How a car looks has no tangible impact on how it drives or performs, but BMW found out the hard way that styling really matters to buyers, especially when they’re being asked to pay deep six-figure prices for a vehicle. The automaker has had an exceptionally hard time selling its XM SUV over the last year or so, leading it to offer some truly impressive discounts.
The BMW’s polarizing design and steep price tag have made it a rarity on dealers’ lots, but those that have inventory are offering up to $22,500 off the 2024 XM. Incentives include up to $17,500 off for leases and up to $15,000 for cash or finance buyers. Another $5,000 off is available through a conquest and loyalty incentive.
Impressive, right? Yes, but those discounts become less attractive when you consider the XM’s almost $160,000 starting price. Also, as Motor1 pointed out, Cars.com currently shows fewer than 50 XMs on sale nationwide, so buyers will be on the hook for shipping or a road trip to get the vehicle home.
Even with its, um, funky styling and premium price, the XM may be an attractive purchase for some people. Its plug-in hybrid powertrain offers 644 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, good for a 4.1-second 0-60 mph time. It’s also comfortable and spacious inside, and BMW’s infotainment software isn’t the most offensive in the business. That said, the SUV’s boxy, overdone front-end design and weird color schemes in some configurations are hard to ignore.
[Images: BMW]
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