- BMW will sell just one trim level of its XM plug-in hybrid SUV in 2026
- It’s still “the most powerful road vehicle ever produced by BMW M”
The BMW XM is just weird. Fantastic, in its way. But weird. For 2026, it will get a little easier to understand. The automaker will trim the XM lineup from two trim levels to just one.
BMW’s M performance division calls it the most powerful car they’ve ever built. But it’s not the sleek exotic car you’d expect M to use as its halo car. It’s a hulking 5-seat SUV.
When BMW released the XM for the 2024 model year, it called its most powerful edition the XM Label Red and said it expected to produce a new Label edition every year. It never did.
Last year, they even dropped “red” from the name, selling the top-of-the-line model as the “XM Label” without further explanation.
For 2026, the Label will be the only version on offer. Yes, it’s still called XM Label.
Still 738 hp, New Colors Inside
- The 2026 XM will charge faster than the 2025 model
- Buyers can now choose from three interior color themes
Power remains the same and remains extraordinary – 738 horsepower from the combination of a turbocharged V8 and an electric motor built directly into the 8-speed automatic transmission.
A plug-in hybrid (PHEV), it can travel up to 31 miles on electric power before using any gas. Or, using gas and electric power together, it can leap to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds.
For 2026, BMW has increased its charging rate. The 2025 models could accept 7.4 kW of AC power. The 2026 versions can accept 11 kW. BMW hasn’t said how long it takes to fully charge with the new specs. Like most PHEVs, it can’t use DC fast chargers.
Other changes include three new interior color schemes. Buyers can now choose from “BMW Individual Night Blue Full Merino Leather with Vintage Coffee accents, BMW Individual Black Full Merino Leather with Vintage Coffee accents, and BMW Individual Silverstone Extended Merino leather with Black accents.”
They’ll also get the option of 23-inch alloy wheels in a new Jet Black finish.
A persistent industry rumor says there will not be a second generation of the XM. These updates mean another year of production run is likely after 2026, but we’d be surprised to see a 2028 XM appear.