Item: BMW X6
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The six-cylinder 3.0-litre diesel engine of the xDrive30d is our pick of the range. It’s beautifully smooth, provides tonnes of punch low down in the rev range and is noticeably more responsive than the equivalent Audi Q8 50 TDI. It’s so good in fact, that we don’t think you need to step up to the more expensive xDrive40d – despite having an extra 54bhp the 40d doesn’t feel significantly quicker. 

xDrive30d MHT

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Most X6 buyers opt for M Sport trim , and it's easy to see why. For only a small jump up in price from Sport you get 21in alloy wheels, an M Sport braking system and a plethora of M specific cosmetic details, including black exterior trim highlights, a more aggressive body kit and a sports steering wheel. 


M Sport

xDrive30d MHT M Sport 5dr Step Auto

xdrive30d-mht-m-sport-5dr-step-auto

Audi Q5 Sportback

BMW X6

Citroën C4

Cupra Formentor

Mercedes GLE Coupe

Renault Arkana

Volkswagen Taigo

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

It will probably come as no great surprise that the xDrive30d diesel has the best official fuel economy, and the M Competition&nbsp;petrol the worst. An official figure of 42.8mpg for the former compares well&nbsp;against&nbsp;33.6mpg for the equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8</a>, but CO2 emissions of 172g/km mean the X6 still&nbsp;still falls well within the top benefit-in-kind <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255">(BIK)</a> tax band.&nbsp;

More positively, even entry-level Sport models are stacked with kit,&nbsp;including 19in alloy wheels and&nbsp;heated front seats. M Sport trim is only a small jump up in price, though, and comes with 21in alloy wheels, black exterior trim highlights, a more aggressive body kit, an M Sport braking system and&nbsp;a sports steering wheel. No wonder M Sport accounts for the vast majority of sales. There's a long list of optional comfort, convenience and technology packs, too, but – as is the case with the X6's rivals – these can add a big chunk to the bottom line.

In terms of reliability, we don’t yet have any data for this third-generation X6&nbsp;so we can’t say for sure how dependable it will be. What we do know is that BMW as a whole finished in an impressive 9th place out of 31 manufacturers in the What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey-large-suvs/n20066">Reliability Survey</a>, beating the likes of Audi, Land Rover, Mercedes and Porsche. Every X6 comes with a three-year&nbsp;unlimited-mileage warranty.

The X6 is so closely related to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a> that it won’t be crash-tested separately by safety experts at <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a>. However, the X5 received an&nbsp;impressive five-star safety rating, with very solid scores in every category. It comes with front collision warning and automatic emergency braking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a> fitted as standard.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

The petrol engine line-up opens with the xDrive40i, which we have yet to sample in the X6&nbsp;but impressed us in the closely related <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38/on-the-road">BMW X5</a>. We have driven the twin-turbocharged V8 M50i and it&nbsp;delivers effortless pace,&nbsp;thrusting the X6 from 0-62mph in 4.3sec. There's also the flagship&nbsp;M Competition, which can dispatch the same sprint in 3.8sec. That's&nbsp;simply&nbsp;staggering acceleration for such a big <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-luxury-suv-deals/n19079">SUV</a>.

The six-cylinder 3.0-litre diesel engine of the xDrive30d is&nbsp;our pick of the range, though. It's beautifully smooth, provides tonnes of punch low down in the rev range and is noticeably more responsive than the equivalent Audi Q8 50 TDI. In fact it’s so good that we don’t think you need to step up to the more expensive xDrive40d, which,&nbsp;despite having&nbsp;an extra 54bhp,&nbsp;doesn’t feel significantly quicker.

By diesel standards, the 30d and 40d have surprisingly appealing,&nbsp;throaty sounding engine notes. Those who dislike the noise, though, will be dismayed that it never really fades away, even at a cruise. When you select Sport mode, artificial engine notes are played through the car’s speakers to deepen the soundtrack. By contrast, the petrol-engined M50i and M Competition models offer perfectly judged backing tracks; they're&nbsp;blissfully smooth when you’re simply pottering along, yet delightfully rorty when you decide to press on a bit.&nbsp;

Whichever engine you choose, the X6’s eight-speed automatic gearbox pounds through the gears rapidly when you’re accelerating to motorway speeds, but there’s a tiny bit of lag in its response at slower speeds, which can make it a little jumpy – when pulling forward in slow-moving traffic,&nbsp;for example. It’s a significantly better gearbox than the hesitant, jerky equivalent in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8</a>, though.&nbsp;

Let off the leash, the X6 is one of the more entertaining cars in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/coupe-suv">coupé SUV</a> class&nbsp;to drive. You don't get a great deal of feedback through its chunky steering wheel, but the meaty feel of its steering still inspires confidence. Body control is impressively tight, too, so threading the car&nbsp;through a series of sweeping bends is genuinely enjoyable. It can’t beat the truly physics-defying agility of the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/coupe/review/n19924"> Porsche Cayenne Coupé</a>, but the X6 is a close match for the nimble Audi Q8 and leaves&nbsp;the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-velar/estate/review/n17374"> Range Rover Velar</a>&nbsp;feeling&nbsp;sloppy by comparison.

Air suspension comes as standard, but the smallest wheels available on M Sport models are 21in (we’ve yet to try a Sport model on 19s) and, whichever driving mode you select, there's a firm edge to the&nbsp;low-speed ride. That said, the suspension never thumps or crashes over imperfections, so life is far from uncomfortable. It’s a similar deal with the M performance models, even though they have adaptive suspension, but once you’re up to speed they start&nbsp;to really flow with the road.&nbsp;

In all BMW X6s there's a bit of&nbsp;suspension noise when you pass over battered bitumen, while road roar from the tyres grows more&nbsp;noticeable at high speeds. The Q8 is generally better insulated from wind and road noise.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

xdrive30d-mht

The petrol engine line-up opens with the xDrive40i, which we have yet to sample in the X6, but proved impressive in the closely-related BMW X5.


xDrive40i MHT

xdrive40i-mht

Like the entry-level 30d, the is beautifully smooth and makes a surprisingly throaty noise when you put your foot down. However, despite having an extra 54bhp over the 30d, you don’t really feel the impact of that additional horsepower. 


xDrive40 MHT

xdrive40d-mht

This twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine can thrust the X6 from 0-62mph in a scarcely believable 4.3 seconds. It won't be cheap to run, though.

xDrive M50i

xdrive

Finding a truly unique&nbsp;car is rare, but the BMW X6 used to be just that. When the original version was launched, we'd never seen a vehicle that combined a chunky SUV body with the kind of sleek, sloping roofline you’d usually see on a sporty coupé. Thus was born the coupé SUV.

It was a concept that divided opinion and,&nbsp;while&nbsp;the X6 is&nbsp;now in its third generation, it continues to do so today.&nbsp;To some people&nbsp;it's a car that&nbsp;simply makes&nbsp;no sense,&nbsp;because it’s both more expensive and less practical than the X5&nbsp;it’s based on. To others, its blend of function and form&nbsp;makes it one of the most desirable cars on the planet.

What’s clear, though, is that there are enough people in the latter camp for the X6 to have become a trend-setter, with a host of manufacturers now selling rivals. The Audi Q8 and Mercedes GLE Coupé, for example, both owe their existence&nbsp;to it, as do&nbsp;the Porsche Cayenne Coupé&nbsp;and Range Rover Velar.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oHxgLuqvDVE"></iframe>

Mechanically, there’s little to distinguish&nbsp;the X6 from its more sober-looking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a> stablemate, with the latter offering the same petrol and diesel engines and a similar choice of trim levels. The xDrive40i petrol and xDrive30d and xDrive40d diesel engines can be chosen with Sport or M Sport specification&nbsp;while the more powerful M50i and M Competition models have their own eponymous trims.

All are well-equipped and a long options list gives you&nbsp;scope to further tailor your car. You can even add LED strips that outline BMW’s signature split front&nbsp;grille, lighting it up like a beacon.

Just how good is the latest X6, though, and how does it compare with all those rivals, in particular the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/coupe/review/n19924">Porsche Cayenne Coupé</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-velar/estate/review/n17374">Range Rover Velar</a>? Well, that's what we'll be examining over the next few pages of this review.

If at the end you decide you do want to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw/x6/4x4/deals">buy an&nbsp;X6</a>, or indeed another car of any make and model, make sure you&nbsp;check out the deals available through the free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/luxury-suv">New Car Buying</a> service&nbsp;to see how much we could help you to save.

The X6’s interior is straight out of the BMW book of modern interior design and is screwed together with impressive solidity and precision. It’s functional, comfortable and attractive, too. Electrically adjustable sports seats with driver memory provide good long-distance comfort, while the steering wheel offers a large range of movement to help you find the ideal driving position.&nbsp;

BMW’s infotainment system leads the way in the class for both usability and number of features. It can be operated through either its 12.3in touchscreen or a more intuitive rotary dial controller on the centre console, making it far easier to use on the move than the one in the&nbsp; <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8</a>, which is touchscreen-only. The optional ‘gesture control’ feature that comes as part of the Technology Pack (physical gestures made near the infotainment system will activate certain functions) provides a third method of control, although it's not&nbsp;particularly responsive.

There’s a crisp, clear 12.3in digital driver display in place of conventional analogue instruments, too. It's not as configurable as Audi’s equivalent Virtual Cockpit system, but it still looks smart&nbsp;and is intuitive to use.

Inevitably, the X6’s sloping roofline and raked rear windscreen result in a letterbox view out of the back of the car, but big door mirrors go some way to compensating for that. Front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are standard across the range, and the car can even help with parking by controlling the steering for you. A 360-degree camera is on the options list.

Bright LED lights come as standard, as does high-beam assistance, which will automatically dip the headlights to avoid dazzling other road users.

The BMW X6 is good to drive, with an interior that’s one of the best in the business; this&nbsp;is a great coupé SUV.

The big&nbsp;X6 has wide door openings and chunky grab handles&nbsp;so it’s easy to clamber inside, and even tall adults will have more than enough room to stretch out in the front.&nbsp;

Front storage space is good, too. The large&nbsp;lidded cubbyhole at the top of the centre console incorporates a wireless phone-charging facility and a couple of cupholders (as an option, these can heat or cool your drink). The central armrest doubles up as a deep storage compartment&nbsp;with a split-opening lid.&nbsp;

Perhaps surprisingly considering its sloping roofline, the X6 offers a decent amount of rear head room for adults, although the optional Sky Lounge panoramic sunroof reduces the ceiling height considerably. Leg and knee room are acceptable, but not exceptional. Passengers won’t feel cramped, but the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559"> Audi Q8</a> is roomier.

The rear seats split and fold in 40/20/40 sections as standard, and while the boot itself doesn’t have the outright capacity to match those of the Q8 and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/coupe/review/n19924">Porsche Cayenne Coupé</a>, it will swallow a family’s holiday luggage easily. Bear in mind, though, that the sloping roof means the boot gets fairly narrow towards its entrance. The taller and more angular&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a> is a better choice if you need to carry bulkier loads.

Although Sport is the entry-level trim, it's far from sparsely equipped. As standard you get 19in alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, a parking assistant, rain-sensitive wipers, an automatic tailgate, leather upholstery, electrically adjustable front sport seats, BMW’s 12.3 in iDrive infotainment system, a 12.3in digital instrument display and a DAB radio.

Sport

sport

m-sport

M50i trim is exclusive to the petrol engine of the same name and is effectively M Sport trim with further suspension and mechanical upgrades.


M50i

m50i

Its styling may divide opinion but the BMW X6 is actually a very well-rounded coupe SUV. Not only is it available with a range of truly fantastic engines, but it’s also one of the most entertaining cars in the class to drive, making the Mercedes GLE Coupe and Range Rover Velar feel sloppy in comparison. Meanwhile, the interior is as easy to use as it is beautifully built, and there’s plenty of space, despite those sweeping exterior lines. Factor in reasonable running costs and a competitive price tag and the X6 truly is one of the most alluring coupe SUVs currently on sale. 

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Eye-catching looks without sacrificing too much practicality</li> <li>Strong performance in keeping with a sportier brief</li> <li>Running costs that won’t break the bank</li> <li>Classy interior with high-quality materials</li> <li>Pricing that isn’t exorbitant next to that of conventional siblings</li></ul>

Coupe SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Logical and beautifully built interior, with great infotainment</li> <li>More than enough space for five passengers or, even better, seven</li> <li>Strong performance along with impressive efficiency</li> <li>Composed handling that limits any feeling of unwieldiness</li></ul>

We class a luxury SUV as being anything where our pick of the range costs more than £45,000 – and at this price point, buyers' expectations are high. So, as well as all of the qualities that make regular SUVs such well-rounded choices –&nbsp;such as decent space for passengers and luggage, a classy interior and robust materials – we also want a cosseting ride, the latest driver assistance technology and enough space to really stretch out.

The Land Rover Discovery proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a luxurious SUV, but if you've got a bit more to spend, the Audi Q7 is perennially popular among buyers, and with good reason. Or, at the very top of this market, there are newer additions such as the BMW X7 to consider.

Luxury SUV

BMW X6 review

Fill out our 2022 Reliability Survey - and win a prize!

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Volvo XC60

Nissan Ariya

Fiat 500

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Honda HR-V

Dacia Jogger

/news/complete-the-2022-what-car-reliability-survey-for-the-chance-to-win-a-prize/n15554

New car deals >>

site ribbon config

Review of BMW X6 interior by the expert What Car? team. Compare in car entertainment system, driving comfort and visibility with similar cars.

The X6’s interior is straight out of the BMW book of modern interior design and is screwed together with impressive solidity and precision. It’s functional, comfortable and attractive, too. Electrically adjustable sports seats with driver memory provide good long-distance comfort, while the steering wheel offers a large range of movement to help you find the ideal driving position. ,BMW’s infotainment system leads the way in the class for both usability and number of features. It can be operated through either its 12.3in touchscreen or a more intuitive rotary dial controller on the centre console, making it far easier to use on the move than the one in the  Audi Q8, which is touchscreen-only. The optional ‘gesture control’ feature that comes as part of the Technology Pack (physical gestures made near the infotainment system will activate certain functions) provides a third method of control, although it's not particularly responsive.,There’s a crisp, clear 12.3in digital driver display in place of conventional analogue instruments, too. It's not as configurable as Audi’s equivalent Virtual Cockpit system, but it still looks smart and is intuitive to use.,Inevitably, the X6’s sloping roofline and raked rear windscreen result in a letterbox view out of the back of the car, but big door mirrors go some way to compensating for that. Front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are standard across the range, and the car can even help with parking by controlling the steering for you. A 360-degree camera is on the options list.,Bright LED lights come as standard, as does high-beam assistance, which will automatically dip the headlights to avoid dazzling other road users.

New car deals >>

BMW X6 review

Cupra Formentor

Audi Q5 Sportback

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

What Car? has a buying service

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information