Driving through the American West in techno excess with the BMW XM

I speed down Interstate 10 from Arizona to California in the BMW XM, the German automaker’s latest luxury SUV. A dagger of extravagance, it’s all about the black-on-black SUV more. But it’s more than just a vehicle you stand next to while posing for photos on social media; it’s a bold statement from BMW that it can combine luxury with the latest technology.

The ride

With a starting price of $160,000, the BMW XM is actually quite a bargain when you consider its closest competitor, the Lamborghini Urus. I’ve driven both long distances, and the XM performs on a long road trip while saving the person behind the wheel about $75,000 – that’s less than the price of the 2023 BMW i4 M50. So you get your showoff car and , well, another showoff car that is an electric vehicle.

The XM is a plug-in hybrid, so you can drive electrically for most of your time behind the wheel. It has an electric range of about 30 miles, so trips to Whole Foods and back can be much cleaner than what the Urus offers, since it’s a gas-only proposition. But driving across the country, I burned through the range within the first 30 minutes. In terms of efficiency, plug-in hybrids lose most of their appeal during a long car ride. I could have tried to find a Level 2 charger along the way, but that would have been a waste of my time and I would have been the jerk stopping someone with an electric car from charging.

The XM does add more power to the battery during the drive, but that feature is there so that when you hit the accelerator, the electric motor obliges as the petrol engine catches up, like an eager puppy chasing a big, powerful Great Dane.

Behind the wheel of the XM, I get it – I understand the desire to be seen. The car is fast and nimble for its size, and when I realize it looks like the Batmobile and I change the wake word for the built-in AI assistant to “Batman,” I’m equal parts happy and smug. Its hybrid-fused M-power pushes 644 hp (480 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque to the tarmac.

Long highway trips can be boring, and in a performance vehicle they can be downright exhausting. The XM solves most of that. Even hours in a straight line, you can feel the work that the German carmaker’s engineers have put into making the chassis taut. Changing lanes feels a bit more fun, but overtaking gives you the kick.

In terms of comfort, the sports seats offer a much better long-term driving experience than what I’ve found in some other luxury vehicles. The side and back support is especially welcome. Your sense of seating comfort may vary, but a seat that keeps you exactly where you should be while reducing slumping is key to a successful road trip.

It also helps that the front seats are heated and ventilated and have a massage function. Who doesn’t love a massage at 75 miles per hour?

One problem with long drives (especially after an early morning flight) is fatigue. Hours behind the wheel can lead to a terrifying phenomenon known as “highway hypnosis.” Essentially, the drone of the road and the never-ending line of white road markings can mesmerize a driver. Add in some drowsiness and you’re a danger to yourself and everyone else on the road.

At one point during my trip I became quite tired.

The rear of the XM takes on the powerful luxury of the driver’s seats and rounds off the edges. It’s comfortable, and the weird polygon ceiling provided a relaxing piece of design that lulls me to sleep as I curl up with the little pillows that come with the vehicle. The battery pack had a few miles of charge, so I didn’t feel guilty about letting the XM’s rear climate control work while I slept.

So yes, the backseat is comfortable and certified for naps.