 engine kicks in we’re roaring along – all eyes on us! If you like a bit of grunt, the V8 sounds excellent when accelerating. But when you’re taking it easy, it settles down and becomes pretty refined. When we got the chance, my petrolhead 11-year-old son insisted I move over so my husband could put the pedal to the metal at the max speed (allowed). He wasn’t disappointed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-looks">THE LOOKS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1013" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-side-view-min.jpg" alt="BMW XM car Partridge of Hampshire Muddy Stilettos review" class="wp-image-33910" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-side-view-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-side-view-min-800x540.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-side-view-min-1000x675.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-side-view-min-768x519.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Oversized sunglasses at the ready – you’re getting some attention here. The XM looks expensive (it is), luxurious (it is) and powerful (it is). It’s the kind of car you’d expect to see a popstar or Premier League footballer behind the wheel of. I certainly felt like a highroller driving around.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-4-min.jpg" alt="BMW XM car Partridge of Hampshire Muddy Stilettos review interior" class="wp-image-33907" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-4-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-4-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-4-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-4-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Inside, the BMW XM has gadgets galore and the sort of luxe interior any diva would adore. The kids particularly loved the pink disco internal lighting!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1185" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-boot-min.jpg" alt="Boot space in BMW XM car Partridge of Hampshire Muddy Stilettos review" class="wp-image-33905" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-boot-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-boot-min-800x632.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-boot-min-1000x790.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-boot-min-768x607.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>There’s loads of head and legroom, making it great to ferry the kids around and loads of room in the boot, which was plenty big enough for my horse saddle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fuel-amp-power-consumption">FUEL &amp; POWER CONSUMPTION</h2>



<p>The hybrid system for the BMW XM includes a 25.7kWh battery pack that delivers up to 55 miles of electric-only driving. Charging on AC only, it takes a little under four and a half hours to fully charge. Having the 197hpn electric motor means you can cruise around town in this performance SUV silently and with very decent performance, making it practical for short journeys (although parking in town can be a bit of a squeeze). &nbsp;</p>



<p>It’s also punchy enough on electric for getting away from the lights and out of junctions, and you can do up to 50 miles on a full charge.</p>



<p>With a stonking V8 engine under the bonnet, you might expect poor fuel economy from a car weighing 2,700kg. But with the electric motor assisting, BMW says the XM can return up to 188.3 mpg. If you have a place to charge up the battery pack regularly you may see that figure, but for the most part, you’ll be seeing much lower numbers – especially if you take full advantage of the V8.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cool-stuff">COOL STUFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-3-min.jpg" alt="inside view dashboard BMW XM car Partridge of Hampshire Muddy Stilettos review" class="wp-image-33906" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-3-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-3-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-3-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-interior-3-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The BMW XM is tidy, modern and has a sweeping screen holding both the driver’s display and infotainment touchscreen. Already far more technical than me aged just 11 (other parents nod) my son quickly had it in the bag. Within minutes, he’d connected his phone (not mine) and it was blaring out Eminem – or something that sounded a lot like it.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-parking-sensors-min.jpg" alt="Driver assist parking cameras BMW XM car Partridge of Hampshire Muddy Stilettos review" class="wp-image-33908" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-parking-sensors-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-parking-sensors-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-parking-sensors-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/05/BMW-XM-parking-sensors-min-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>While BMW’s iDrive 8 system is one of the smoothest around, I found it was a little complex to use at times. Some functions normally found on the steering wheel &nbsp;were buried in menus on the touchscreen. A little frustrating – but likely something that would quickly become second nature.</p>



<p>By far the coolest feature for me was the function to have a back massage while you drive! (Front passengers can too). And did I mention the panoramic moonroof? And heated and cooled cup holders? Yep, the BMW XM has ALL the bells and whistles – and then some.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-price-tag">THE PRICE TAG</h2>



<p>The XM is the most expensive BMW model money can buy with RRP range from £110,730 up to £174,330.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="BMW XM" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-KSAktANcqA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p>If you’ve got it, flaunt it, baby! The fact that it’s enormous clearly won’t appeal to all (I didn&#8217;t totally relish the limelight on my local high street). Otherwise, it’s hard not to love the BMW XM.</p>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> The high-performance SUV drivers amongst us. The BMW XM makes urban driving and long journeys comfortable and cool.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> Prospective BMW XM drivers will need pretty deep pockets. If you’re budget is a little more modest – or you don’t fancy driving a hefty hybrid that WILL turn heads, this won’t be the car for you.</p>



<p><strong>Fancy a test drive? </strong>Contact <a href="https://www.partridgebmw.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Partridge of Hampshire</a>, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh SO53 3YU. Tel. 023 9427 4974.</p>


Review: The BMW XM

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