Think about the BMW X6 as the sportier sibling of the X5 premium SUV, and you ought to get the thought. Instead of expanding space, the passage center is on style, keeping in mind it is still an agreeable auto, endeavors have been made to issue it a more dynamic feel in the corners.
It is additionally thus that the X6 is just accessible with BMW's all the more capable petrol and diesel motors, which add to higher costs and running expenses.In the rear the X6 seats three people, although the middle perch is very narrow and firm. In addition, while the flat floor across all three seats is useful, the sloping roofline means that anybody six-foot or taller will brush their head against the roof lining.
The coupe styling causes a similar compromise in the still enormous 580-litre boot, which loses the height of the X5, but retains a flat loading lip. Unlike the X5, however, you can’t have an X6 with additional seats in the boot, so it is not a seven seater.Come to thing of front of the car feels vast,with enormous door bins, a couple of cupholders and a better than average estimated receptacle under the armrest. The glovebox is on the little small side, in any case.The seats and steering wheel feature lots of adjustment, so it’s easy to find a good driving position. However, BMW’s manual seat controls are horribly fiddly, so if more than one person is going to drive the car regularly, you’ll definitely want electric seat adjustment.
The X6 covers motorway miles with ease, its engines hushed once up to cruising speed. In fact, even around town the diesel engines produce a pleasant growl.
Several suspension setups are offered, but we’d recommend the Adaptive Comfort option for SE models, which gives the best blend of ride quality and handling composure. The Adaptive M suspension standard on M Sport versions is slightly firmer, but still perfectly tolerable unless you’re on a bumpy B-road, where the X6’s sportier nature provides a slightly more fidgety ride.
The large tyres do tend to generate a bit of road noise, plus at motorway speeds there's some wind noise from around the wing mirrors.The dials in the X6 consist of a TFT display, and take on a different appearance depending whether you’re in comfort, sport or eco pro mode. In all modes, the display is pin sharp, and information clearly conveyed.
The same can be said of the larger central screen through which you access BMW’s iDrive infotainment system. With clear menus and useful shortcut buttons, this remains the market leader when it comes to accessing anything from DAB radio and satnav to the car’s instruction manual.The X6’s high driving position gives a commanding view of the road ahead. However, the sloping rear makes over-the-shoulder visibility a problem, particularly when changing lanes on the motorway.
Steering that’s light at low speed adds to the ease of driving, as does the smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox that’s standard on every model.
Needless to say, the X6 is a big car, and this can make it a little tricky to manoeuvre and park - thankfully front and rear proximity sensors are fitted as standard. The X6 is setup for a sportier driving knowledge than the X5 on which it is based, however the distinctions are unpretentious, its still not exactly as great impressive as a Porsche Cayenne.
The body inclines a touch less in corners than the X5's, and the controlling is marginally more honed in its reactions, albeit still does not have the sort of feel you get in a proper sports car.
Indeed the "passage level" 30d diesel model is sufficiently powerful enough to make overtaking easy. Climb the extent and the execution on offer turns impressive to extraordinary, with the lead flagship X6M model ready to race from 0-62mph in only 4.3 seconds.Unlike the BMW X5, there is no front-wheel-drive version of the X6, meaning the most efficient model is the 30d diesel, which returns an official average of 45.6mpg, which equates to about 35mpg in normal driving.
As you move up to more powerful models such as the 40d and M50d so fuel economy drops. The M50i petrol model has an official average of 29mpg, and will return even less than that in real world driving. For the top-of-the-range X6M don’t expect any more than 20mpg, even when driven carefully.With the X6 you are paying a premium for the way the car looks, so if affordability is your primary concern an X5 with the same engine and specification makes more sense.
If the styling tempts you, however, the X6’s respectable fuel economy and CO2 emissions help keep running costs in check, as does the optional BMW Service Inclusive package, which covers your first five years of servicing for a one-off payment of £525.
Let’s not kid ourselves though: you’ll need deep pockets to afford the list price or the monthly finance bills, as well as replacement parts such as tyres and brakes.Like most modern cars, the X6 has a stability control system that can automatically rein in the engine’s power and brake individual wheels to help you stay in control in poor conditions.
It also has front, side and window airbags in case an accident proves unavoidable.
Meanwhile, the options list includes a head-up display that projects your speed on to the windscreen so you don’t have to look down at the instruments, and a night vision camera that highlights pedestrians you might not otherwise see in the dark.
The X6 hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP, but the previous X5 was awarded the maximum five stars, so the signs are promising. Even the cheapest version of the X6, the SE, come with a long list of standard features including 19-inch alloy wheels, four-wheel-drive, a 20GB hard drive on which to store your music, metallic paint, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery and heated seats.
M Sport models add 20-inch wheels, Adaptive M suspension, electrically adjustable front seats and a host of sporty styling touches inside and out.
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