XSTO M4 Powerchair Review

XSTO M4 Powerchair Review: Height Adjustable, Self-Balancing and Surprisingly Practical

Disclosure: The XSTO M4 was loaned to me for the purposes of review. This post is based on my own experience using it over several months, including at my wedding, on holiday, around towns and at events. I also have a commission discount code, which means you can get 10% off with code Jenni10 when shopping here , and I may earn commission if you choose to use it.

I’ve been using the XSTO M4 powerchair since around March, and I’ll be honest, when I first started using it I wasn’t completely sure about it. It felt slower than I expected, and I was getting really frustrated with the constant beeping on any kind of inclines. Then one of my followers asked if I had put it into Sport Mode. I had not. Once I changed that setting, my experience of the chair changed completely.

So, after several months of using it properly, here is my full XSTO M4 review, including what I love, what I’d want people to know before buying one, how it transports, how it handles different terrain, and who I think it is best suited to.

Quick verdict

The XSTO M4 is a clever, comfortable and genuinely useful powerchair with some standout features, especially the height-adjustable seat, self-balancing technology and compact folding.

It is not a lightweight chair, and I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who needs to lift a powerchair in and out of a car independently. But if you use a WAV, have someone who can help load it, or have a vehicle where it can go in as one piece, I think it offers a lot for the price. It has become one of the chairs I reach for when I want something stable, comfortable and practical for a full day out. I also chose to use it at my wedding, which probably says a lot.

Key specs at a glance

These details are from the XSTO UK listing for the M4. Please double-check specifications before purchasing, especially if you are looking at different configurations, backrest options or newer models.

Feature	XSTO M4 details
Current price	£3,744 with the higher support backrest
Maximum load capacity	115kg, 254lbs
Top speed	6km/h, 3.7mph
Range	15km, 9.3 miles
Maximum slope	10 degrees
Weight, without battery	51.5kg, 114lbs
Battery	25.55V 15.5Ah
Charge time	4 hours
Obstacle height	50mm
Ditch crossing	100mm
Lifting range	347mm to 650mm
Seat height range	347mm to 650mm, 13.7 inches to 25.6 inches
Turning radius	820mm, 32.3 inches
Folded size	1040 x 580 x 570mm
Unfolded size	1035 x 580 x 930mm
Highest position	980 x 580 x 1080mm
Front wheels	Omnidirectional
Rear wheels	10-inch solid tyres
Controls	Joystick, Bluetooth and app control
Water resistance	IPX4 water resistant
Armrests	Adjustable up and down
Handle	Interchangeable left and right
Legrest	Manual folding
Footrest	Fixed
Balance type	Front and rear self-balancing

First impressions, and why I changed my mind

My first impressions of the XSTO M4 were mixed. There were lots of features I liked straight away. It felt stable, it turned beautifully, it handled different terrain better than I expected and the height adjustment was instantly useful. But I also found it frustrating. On inclines, it would beep and slow itself down, and once it started beeping it sometimes felt like it just did not want to stop. Compared to other powerchairs I’ve used, it also felt slower than I wanted it to. Then a follower told me to try Sport Mode. That made a huge difference.

I now use Sport Mode pretty much all the time. For me, it solved the speed issue and stopped the beeping from happening. You may not need Sport Mode all the time, especially indoors, but it is definitely a setting worth knowing about. My biggest advice is to actually read the manual and spend time exploring the different settings. I know that sounds obvious, but with this chair, the settings can genuinely change the experience.

The height-adjustable seat

The height-adjustable seat is one of my favourite features of the XSTO M4.

At the touch of a button, the seat can rise and lower from 347mm to 650mm. That is useful in far more situations than people might realise.

It has helped me with:

• Sitting at different height tables in restaurants.
• Getting closer to eye level with people when we’re talking.
• Transfers at different heights.
• Reaching things more easily.
• Feeling less physically low down in social spaces.
• Folding the chair flatter for transport.

I don’t get as tall as my husband Ian, who is 5’11, but I get close to being a similar height to my support workers who are 5’4-5’6. It is one of those features that sounds like a luxury until you use it in real life. Then you realise how often the world is built around standing height.

One downside of the rising and lowering mechanism is that there is no storage underneath the chair. That is something I do miss. I often use under-seat storage on other mobility aids, and it is useful for everyday bits and pieces. For me, the height adjustment is worth that trade-off, but it is definitely something to be aware of.

The footrest

The footrest on the M4 is fixed, and the seat raises independently of it. That means when the seat is lifted, the footrest does not rise with you. If your legs are dangling for too long, it can get uncomfortable.

For short periods, I don’t find that a major issue, but I wouldn’t personally want to sit in the highest position for a long time without thinking about leg support. It does mean you can wear different height heels and get a good angle on your knees because you’re not fixed in position.

My understanding is that this has been improved on the M4 Pro, but I haven’t tested that model myself, so this review is specifically about my experience with the M4.

Why I chose it for my wedding

I’m lucky enough to have use of a lot of mobility aids, so choosing which chair to use at my wedding was not a small decision. For the ceremony and photos, I chose the XSTO M4. The height adjustment was a huge part of that. It meant I could be closer to eye level with Ian for photos and conversations, but it also gave me more flexibility throughout the day so also be eye level with my other wheelchair user friends and to get under tables etc. I chose it because it gave me more options. That is what good mobility aids should do.

Driving experience

The XSTO M4 is smooth and responsive to drive. I don’t personally think it drives dramatically differently from other powerchairs, but the omnidirectional front wheels make it especially manoeuvrable. It turns really well, which is useful in tight spaces, shops, restaurants and busy public areas. The turning radius is listed as 820mm, and in real life it does feel very manoeuvrable.

I haven’t used it properly inside my own house because my house is not accessible enough for indoor powerchair use, but I have used it in lots of public indoor and outdoor spaces including a cruise cabin where it worked well. The joystick is comfortable for me and I find the controls easy to use. The handle can also be swapped left or right, which is useful depending on your dominant hand or access needs.

The biggest thing to know is that the chair has different settings, and it is worth learning what they do. Sport Mode completely changed my experience, so I would not judge the chair too quickly before looking through the manual and adjusting it to suit you.

Terrain testing

I’ve tested the XSTO M4 on quite a few different surfaces now, including:

• Pavements.
• Grass.
• Gravel.
• Uneven paths.
• Dropped kerbs.
• Small kerbs.
• Slopes.
• Ramps.
• Busy event spaces.

I have not tested it on mud or beaches, so I can’t comment on those properly. Overall, it handles mixed terrain really well. On flat surfaces it is lovely to use, and it copes confidently with the kind of surfaces I regularly come across day to day. Grass and gravel were both better than I expected. It feels stable and controlled, and I didn’t feel like I was constantly having to fight the chair.

The listed obstacle height is 50mm, and the ditch crossing is listed as 100mm. In real life, it has managed small everyday obstacles well, but as always with powerchairs, I’d rather people treat those numbers as guidance rather than a challenge, let me do that for you.

Slopes and auto-levelling

One of the cleverest features of the XSTO M4 is the self-balancing or auto-levelling system.

On slopes, the chair adjusts to help keep you level, which can make inclines feel much more stable. It can feel a little strange at first when you’re not used to it but I really like this feature, but there is one important thing I learnt on the cruise: go slowly downhill.

If you go too fast down a slope, the auto-levelling can get a bit overexcited. It still does its job, but it feels much smoother and more controlled if you take hills at a sensible speed. The maximum slope is listed as 10 degrees. I’d always recommend taking hills, ramps and cambers carefully, especially while you’re still getting used to how the chair responds. So yes, I do like the auto-levelling, but I would say this is a chair where you want to learn how it feels rather than just throwing yourself down a hill on day one.

Battery life in real life

The listed range is 15km, or 9.3 miles, and the listed charge time is 4 hours. I’ve never run the XSTO M4 completely flat. The closest I came was on the cruise, where I used it enough that I decided it was sensible to charge it, but I still didn’t actually run out. A more useful example is the tennis event I went to recently. I got out of the car at around 6:30 or 7pm, wandered around Richmond, went for dinner, went back to the hotel and did not charge the chair overnight. The next day, I used it from Richmond Park to the tennis event which was about a 10 minute walk, then I used it around the event all day, back and forth a lot, and then back to the car in the park. It still did not get close enough to running out for me to panic. For me, that means it can comfortably manage a full day out, which is what I need from a powerchair.

Of course, battery life will depend on your weight, speed, terrain, hills, temperature and how you use it, but I’ve been really happy with the real-world battery performance. Sport mode does drain the battery more quickly but all of those examples are when using the sport mode feature.

Comfort

I find the XSTO M4 comfortable.I used it all day at the tennis event and was happy in it. On the cruise, I did swap the cushion for my custom manual wheelchair cushion, but that is very specific to my hips rather than a general issue with the chair.

Comfort is always personal, especially for disabled people and anyone with chronic pain, joint instability or pressure needs. I would not say any standard powerchair cushion is going to work for everyone, but I have found the chair comfortable enough for long days. If you have specific seating needs, I’d definitely speak to the supplier about cushion and backrest options.

My version has the higher support back, which makes it more supportive for me but also affects transport slightly. But they do have a regular height version. My back rest does come with head support but as it’s not something I specifically need I just took it off.

Transporting it in a car

The XSTO M4 folds and can also be split down for transport. The folded size is listed as 1040 x 580 x 570mm.I have a Renault Arkana, and it fits surprisingly nicely in the boot, even with the higher support backrest. In my car, I do need to transport it split down rather than as one complete chair.

The good news is that it fits better than I expected because it goes flatter than other power chairs I have used. The less good news is that some of the pieces are heavy and awkward to lift. Not impossible, but definitely not what I would call lightweight. Beth, Poppy and Ian can each load it into the car on their own, but I personally would not be able to lift it in and out independently. Some of the pieces are also more awkward to hoist than other similar powerchairs because of their shape and weight distribution.

Taking it apart is fairly straightforward once you know what you’re doing. Putting it back together is the trickier part and definitely takes practice.

For that reason, I would generally recommend the XSTO M4 more for:

• WAV users.
• People with support to lift it or a 4 way hoist with a good weight limit
• People with larger cars where it can stay partly or fully assembled.
• People who do not need to lift it independently every day.

I probably would not recommend it to someone looking for a lightweight folding powerchair they can easily load alone.

Breaking it down and putting it together

One thing I always want to see before considering a mobility aid is how it actually breaks down and goes back together.

Marketing videos often make this look effortless, but real life is different, especially if you have pain, fatigue, limited grip, joint instability or reduced strength.

The XSTO M4 can be split down into 3 sections for car transport and you don’t need to remove the battery whihc is helpful. Once you understand the process, it is fairly easy to take apart. Putting it back together takes more getting used to.

It is not impossible, and the people who support me have got much quicker with practice, but I think it’s important to be honest that there is a learning curve and it’s taken many outings with both me and my support worker sat on the floor trying to get the seat properly attached to the bottom of the chair.

Useful extra features

The XSTO M4 also has a few smaller features worth mentioning. There is a USB charger, which is really helpful for charging your phone on long days out. The listing also mentions Bluetooth and app control, although I haven’t tested the app yet, so I’ll update this section once I’ve tried it.

Mine also came with a remote control. I may have misplaced it, which is very me, but it is worth mentioning because for some users or carers that could be a useful feature. The chair is listed as IPX4 water resistant. That does not mean I would deliberately take it out in heavy rain or through deep puddles, but it is reassuring for typical British weather and everyday splashes.

What I like most

The biggest positives for me are:

• The height-adjustable seat.
• The self-balancing feature on slopes.
• Good real-world battery life.
• Strong performance on mixed terrain.
• Very good manoeuvrability.
• Comfortable enough for long days.
• It folds flatter than you might expect.
• It fits surprisingly well in my car boot.
• The USB charging port is useful.
• It feels like a lot of chair for the price.

What I’d want people to know before buying

The main things to be aware of are:

• It is not lightweight.
• The listed weight is 51.5kg without the battery.
• Some of the pieces are heavy and awkward to lift.
• Reassembly takes practice.
• You need to spend time learning the settings.
• Sport Mode made a huge difference for me.
• The auto-levelling is great, but go slowly downhill.
• There is no under-seat storage because of the lifting mechanism.
• The fixed footrest can get uncomfortable if your legs are dangling while the seat is raised.
• It may not be the best option if you need to load it into a car independently.
• If you have complex seating needs, you may still need your own cushion or adjustments.
• Many of these issues are improved by the M4 Pro I just haven’t got to try it yet.

Who I’d recommend the XSTO M4 for

I think the XSTO M4 could be a really good option for someone who wants a powerchair that is practical for everyday use but still has some more advanced features.

I’d especially recommend looking at it if you:

• Want a powerchair with height adjustment.
• Want something that feels stable outdoors.
• Use a WAV or have help loading your chair.
• Need something that can handle more than perfectly smooth pavements.
• Want a chair that can fold flatter for transport.
• Like the idea of being able to sit higher in social spaces without it being enormous.
• Want a powerchair that feels innovative without being completely out of reach financially.

Who I would not recommend it for

I probably would not recommend the XSTO M4 if your main priority is having the lightest possible powerchair.

I also would not recommend it if you need to lift your chair in and out of the car completely independently and you struggle with heavier or awkwardly shaped components.

It is transportable, but transportable does not always mean easy for every body. That distinction is important.

Final thoughts

The XSTO M4 surprised me.

At first, I wasn’t sure about it. I found the beeping frustrating, and I thought it felt slower than I wanted it to. But once I put it into Sport Mode and spent more time using it properly, it became a completely different chair for me. After several months of use, I think it is a strong, versatile and genuinely useful powerchair with some really clever features. It is not perfect. No wheelchair is. But the height adjustment, manoeuvrability, real-world battery life, terrain handling and self-balancing technology make it a chair I’ve genuinely enjoyed using.

And considering I chose to use it at my wedding, I think that says a lot.

If you’re considering the XSTO M4 and have any questions, leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer based on my experience and remember you can use code Jenni10 for 10% off at XSTO.co.uk!