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BMW X6 - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 BMW X6 ranks 15 out of 17 Luxury Midsize SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 27 published reviews and test drives of the BMW X6, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The 2010 BMW X6 combines sleek coupe looks and sporty BMW performance with SUV utility. However, it's quite expensive for its class and isn't a practical hauler for people or cargo.

The X6 is a fun-driving, refined SUV that lives up to its BMW roots both inside and out. Still, it isn't really a practical choice and functions best as a sporty diversion. Moreover, at nearly $56,000, the X6 has one of the most expensive base prices in its class -- and that's a lot to spend on a vehicle that can't even cart around a family of five.

If you're able to spend this much money on an impractical car, there are plenty of other options out there -- so why go for an SUV like this? Many reviewers are asking the same question. "The X6 can't go off-road and its lack of back-seat headroom makes it a lousy vehicle for hauling four adults," says About.com. "It's incredibly expensive and sucks down fuel at an alarming rate. And yet I still love it. I don't just mean 'like it a lot'; I really do love the X6."

So what is it that makes the X6 so lovable? For singles or couples with money to burn, it's hard to beat the BMW's amazing handling and awesome hi-tech gadgetry. The X6's tech goodies have earned it at least one honor so far - it was one of Wheels Media's 2009 Urban Truck of the Year finalists. For everyone else though, it's less than ideal. For people with families or cargo needs, less expensive and more practical choices abound.

The Acura MDX provides BMW-like luxury and a fun (though less stimulating) driving experience at a price that's nearly half of what the X6 costs. Or, if you can't live without the BMW name, consider the German automaker's own X5. It costs about $10,000 less than the X6 and delivers more -- you'll get the same tight handling with a more spacious second row, more headroom and even an available third-row seat. Finally, if you want another gadget-friendly vehicle, look at the Infiniti FX. It costs several thousand less than the X6, achieves excellent fuel economy, and offers a unique arsenal of hi-tech equipment.

The 2010 X6 is available in two trims -- the six-cylinder xDrive35i and eight-cylinder xDrive50i. A high-performance X6 M model, new for 2010, will be reviewed separately.

• "The design of the 2008 BMW X6 might be polarizing, although we have yet to meet someone who loves it, and it will take that kind of love to fork over the money for one. Although it has excellent cabin electronics and superior handling, it is far from a practical car." -- CNET
• "Although we were blown away by the X6's on-road capabilities, we can't help wondering if luxury SUV buyers are looking for -- or will even push the vehicle enough to notice -- this level of performance. After all, the heavier, slower, and half-as-capable Range Rover is an aspirational luxury SUV for many." -- Car and Driver
• "[T]he X6 won me over with its unique and lovely looks, comfort and performance. It's the best SUV BMW has built yet, and it's the standard to beat for other luxury-sport crossovers." -- Detroit Free Press
• "The X6 is neither practical nor a car for the masses. Compared to the 6-Series or other luxury coupes, it offers expanded capability and the convenience of four doors. It has the passenger room of a mid-size sedan, with about double the cargo volume. But compared to a crossover or SUV, it has only four-passenger seating, tight rear-seat accommodations and restricted cargo space." -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• "X6 is a study in compromises. It accelerates and handles like a sporty coupe, but it will never be as agile due to its sheer size and heft. Its hatchback design makes it slightly more versatile than a sedan, but X6 is neither as roomy nor as comfortable as a sedan or SUV." -- Consumer Guide

 

X6 Performance - 8.7 (Very Good)

More than anything else, the 2010 BMW X6 stands out for the way it drives. "The all-new X6 from the Bavarian Motor Works is unquestionably a fine performer," says the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It is, after all, a BMW, with all that entails: superb handling, two powerful engines, supple ride and, of course, high prices." The X6 is available with six-cylinder and V8 engines.  Read More

X6 Exterior - 7.4 (Good)

With its sloping roof, the X6 looks especially sporty for an SUV. Still, while there's no question that the X6's exterior makes a statement, its radical styling divides reviewers. "The BMW X6 looks like a military weapon, with a front end that appears ready to take a chomp out of anything that gets in its way," says the Chicago Tribune.  Read More

X6 Interior - 7.7 (Good)

The all-new X6's interior is upscale and chock full of high-tech features. "Cabin decor is both upscale and sporty, with ample use of soft-touch surfaces and materials with visible, high-grade stitching," writes Consumer Guide. However, as with other BMWs that feature the iDrive system, reviewers are disappointed in the X6's complicated cabin controls. Some reviewers also have complaints about its cramped rear seats.  Read More

X6 Safety - NA

The 2010 BMW X6 has not yet undergone crash tests. However, buyers can rest assured that it comes with plenty of high-end safety features. "The X6 comes with all the safety features you'd expect at this price: antilock brakes, electronic stability control, and curtain and front-seat side air bags," says the Detroit Free Press.  Read More

X6 Reliability - 7.0 (Good)

The 2010 BMW X6 reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2010 BMW X6 comes with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty.  Read More