BMW X6 Review 2024

One of the draws of the BMW X6 has always been its distinctive styling, and BMW has turned up the dial even further with this version. It’s more distinctive than ever, with its in-your-face front end, and the coupe roofline seems to work better than on any previous X6. We've no doubt a lot of people will still loathe it, but if you're in the camp that doesn't, then it'll certainly work for you. 

It’s very luxurious inside, reflecting how BMW has upped its game with car interiors, and the array of electronic displays is certainly a talking point (even if they are less intuitive than BMW systems used to be). 

We like how the X6 now feels more coupe-like, and love the impressive amount of space BMW has still been able to pack inside. For this alone, we can see why you’d choose it over a regular coupe. If outright space is more of a priority, though, the slightly cheaper BMW X5 might be a better bet. 

Large SUV coupes have become quite a thing since BMW invented the sector back in 2008 with the original X6. Today, we have the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, Audi Q8 and even a Porsche Cayenne Coupe. It’s a growing sector, much to the annoyance of some.

Land Rover might argue it was a pioneer here with the Range Rover Sport, but while it’s good looking, it doesn’t have the plunging coupe roofline that characterises these vehicles. The more svelte Range Rover Velar in high-end trims is probably a closer competitor. You could also argue that the Tesla Model X is a key rival, too, as despite being an electric car it has the performance and desirability to compete. 

BMW has upped its game in terms of quality. It’s always been a brand that delivers a premium feel, but some of its earlier SUVs perhaps didn’t quite make the leap from premium into luxury. This one certainly does, with some wonderful materials including a soft-touch, fully-stitched dashboard cover, plush plastics further down and some beautifully finished major controls to grasp: the steering wheel, gearlever, even the door handles.

Press the electric window switches and there’s a muted click, rather than a cheap clack, and even the whirr of the window itself is damped and isolated, furthering the impression of quality. The high-resolution screen in the centre of the dash is also crisp and bright, as is the inset ‘black panel’ climate control system below.

The finishing touches are the soft leather, the sturdy and expensive-looking trim inlays, and the sheer tactility of the buttons that remain on the dashboard. It’s a BMW that is definitely now a match for its SUV coupe rival from Porsche.

The X6 has what's called BMW Operating System 7.0. This is billed as a fully connected system that links both the 12.3-inch touchscreen with the same-size digital instrument cluster: oh, and the BMW Connected app on your smartphone.

The system doesn’t have the menu structure of older BMW iDrive systems. Instead, it’s tile-based, and fully configurable, with shortcuts on the left-hand side. BMW packs so much into its latest infotainment, it was impossible to have the rotary menu of before. The system allows owners to configure what they want to see more of, and stick lesser-used functions in the background.

Sat-nav mapping is as brilliant as ever, and BMW’s connected services beam in live traffic information, weather details, parking information, fuel prices and other real-time data.

BMW lets you use it in multiple different ways: the touch-sensitive iDrive rotary controller, the touchscreen, via voice (its “Hey, BMW” virtual assistant is surprisingly effective), even gesture control. Or any combination you may see fit. It’s fully packed with technology and is now an extremely impressive modern infotainment system.

Although it feels a little less SUV-like in terms of seating position, the BMW X6 still has the up-high stance that many find so appealing in an SUV. You look down at other vehicles, rather than go face-to-face with them, giving a reassuring and confidence-inspiring feeling of superiority behind the wheel. 

It’s a big car with real presence; the BMW X6's exterior dimensions are 4935mm long, 2004mm wide and 1696mm tall. It's even longer than the X5, then, although it is slightly lower than the old X6, which helps make it look more dynamic. 

The vast cabin has plenty of stowage space, with no end of massive cubbies that will swallow even the largest of smartphones, plus door bins and cup holders that are a match for any receptacle you can get from Starbucks.

It has less headroom than a BMW X5 in the rear, but it’s still spacious back there, with plenty of legroom and a really comfortable, supportive bench seat. Perhaps the smaller coupe-style windows and raked rear roofline mean it might feel a little claustrophobic for three people, due to the shortage of light, but for two it’s fine. It feels safe and confidence-inspiring back there.

It's worth noting, of course, that the X5 has a seven-seat option on most variants, whereas the X6 is a strict five-seater. That's true of all the X6's rivals, where the sloping roofline simply doesn't allow the headroom required to fit an actual human back there. 

The boot is pretty huge as a result, however. It’s extremely long and very wide, which compensates for a lack of height due to the raked hatchback tailgate. Even with the seats up, the BMW X5's boot capacity is 580 litres; no less than 200 litres more than a Volkswagen Golf. Fold the seats and this grows to 1,530 litres. A BMW X5 is ultimately bigger and more practical, but the X6 is still a useful vehicle.

The fact it has lots of rear space and a large boot is also why some buyers may prefer the X6 over a regular coupe such as the BMW 8 Series. The X6 is more practical, more of the time, and requires far fewer compromises to live with day-to-day.

The outer two rear seats have Isofix mounts for child car seats, and there’s a passenger airbag cut-off switch. Just be careful you don’t knock your head on that plunging roofline as you get junior in the back.

You really don’t need any more than the entry-level BMW X6 xDrive30d engine. It’s now fitted with 48-volt mild hybrid technology, which comprises an integrated starter-generator and a lithium-ion battery. Earlier versions of the engine had 286PS, while on later versions, it was upgraded to 298PS. The power is released in a satisfying surge when accelerating, and battery charge is clawed back again when you lift off to extend the engine-off range.

The engine feels snappier than ever thanks to electric fill-in boost from the mild hybrid system. Zero to 62mph takes 6.1 seconds and the surge it generates on the move makes it feel like a much bigger and more powerful engine. BMW has for a long time engineered alchemy into some of its engines and this entry-level diesel motor is one such example.

If that isn't potent enough, a more powerful 340PS (later upped to 352PS) variant of the same 3.0-litre straight-six diesel features in the X6 xDrive40d. Its efficiency is about the same, but this time it'll spear from 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds. It's a very potent unit but one that'll also cruise in a very relaxing way. 

The X6 xDrive40i petrol is, at last, a worthwhile alternative to diesel. Previously, owners of petrol X6s have always been a bit short-changed, because the engines don’t quite serve up sufficient excitement or oomph given the extra fuel they consumed. This 3.0-litre straight-six turbo cures that, with an ample 340PS for 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds (later upgraded to 381PS and 5.4 seconds). It’s a revvier, livelier engine than the gutsy diesel, and is a fun drive in its own right.

We really like the X6 M50i’s (later renamed M60i) 4.4-litre V8, with a mighty 530PS, but it’s a niche model and you can't really use that much performance on tight, twisty European roads due to the sheer size of the thing. The X6 M? Well, that's the same engine with nigh on another 100PS and firmer suspension, so the previous point kinda counts double. The X6 M50d (no longer on sale) is marginally more popular than either, with its 3.0-litre six-cylinder quad-turbo motor putting out 400hp for 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds. 

All BMW X6s use an excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox, with paddle shifters if you prefer to do the work yourself. It's much more responsive than Audi's rather laggy eight-speed unit, for example. 

Refinement also reflects the BMW X6’s status as a luxury model. It is very smooth-running, with even the diesel engines producing little more than a murmur. For such a big machine, it flows through the air quietly, showing the benefits of plenty of time in the wind tunnel and lots of acoustic noise-isolating features.

Some of the bigger alloy wheel options can generate a bit of tyre roar as speeds rise, but so long as you keep it fairly sensible here, it’s not too excessive. And while both M Performance models have 22-inch alloys, they also have enthusiastic engine notes of their own that you won’t mind hearing a bit more of, particularly with the magnificent V8. Indeed, the M Sport exhaust system lets you choose what sort of noise you want, literally at the press of a button.

As it is related to the BMW X5, safety organisation Euro NCAP encourages us to look at the 2018 crash-test of that vehicle to get an idea how the X6 performs. The X5 was rated a five-star car, with 89 percent for adult occupant protection, 86 percent for child occupant protection, 75 percent for protecting vulnerable road users, and 75 percent for safety assist features.

Front airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, are backed up with side airbags for front and rear passengers, and standard chest and pelvis airbags for those in the front: the latter are optional for rear-seat passengers. BMW also fits a seatbelt reminder for all five seats, although that's par for the course these days.

There’s an extensive set of active safety assist features: an active bonnet that pops up to protect pedestrians, autonomous emergency braking that detects pedestrians, cyclists and cars; a speed limiter and a lane-keep assist system, all as standard. You'd expect that at this price point. 

Prestige brands haven't exactly covered themselves in glory in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index. Our sister website publishes an annual list pulling out the 10 car manufacturers that were rated by owners as the least reliable, and the latest list features BMW's bitter rivals Mercedes-Benz (6th worst), Audi (9th worst) and Jaguar (10th worst). Where the X6 is concerned, Porsche and Land Rover are also close rivals, and both also feature, Porsche being 8th worst and Land Rover being the worst of the lot. 

Happily, for X6 buyers, there was no place for BMW on that list. However, it can't match the might of Lexus in the area of mechanical dependability, which was voted as the most reliable manufacturer overall.

It's not particularly surprising, then, to see Lexus top the manufacturer rankings outright when it comes to overall customer satisfaction. It's more of a surprise to see BMW (12th place out of 29 manufacturers) leapfrogged in the overall standings by Porsche (4th), Jaguar (5th) and Land Rover (9th), although the German marque did manage to stay ahead of domestic rivals Audi (16th) and Mercedes-Benz (20th).

We haven't heard any reliability horror stories regarding the X6 specifically. Like all BMWs, the X6 comes with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

Insurance costs for the latest BMW X6 are likely to be extremely high. Almost the entire range falls into the top group 50 insurance rating. Only the entry-level xDrive30d Sport fails to hit the big 5-0 (it’s rated in insurance group 49). 

The X6 is a desirable machine with a heady price tag and, even in base guise, very swift performance, so don’t expect it to be a particular bargain on the insurance front.

All BMW X6s are expensive, and so are liable for the ‘expensive car’ VED (road tax) premium. This sees owners pay a surcharge on top of the annual standard-rate charge for a five-year period between years two and six of the car's life. You can't get around it by buying used, either, because this liability is passed on to subsequent owners until the car's seventh birthday. The standard flat rate currently stands at £190 per year, while the additional surcharge is £490 per year, so you're looking at a chunk of change each year. Then again, if you can afford to buy, insure and fuel an X6, then an annual outlay of 600 notes probably isn't going to deter you.

All latest-generation BMW X6s have a very extensive list of standard equipment, although there's plenty of options to add on if you want even more lavish tech or finishes. 

In the entry-level BMW X6 Sport (no longer offered brand new) the smallest wheels are 19 inches in diameter (but can be optioned up), the headlights are adaptive LEDs with high beam assist, the stereo is enhanced with a BMW Advanced loudspeaker system, the front sports seats are heated, and the BMW Parking Assistant kit is also included. Even the infotainment is the high-grade Connected Package Professional.  

The BMW X6 M Sport adds a more distinctive front and rear bumper design, high-gloss black side window surrounds, body colour wheelarches, an M Sport exhaust and blue M Sport brake calipers. M Performance versions have even larger 22-inch alloys, Adaptive M Suspension Professional and an M Sport differential that makes them even pointier and more responsive in corners.