2021 BMW X6

The original BMW X6 caught flak back in 2008, from critics who couldn’t understand why any SUV would adopt a sloping fastback roof limiting ultimate cargo space. BMW had the last laugh: Though the X5 still remains the top seller, buyers fell hard for the X6 and its hulking, weapons-grade design. As a result, rival automakers scrambled to bring their own “SUV coupes” to showrooms. 

Today, curvy-roofed crossovers are everywhere. And the segment-defining X6 remains a popular choice for luxury buyers who want style and sizzle in their SUV. It’s easy to see why: The X6 still looks great (to some eyes, anyway), and accelerates and handles like a sport sedan, albeit one that can sneak past 5,000 pounds. And despite the snazzy sloping roof, the X6 is still more versatile and practical than a sedan, including its up-high driving position, optional xDrive AWD, 8.1 inches of ground clearance and a maximum of 59.6 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s 20 percent less space than its square-roofed sibling, the BMW X5, but on par with the smaller, quite capacious X3. 

Don’t forget performance. The X6 remains a benchmark for breathtaking speed and handling among midsize SUVs. That’s especially true for the halo model, which is more devil than angel: The X6M (starting from $109,595 including a $995 destination fee) amasses 600 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged, 4.4-liter V8. An adaptive suspension and selectable driving modes (including Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus) are standard. Not enough? An X6M Competition sets a new, 617-hp high for the nameplate and scorches 60 mph in a mind-blowing 3.4 seconds. That Competition package adds $9,000 but seems worth it for performance junkies, with its thundering sport exhaust, unique Track mode, 22-inch alloy wheels and lush interior leather. The X6M is a fire-breathing Godzilla, so powerful and intimidating—from near-unbreakable tire grip to crushingly strong brakes—that civilians (or mere mortal cars) might run screaming from its stomping approach. 

Back in the real world, the caveat is price: Even the formidable X6 M50i version, with 523 horsepower from its own twin-turbo, 4.4-liter V8, starts from $87,245. That’s nearly $19,000 more than the most affordable AWD model, an X6 xDrive 40i, at $68,345. A rear-drive X6 sDrive 40i starts even lower, at $66,045. 

The truth? While the X6M transports drivers to an alternate universe of SUV performance, the majority of buyers should be well served and fully satisfied by the X6 40i. That model’s mellow-voiced, 3.0-liter inline-six remains one of the most efficient six-cylinder engines on the planet in terms of both power and fuel consumption. Its 335 turbocharged horsepower feels more like 400 in everyday driving. That includes an eye-opening, 4.7-second romp to 60 mph. An eight-speed, paddle-shifted transmission maximizes the efficiency of the smaller, overachieving engine. 

Fuel economy is the other payoff. Equipped with a new 48-volt hybrid system, the X6 sDrive 40 returns 21/26 mpg in city and highway driving (and 21/25 mpg with AWD). That’s easily best-in-class versus six-cylinder versions of the Audi Q8, Mercedes GLE-Coupe and Porsche Cayenne Coupe. Moreover, light-footed drivers have claimed as much as 29 or 30 highway mpg, whipping the official EPA rating—and impressive economy for such a burly SUV. 

Inside, the X6 is ready for those calmer moments, with a rock-solid structure, blissfully supportive seats and a surfeit of luxury. The layout is tasteful, the driving position near-perfect, forging a fine relationship with a thick-gripped BMW steering wheel. Infotainment brings standard Live Cockpit Professional with BMW’s 7.0 operating system and iDrive interface. That includes a sparkling, ultra-intuitive 12.3-inch center screen and a 10.25-inch digital driver’s cluster with reconfigurable displays. The cabin’s conservative elegance gets a style jolt with upgraded Merino leather (a $1,000 upcharge) in a range of colors, including nougat-colored Tartufo and a striking mix of ivory and navy blue. Rear-seat headroom is dinged slightly versus the taller-roofed X5, but there’s still ample space for six-foot-plus adults. 

Standard features include 20-inch alloy wheels, the aforementioned 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting. Android Auto is also standard, finally. If you want more, it’ll cost you: Like its German competitors, the BMW’s price can blow through that arching roof with extra-cost options. A vast panoramic sunroof—with an LED light pattern in a choice of six colors—and diamond-cut glass for the shifter and control knobs look lovely; they’re also part of a $3,300 Executive Package that also includes a head-up display, adaptive LED headlamps with Laser Light, rear side sunshades and BMW’s Gesture Control. (The latter lets front-seat occupants control audio volume, for example, simply by twirling a finger in the air). A $2,600 Dynamic Handling package brings an Adaptive M Suspension with selectable levels of suspension firmness, along with active roll stabilization and active steering for sportier performance. 

On the safety front, forward collision mitigation, blind-spot and lane-departure monitors are standard. An additional $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional Package brings active cruise control, active lane-keeping with side collision avoidance and automatic lane changes, front cross-traffic alert, and the Steering and Traffic Jam Assistant. 

The comprehensive system will automatically pull the BMW to a stop at the side of the road if it senses that the driver is not responding and is potentially incapacitated. In addition, its Steering and Traffic Jam Assistant system monitors lane markers and vehicles ahead to let the BMW virtually drive itself on highways and in heavy traffic. Most drivers, we suspect, will prefer driving this thoroughly impressive X6 all by themselves.