Given the vast exterior dimensions and a weighbridge ticket the wrong side of 2700kg, it may come as a surprise to learn that the XM is strictly a five-seater with not even an optional third row.
That said, the uber-SUV Lexus LX in flagship, Ultra Luxury, trim offers just four seats in deference to the VIP clientele it’s pitched at, but also comes complete with reclining rear seats and a passenger’s side footrest which the XM can’t match.
Staying in the rear seat, there’s lots of legroom and plenty of space under the front chairs for feet. A lot of that is down to the wheelbase the XM shares with the BMW X7, and even behind a tall driver, there’s lots of space. In fact, compared with a BMW X5, there’s a full 150mm of extra legroom.
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2023 BMW XM I Interior
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2023 BMW XM I Interior
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2023 BMW XM I Interior
The pew itself flows into the door trims for a lounge effect which looks great with the contrasting light-coloured trim, and the centre arm-rest folds down to reveal a pair of cupholders. Extra storage space can be found in fold-out pockets in the rear of each front seat which also house a small, lidded panel that opens to reveal USB ports and power sockets. Dual-zone climate controls are also part of the rear-seat experience.
The gee-whizz stuff hasn’t been ignored, either, and the prismatic roof lining is nothing if not a talking point. But would a panoramic sunroof have been of more value to many buyers? The ambient lighting is a nice touch, too.
Up front, the view is dominated by the giant, twin curved animated dashboards. They deliver information and lots of it, to the point where it can almost seem a bit overwhelming.
The head-up display helps simplify things, but there’s absolutely no doubt there’s a lot going on in this cabin. Again, this is modern luxury motoring, but it remains that the menu system will take time to learn, even if the touchscreen function gives you an option on how you control things.
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2023 BMW XM I Boots
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2023 BMW XM I Boots
Multi-adjustable front seats are part of the deal and there’s an M-spec steering wheel which is heated. And although it features plenty of buttons, isn’t as daunting perhaps as the multi-spoked equivalent in some high-end AMGs of late.
The stereo system is also worthy of a mention, being a Bowers & Wilkins unit with roof mounted speakers and no less than 1500 watts of power. Digital radio is part of the package.
Even though it doesn’t offer a seven-seat option, luggage space in the rear of the XM is hardly class-leading. Cargo volume with rear seat up is 527L and 1820L with it folded.
Much of the wheelbase is devoted to rear-seat stretching room and although the batteries for the electric motor are positioned under the rear seat, the floor of the cargo area seems quite high.