2021 BMW X6 Review

　　

2021 BMW X6 Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　How strong is the demand for luxury SUVs? So strong that it has branched off into a collection of fastback-style "coupe" SUVs to provide a stylish — yet less practical — alternative to standard versions. The BMW X6 is the originator of the trend, and more than a decade after it debuted, the X6 is still a standout choice among competition from Audi, Porsche and, of course, Mercedes.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW X6 sDrive40i 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$203/mo  for X6 sDrive40i

　　X6 sDrive40i

　　sDrive40i 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $65,050 MSRPxDrive40i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $67,350 MSRPM50i 4dr SUV AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $86,250 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　One can never accuse the X6 of getting lost in a crowd. It has one of the most rakish rooflines of all the coupe SUVs, and compared with the X5 on which it is based, the X6's styling cues seem to shout rather than whisper. Fortunately, BMW backs it up with two powerful engine options and a wide array of available performance upgrades. Inside, the X6 is more conservative and emphasizes high-end materials and numerous standard features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Should you get an X6? Logic says you should get an X5 instead; it's less expensive and more practical. But the whole point of the X6 is to appeal to your emotions, and on that front it's certainly a success.

　　

Which X6 does zzdcar recommend?

Take your pick from the rear-wheel-drive sDrive40i or the all-wheel-drive xDrive40i. These trims come well equipped and are both comfortable and fun to drive on the road. They're also priced well below the V8-powered M50i and give you more budgetary room to tailor your X6 with options such as the Executive package and Driving Assistance Professional package.

　　

2021 BMW X6 models

The BMW X6 is a four-door coupe-style SUV, meaning it has a sporty sloping roofline on a midsize crossover SUV body. It is available in three trims: sDrive40i, xDrive40i and M50i. All models are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

　　sDrive40i

　　Standard features on the base rear-wheel-drive model include:

　　Adaptive LED headlights LED foglights 20-inch wheels Turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (335 horsepower, 330 lb-ft of torque) 12.3-inch center infotainment touchscreen Navigation Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration Power-adjustable steering wheel Leather upholstery Power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support Heated front sport seats Automatic climate control Ambient lighting Panoramic sunroofStandard safety equipment includes:

　　Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)xDrive40i

　　This trim includes all the standard equipment above and adds all-wheel drive.

　　M50i

　　A performance version of the X6 that adds:

　　Automatic high beams Upgraded brakes with blue calipers All-wheel drive Turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine (523 hp, 553 lb-ft) Upgraded sport steering wheel Ventilated front seats Wireless charging pad Upgraded USB ports and Bluetooth connectivity Wi-Fi hotspot Four-zone automatic climate control Upgraded stereo system Adaptive sport suspension Sport differential Sport exhaust system Front and rear parking sensorsSignificant option packages for the X6 include:

　　Driving Assistance Professional package

　　A collection of additional safety equipment with the following:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the X6 and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (steers the X6 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Steering & Traffic Jam Assistant (combines low-speed adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist)Executive package

　　This loaded package elevates the sDrive40i and xDrive40i to new luxury heights:

　　Head-up display Four-zone automatic climate control Surround-sound system Panoramic LED sunroof

　　

2021 X6 Highlights

Type: SUVM50iSUV

　　Trim: sDrive40ixDrive40iM50isDrive40i

　　

Base MSRP	$65,050
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$203/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	27.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles