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Walk Around

The BMW X6 was the first of its kind. Until Acura introduced the ZDX, there were no other raised four-door coupe/SUVs on the market.

The X6 shares its basic architecture with the X5 SUV (or SAV for Sports Activity Vehicle in BMW parlance), but it is modified for the X6. The wheelbase is the same, but the X6 is about two inches wider and the rear track is 2.2 inches wider. The X6's coupe-like body design also makes it three inches lower than the X5. The X6's raised ride height (with a ground clearance of 8.5 inches) means it is classified as a truck. The M model sits 0.4 inch lower than the others.

On the road, the X6 has a definite presence. For starters, there's the twin-kidney BMW grille. The X6 differs from the X5 and announces its performance character with lots of front end cooling. A small mesh grille is located beneath the twin kidney grilles and a larger lower air intake, also with a mesh grille, is found along the bottom of the front fascia. More noticeable are two massive air intakes that house round fog lights located beneath the cat's eye-style headlights. The two main line models have fog lights in the air intake openings, but the M does not. The M also has a different, more angular lower fascia.

It's from the side that the X6 makes its biggest statement. If you would only see the X6 from the beltline down, you'd think it's an SUV. After all, the wheelwells house massive tires, yet the wheel openings are so massive that there is plenty of air around the tires. It's the greenhouse, however, that defines the vehicle. The roof reaches the peak of its height just behind the windshield and steadily slopes down to the rear end where it culminates in a built-in spoiler. When viewed from the rear, this spoiler is part of the hatchback and it resembles the high trunk that debuted on the 7 Series. The M differs from the other two models with BMW's signature gills behind the front wheels and with a unique 20-inch wheel design.

The rear view shows a wide, rounded shape. It doesn't look quite like a sports car, though, because the rear end is fairly tall and chunky, not sleek and slim like a BMW 6 Series or Porsche 911. Nonetheless, like a sports car, the high rear end and sloped roof give the X6 the look of a predator hunched and ready to attack. Again, the M model has a unique appearance. It features a different lower fascia with an integral rear diffuser that surrounds quad exhaust outlets.

Interior

2010 BMW X6

The overall ambience of the BMW X6 cabin is decidedly upscale. Just about every BMW has a nice, if somewhat staid, interior, but the X6 is more luxurious than most of the line. Soft-touch surfaces abound and the few plastics that are to be found are solid and tastefully finished. The standard dash is nicely padded, and is even nicer with the optional leather covering. Real wood trim is used throughout.

No matter the model, the driver grips a substantial steering wheel with aluminum shift paddles and looks upon a hooded instrument cluster that features a prominent speedometer and tachometer. Outlined in silver, the gauges feature black faces with white numbers. Base models have white needles and the M has red needles. Inset and shrouded, the gauges are easy to read, as is the digital trip computer information that is displayed between the two gauges. The trip computer information is accessed through a button on the turn signal stalk.

To the driver's right is the center stack, which features an 8.8-inch screen that displays the navigation map (when navigation is ordered) and other functions of BMW's iDrive control system. Below the screen are two vents, a set of climate control buttons, and the radio controls. The radio controls are set low, and we had to momentarily take our eyes off the road to adjust the radio. Standard steering wheel controls help here, though. BMW also provides eight programmable buttons so specific radio stations, navigation destinations, and telephone numbers can be accessed instantly.

iDrive, now in its fourth generation, is controlled via a round aluminum knob on the center console. With this generation, the system has Menu, CD, Radio, Tel, Nav, Back, and Option buttons surrounding the control knob. The previous generation had only a Menu button. This system controls navigation, communication, climate, and entertainment functions. It can still require several steps to perform various functions, making tasks like finding a new radio station overly complicated, but we find the latest generation easier to use than its predecessor. We also found that it becomes easier once you get used to it.

For 2010, BMW adds a Top View display to its rearview camera. The top view also allows you to see the side of the vehicle when backing up, making it easier to parallel park. In this case, more information is more helpful and not distracting. The navigation system also comes with an 80-gigabyte hard drive this year, 15 gigs of which can be used to store music files.

In the M model, drivers can also control the M Drive settings through the iDrive system. Chose the settings for the Electronic Damper Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Power (throttle mapping and transmission shift points), and Head-up Display in various iDrive screens and they will all be used when you press the M button on the steering wheel. These controls allow you to firm up the suspension, leave more room for play in the stability control system, increase throttle response, adjust shift points and add a rev counter warning in the optional Head-up display to inform you when to shift manually if you're using the automatic transmission's M (manual) mode.

The center console also features two cupholders covered by a shade in front of the shift knob, a small cubby to hold items such as change or a cell phone, and a deep console bin that is padded in leather when you order the leather dashboard. Knee pads on either side of the center console help keep passengers from banging their knees when the driver decides to charge hard into turns.

The driver's seating position is high like that of an SUV. There is plenty of head and leg room and the multi-adjustable seats should allow anyone to find a comfortable driving position. The M's sport seats have deeper bolstering, but we didn't find it too intrusive. The front passenger has good room, too, but a long-legged colleague noted that the footwell's limited leg room meant he had to put the seat farther back than usual. Visibility to the rear is blocked by the sloped roofline, but the large mirrors help make up for that with a good view to the sides and rear.

The rear seat is fairly comfortable. It only has seating for two, which leaves a lot of hip and shoulder room. Head room is generally good, though it starts to go away if you lean back or are quite tall. Leg room is good until the front seats are moved more than halfway back. Occupants in back have a handy center tray with two cupholders and a shallow tray with a rubberized bottom for holding small items. Getting in and out of the back is a little tough, as the door openings are small, requiring occupants to twist their ankles and turn sideways to slide in and out. Generally, the rear seat makes the X6 comfortable for four adults, but the lack of a center position limits the X6's usefulness for families.

For cargo, the rear seat folds down 60/40 to create a mostly flat load floor. A pass-through for skis and other long items can be loaded without restricting passenger capacity. With the seats up, there is 25.6 cubic feet of cargo space, about the same as your average hatchback. That's appropriate because the X6 really is a hatchback. With the seats down, there's 59.7 cubic feet of cargo room, which is about the same as a 5 Series wagon. The rear hatch lifts in one piece, but the load floor is rather high and the coupe-like roof limits the height of packages that can be loaded. Overall, the X6 has the cargo flexibility of a typical hatchback, which is good, but it is not as spacious as most small SUVs.

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