BMW XM Drive: 480 kW, a V8 and a Rainy Afternoon We Won’t Forget

BMW XM review — 480 kW, a V8 and a rainy afternoon we won't forget The most powerful SUV we've driven. A 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor built into the gearbox, 480 kW and 800 Nm, 0–100 km/h in 4.3 seconds — and a wet Durban rooftop and rain-soaked roads to try it on. This is the full POV walkaround and drive of BMW M's standalone plug-in hybrid SUV. What's in the video: the illuminated grille and stacked exhausts, the cabin and M controls, the boot and its charging bag, then the drive — speed humps, grip in the wet, the V8 sound, the highway in the rain, lane assist on drenched roads, and the verdict. BMW XM (South Africa): 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid, 480 kW / 800 Nm, 8-speed M Steptronic, M xDrive 0–100 km/h in 4.3 s (claimed) · 25.7 kWh battery · up to 88 km electric range (WLTP, claimed) 527–1 820 L luggage · 5 110 mm long R3 400 000 (July 2025 list). The 480 kW XM has since been discontinued in South Africa; the 550 kW XM Label is the only derivative sold new. Our score: 8.6/10. Full written review, scores and specs: https://sportutilityvehicles.co.za/st... Chapters 0:00 BMW XM: 480 kW, 800 Nm, R3.4 million 1:19 Cockpit: M wheel, paddles and displays 2:39 Walkaround: over 5 m of edges 3:06 Rear: lights and stacked exhausts 3:41 22-inch wheels 4:02 Front: illuminated grille and lights 4:30 Rear seats and cabin 5:56 Boot and the charging bag 6:40 Those wide tyres 7:05 Pulling away over speed humps 8:06 Grip in the wet 9:05 The V8 sound 9:40 Onto the highway in the rain 10:11 Lane assist on drenched roads 10:46 Carbon-fibre paddles 14:48 Ride on low-profile 22s 20:44 Verdict More SUV reviews, comparisons and buyer's guides: https://sportutilityvehicles.co.za Subscribe for the next POV review. #BMW #BMWXM #BMWM #V8 #SUVReview #SouthAfrica #POVDrive