Show All Photos

Show All Photos

All You Need to Know About the New BMW X6

By Zlatan Stankovic on March 15, 2018

BMW rarely create a car which doesn’t capture the attention of millions of people across the globe, but on this occasion, it may not be for all the right reasons. You see, BMW already have the X5, which is a brilliant SUV that ticks all the boxes. However, they’ve now attempted to produce an X6, which is supposed to be an upgrade for their SUVs. Although, there’s plenty of reasons why people may not consider it one…

Let’s start with the performance and technology aspects of the car, before we discuss some of the negatives. So, being a vehicle manufactured by BMW, there’s no surprise that it’s exceptional mechanically. With a turbocharged, 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, it generates 300 BHP and 300 lb-ft of torque to notch 0-60 MPH in 6 seconds flat and reach a maximum speed of 130 MPH. Believe us, those stats are impressive for an SUV that weighs 4,705 pounds.

Alongside the power, there’s also an eight-speed automatic gearbox which transitions smoothly as you increase and decrease speed. Now, if you want even better performance, then there are a couple of things you can do. Either opt for the X6 xDrive50i model which utilizes a bi-turbocharged V8 and produces 445 BHP or purchase the Dynamic Damper system which offers four different modes, one of them being Sport+.

As for the handling, suspension and traction, they’re all faultless, which again is expected with a BMW car. Moving on to technology, that’s an area which BMW have paid attention to. Through a 10.2-inch touchscreen, you’ll be able to access a range of different functionalities. But, unfortunately, things like Apple CarPlay and wireless smartphone charging comes as optional extras.

The interior of the car has its pros and cons; the upside is that BMW have made sure to use premium-grade materials that look and play the part. But, the fact that there’s barely any room is a big problem considering it’s meant to be an SUV. As a result of the sloping roof, any passengers in the back will have just 37.4-inches of headroom. We can imagine comfort won’t be great on short journeys, let alone long journeys!

As for utility, that isn’t particularly great either. It’s all down to the design of the X6, because the boot area has 26.6 cubic-feet of space, and 59.7 cubic-feet when the rear seats are folded down. To put that into perspective, the X6 has far less room than the renowned X5; the X5 has 35.8 cubic-feet and 76.7 cubic-feet. Although, you could argue that despite the reduction in space, the design does give it a fantastic appearance from the exterior.

The fuel economy of the X6 leaves much to be desired, if you compare it some of its rivals. Let’s take the Mercedes-AMG GLE43 Coupe or the Range Rover Velar for example – they are able to obtain the same 20 MPG (City and highway combined), but both of those produce much more power. So, it begs the question, how is the X6 inferior to its competitors in engine and power, but doesn’t shine in fuel economy?

The Munich-based automotive giant has built a solid reputation over the years, and that’s partly what you pay for. So, even though the X6 isn’t going to send you head over heels, you’ll still be staring a substantial price tag. To be precise, the base price is $62,950, which means there’s still a vast array of extras which could bump it up significantly. For instance, if you want all-wheel drive, additional comfort or any safety features, the price will go up in thousands.

Ultimately, there are much better SUVs out there which offer much more yet cost much less. But, if you’re dead-set on owning a BMW, either take a look at the X5 or accept the X6 for what it is.

Tags: BMW X6BMWNew ModelReviews