Name: BMW X6 Review
Item: BMW X6
Author: Gumtree.com

When BMW launched the first generation of the X6 back in 2008, it single-handedly created the SUV coupe style. Others followed in its wake, like the Renault Arkana, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe and the Audi Q, but two generations on, the X6 remains the star of the segment. Its combination of butch SUV front end and a sleek, sloping roofline isn’t to everyone’s taste, but it proved popular enough to sell in large numbers, not to mention spawning a whole new class of luxury vehicle.

Visit the BMW X6 model page to explore available car specs and learn more.

What we think about the BMW X6

The BMW X6 is the original crossover coupe. It’s the louder, flashier brother of the X5, sharing most of its mechanicals but packaging them inside an in-your-face grille and a slicked-back roof.

Pros

Stellar performance

Lavish interior

Impressive safety features

Cons

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Firm ride

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Rivals are more spacious

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Less practical and more expensive than an M5

When you start out with a car that looks like the first-generation X6, there’s not much point in toning it down. The second and third generations made the car look even bolder and meaner, most recently adding some bling with 22-inch rims for its wheels, and lights in the front grille. Even the entry-level Sport trim is lavishly kitted out, with more and more bells and whistles available as you move up to the M Sport and M50i.

Driving performance of the Bmw X6

Our Driving Rating8 / 10

How fast would you expect an SUV to go from 0 to 60? With the top-of-the range, twin-turbocharged V8 under the bonnet, the X6 will do it in 4.3 seconds, which is jaw-dropping acceleration for a vehicle of this size. If you’re more interested in a pleasant family ride, we’d forgo some of this acceleration and opt for the XDrive30d model, with its smooth diesel diesel engine engine offering plenty of punch at low revs. Whichever variant you choose, the power on offer makes long trips and motorway driving a breeze, even with everyone and their luggage on board. The engines are all fairly noisy, but something tells us most X6 buyers don’t mind BMW leaning into this. If you select Sport mode, the car even plays artificial engine notes through the stereo for added effect. With impressive handling and steering, it’s a lot of fun to drive – even, unusually for an SUV, if you’re weaving through winding backroads on route to a family getaway.

Safety and reliability of the Bmw X6

Our Safety Rating9 / 10

For a car that’s far from sensible in many respects, the BMW X6 boasts impressive safety credentials. At the time of writing, it hasn’t been assessed by Euro NCAP, but it’s very similar to the X5, which received a five-star rating with solid scores across the board. Every X6 comes with eight airbags, adaptive cruise control and a tyre pressure warning system. There’s also the Driving Assistant system, which incorporates lane departure warning, and a collision warning system. Optional extras on the newest X6 include a head-up display, so you never have to take your eyes off the road, and adaptive headlights that bend their beams around corners and vehicles.

Under the bonnet of the Bmw X6

Our Engine Rating9 / 10

The most popular engine in the X6 is the 3.0-litre diesel mentioned above, available in 258, 313 and 381 brake horsepower versions. If you’d prefer a petrol engine, you can choose between a 3.0-litre six-cylinder that outputs 328 bhp and will take you from 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds, and a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 50i that offers 523 bhp, making the sprint in 4.3 seconds. Still not quick enough for you? There’s always the X6M Competition, with a souped-up version of the same engine outputting 616 bhp and getting up to 60 from a standing start in just 3.8 seconds. Got somewhere you can drive at more than double the UK speed limit? BMW can take the top speed of the X6M up to 180 mph if you ask them.

What you'll find in the Bmw X6

Our Design Rating8 / 10

The original X6 drew the eye with its brutish looks, and the redesigns have only leaned into this more. The blue LaserLight system adds an extra angry flash to the angular headlights, and as with most recent Bimmers, the signature kidney grilles have grown to enormous size. If they’re not still not showy enough, there’s even the option to have the grilles light up. Enormous gills flanking the bumper complete the eye-catching front end. Walk round to the side and it’s the muscle-car dimensions that make the biggest impact, the roof sloping down to a steeply angled rear screen and the wheel arches bulging with 22-inch alloys inside them. The back end hasn’t been forgotten either, with a zigzag profile and vents behind the back wheels.

Comfort and interiors in the Bmw X6

Our Comfort Rating8 / 10

Like most BMWs, the inside of an X6 is very nicely put together, combining functionality with luxury. Leather seats are standard, with electric adjustability and driver memory ensuring you’ll stay comfortable on a long drive. For a really premium feel you can get the entire cockpit decked out in leather, including the dash and the steering wheel, with high-gloss black inlays and brushed metal trim. That stylishly sloping roof, though, inevitably compromises space in the back, and even if you’re wowed by the X6’s lines, it’s always worth considering the roomier cabin and boot space of the X5 too.

What features you'll find in the Bmw X6

Our Features Rating8 / 10

BMW has its rivals beaten when it comes to the infotainment system, which offers a host of features and a user-friendly interface, the rotary dial proving much easier to manipulate on the move than a touchscreen. The crisp digital driver display is similarly intuitive, although not as configurable as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit system. Even the entry level Sport models come with a huge amount of kit, while the M50i bristles with premium features, including four-zone climate control, heated mirrors, an automatic tailgate and soft-close doors. The M50i’s sound system is a 16-speaker, 464-watt Harman Kadon Surround Sound with digital radio.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Bmw X6

Our Fuel Consumption Rating7 / 10

The xDrive30d diesel, as you might expect, is the most frugal of the engines on offer, delivering a claimed 42.8 mpg. This compares favourably with the Audi Q8’s 34.0 mpg. The thirstiest of the models is the M50i, which will get you more like 27 mpg.

Running costs of the Bmw X6

Our Cost Rating7 / 10

BMW isn’t exactly selling this car as a wallet-friendly option, but with not many on UK roads, it’s likely to remain a desirable used car and hold its price value well. Its three-year, unlimited mileage warranty isn’t so competitive these days, though this does include roadside assistance for that period. The various versions of the car sit in insurance groups 41 to 50, so the costs can start adding up.

Our verdict of the Bmw X6

4.5 / 5 Gumtree rating

The BMW X6 might divide opinion, but it delivers many of the best things about both an SUV and a coupe in a seriously impressive, head-turning package.

BMW X6 Review