► BMW X6 review – it’s still controversial
► The third generation’s facelift
► Always in-your-face, only meaner
The luxury coupé-SUV mashup genre to which the BMW X6 belongs (and arguably created) has been around for around 20 years now. In that time, the class has steadily crawled out of a niche pocket and into mainstream tastes, helped in no small part by a wider cultural shift towards SUVs. It’s become a hugely popular type of car, but does that mean the X6 is now spared the scowling looks that’ve followed the coupe-SUV silhouette since its inception? No.
Big and imperious, they’re still divisive beasts, but that hasn’t stopped BMW from attempting to perfect its end by updating the X6 in 2024. This edition is available to order with a range of different petrol and diesel engines, including a line-up-topping twin-turbo V8 that can get from 0-62mph in under four seconds. Yep, less than four.
But there’s plenty more to the X6 than just the performance statistics, so we’ve given it a full test to break down everything you need to know. Read on for the full BMW X6 review from CAR.
Should you buy a BMW X6? It’s debatable. If you want a large SUV with striking presence, luxury tech and serious performance, and you’re ready to accept compromises in cargo space, rear headroom and fuel cost, the X6 is one of the more tempting choices in its class. But it’s not a car for shrinking violets, and offers no concrete advantages over an X5. If you want to know how we came to our verdict, have a look at our how we test page.
At a glance
Pros: striking styling, powerful engine options, class-leading interior tech
Cons: compromised practicality in rear space, heavy running costs, steep price premium
What’s new?
The X6 gained refreshed look with a redesigned front end, comprising of slimmer headlights, black surfaces in certain specs and BMW’s illuminating kidney grille in 2024. Around the back, the taillights have also been redesigned to reach into the tailgate with BMW’s now common L shape light signature, plus a load of extra dark inlays for a more menacing stance. The changes may not be revolutionary but they certainly help to ramp up the model’s sports side. The X6 really has never looked so… X6.
The X6’s interior features the brand’s single curved display – a combination of one 12.3-inch display and one 14.9-inch display that stretches around the wheel and along the dashboard. The instrumental panel itself has been redesigned and is now finished in quasi leather Sensafin as standard.
The latest engines are also on offer, including a newly developed in-line six-cylinder xDrive40i and a 4.4-litre V8 unit, too. The diesel in-line sixes have been updated, too, for improved fuel economy figures and emissions, according to BMW.
What are the specs?
The performance stats of the X6 depend on which engine you opt for, but they can vary greatly. The X6 xDrive40i I tested had 374bhp, for a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. M60i models can do a little better with 522bhp for 0-62 in 4.3 seconds, while their top speed remains the same as the 40i. Range-topping M versions of the X6 with their V8 engine produce a scarcely believable 616 bhp for a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds.
As for fuel consumption and emissions, the less powerful engines are, by no surprise, the winners. The 40i X6s have a top-end fuel economy rating of 33mpg, according to figures quoted by WLTP, while their emissions stand at 218-192g/km of CO2. If you opt for a top of the line M Competition X6, expect to visit the pump pretty often, as they have a WLTP combined consumption figure of 22.2 mpg and produced 288g/km of CO2. A diesel engine option is also available.
As for size, the X6 is 4960mm long, 2212mm wide from the ends of both mirrors and 1700 mm tall, while between 580 and 1530 litres can be accommodated in the boot depending on your rear seat configuration, but more on that later.
What’s it like to drive?
Despite its enormous size, when in the right mode, the X6 can offer a rewarding and enthralling driving experience. Within the car’s systems, I was able to rotate between different engine outputs, steering weights and damping settings. Along the first phase of my journey to Wales, I had the car turned down in comfort mode the entire way, relying on the competency of the car’s eight-speed box in auto mode.
The gearbox is highly capable when left to sort itself out, waking the in-line six with a delectable growl upon me putting my foot down to overtake on the motorway, then settling back down again shortly after.
When I arrived at the twisting ribbons of North Wales towards the end of my journey, I turned the engine up and stiffened the damping to change the car’s personality. While not drastic – the car at no point felt like a naturally sporty model – the tweaks suited to the twisting roads better, and I was able to extract more performance from the X6. I felt it was able to mask its 2.3 tonne kerbweight well, and so while may not have felt right at home being thrown into corners, it was fun to do all the same.
The car’s steering isn’t quite to my tastes, as the rack is slow, and it has such little weight that I felt the wheel could probably be manoeuvred by the talons of a pigeon in its regular mode. Most X6 drivers probably won’t notice nor care, however, so it’s only a small gripe.
What about the interior?
The X6’s interior now feels bang up to date with the rest of the BMW fleet, and that’s good news. The build quality within the X6’s cabin is exemplary – every surface feels solid, well put together and undeniably premium.
The leather seats in my X6 were beautifully quilted and supremely comfortable, with enough adjustability on offer for me to get suitably low enough, too (I’m 6’2”). What particularly impressed me about the seats was just how little fatigue I felt after an exceptionally long drive. A quick jaunt down to London and then up to Bala Wales – around nine hours in total, but by the end I felt no pain or fatigue at all. I could just settle in, set the cruise control just so and then let the car do its thing.
The interior has plenty of headroom in the front, and a decent amount in the rear despite the sloping roof line. No doubt the X5 with its full-sized boot will feel more commodious around the head area for taller passengers, but the X6 still had plenty of room for three adults to get comfortable in the back.
As already mentioned, the X6 now comes with BMW’s latest curved infotainment display and accompanying software system. Aside from the endless buttons and options which seem a little thrown together rather than neatly organised, the software is easy to navigate, while the display is as crisp and clear as you’ll find in a car. The X6 also benefits from BMW’s latest industry-leading parking assistance options including a 360 degree camera and some of the most informative graphics money can buy. Despite its enormous size, the X6 really is a doddle to park.
Before you buy
BMW offers the X6 in several trims, including performance variants. Popular versions include the xDrive40i, xDrive30d and the performance M60i, with diesel and petrol choices. At the very top end there’s the X6 M Competition.
The 2025 model starts in the region of £80,500 and goes up to about £120,000 or more for higher-spec performance models. Spec choices like large wheels, black-out trims or the illuminated grille cost extra.
Rivals include the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, Porsche Cayenne Coupe and Audi Q8. These offer similar performance, prestige and technology, some are more practical, others more sporty. For many buyers, the X5 remains a more rational choice if rear passenger space or cargo capacity are priorities.
Verdict
The BMW X6 remains a striking choice in the luxury coupe-SUV class. It blends luxury, tech and performance in a package that looks powerful and commanding on the road.
If your priorities are potent performance, keen dynamics presence and creature comforts, and you can live with compromised rear space, visibility, high running costs, and aggressive looks the X6 is a very worthwhile option. Against rivals, it is not the most practical, nor the cheapest to run, but few match its character, spec and overall capability.