BMW entered the SUV game in 1999 with the X5 mid-sizer. Featuring the now-common monocoque construction, BMW positioned the X5 as a Sports Activity Vehicle or SAV. This was in contrast to Mercedes-Benz’ M-class, which was still a body-on-frame vehicle at the time. The X5 sold like the proverbial hotcakes and proved a crowd favorite in the United States. Naturally, BMW’s M Division got their hands involved, with the hot X5 M variant as the result. Up for grabs is this 2021 BMW X5 M from the fourth generation of the nameplate but a whole lot of performance. So if you want a family SUV that can do zero to sixty in under 4 seconds, here’s the ideal candidate.

Wearing a sinister matte black finish, this 2021 BMW X5 M certainly looks the part from the outside. The matte black mien is actually a wrap, and it gels well with the black gloss powder-coated wheels and blacked-out quad tailpipes. The tires are reportedly new, so you don’t need to worry about them for a while. Badging reveals this to be a Competition variant, which is the most hardcore X5 you can get from BMW themselves. Inside, there’s a luxurious five-seat cabin that’s got every creature comfort and tech toy you’d expect. Let’s start with the sublime Bowers & Wilkins speaker system that can bring you an experience as near the studio as possible. Then, there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via BMW’s iDrive system for you to tether your smartphone with. The driver receives a digital instrument cluster and an M multifunction steering wheel with red paddle shifters for gear selection. There’s multi-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, cruise control, and a surround-view camera system as well. All this, with plenty of space for a family’s worth of luggage in the trunk and fearsome performance just at your feet and fingertips.

As a Competition variant, the wick has been turned up further on the V8 that lies within this 2021 BMW X5 M. It’s a 4.4L unit with 617hp and 553lb-ft, sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. Zero to sixty is a 3.7-second affair, and while the top speed is capped at 155mph, one can expect to flirt with 200mph were the limiter to be removed. Don’t worry, though; monster ventilated brakes are on hand to rein in the beast. Just make sure you’re up to it; in the case of such a performance vehicle, you’ll reach your own personal limits way before the car reaches its.