BMW XM vs Jeep Gladiator

What's the difference?

BMW’s new XM is a tricky customer to pigeon-hole. Yes, it’s a huge, super-lux SUV and, yes, it’s all-wheel drive and features a station-wagon layout.

But it’s also a M-car and that infers super high performance. Weighing in one the wrong side of 2700kg, however, makes that a difficult task for any engineer.

This car also left us wondering if perhaps the glory days of M Division sports cars and coupes might behind it and SUVs like this one represent the road ahead.

But fear not: The CEO of M Division himself, assured us that the XM is a showcase for what an M badge can do, rather than a mission statement for the brand.

So, with that in mind, does this car have the wow factor that places it somewhere between peak oligarch and a motor-show concept car? Does it move the goal posts for big luxury SUVs? Does it even matter that it’s a plug-in hybrid?

If you believe there should be a ute version of everything, Jeep has long been there for you with a tray-backed Gladiator version of its iconic Wrangler off-roader.

But the Gladiator has hardly attracted the same love as its mainstream ute rivals, preferring a more lifestyle-oriented vibe, which it leans into extra hard for this 2026 update.

While it might look pretty much identical from the outside, Jeep has made some pretty significant changes underneath to make it a better overall offering, with a nice reduction in price, too.

So is it now worth your consideration? Read on to find out.