2023 BMW X6 M SUV

　　

2023 BMW X6 M Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　Back in 2008, BMW introduced the first X6, an SUV based on the X5 but with a distinctive sloping rear roofline for a sportier appearance. Two years later, BMW added the X6 M, which had the power and performance to match its styling. While we agreed the profile had an athletic shape, we weren't convinced its related drawbacks (a reduction in rear passenger and cargo space) would catch on.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 BMW X6 M 4dr SUV AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 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

　　$310/mo  for X6 M Base

　　X6 M Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $113,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Fast-forward 13 years and the trend has spread throughout the class. It turns out shoppers are indeed willing to sacrifice some convenience for aesthetics, and there's certainly a market for high-performance SUVs. With 600 horsepower under the hood and a sport-tuned suspension, the 2023 X6 M is as inspiring to drive as some sports cars, but that too comes with a sacrifice, namely ride comfort.

　　There's a lot to like about the 2023 BMW X6 M, but there are also some aspects that should give you pause. We cover them all in our Expert Rating below, which also helps frame it against the competition. These include the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 S and the Audi RS Q8.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the X6 M drive? We tested the X6 M in its Competition guise. At the zzdcar test track, it ripped from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, which places it among the quickest midsize luxury SUVs we've ever tested. The turbo V8 engine also makes gobs of easily accessible torque down low, so driving around town is smooth and effortless. The brakes are up to the task of hauling up this big SUV (stopping from 60 mph took just 107 feet in our test) and are also smooth and consistent.

　　The X6 M Competition can take a corner pretty well. But this is a heavy SUV and its suspension is quite stiff. As such, the X6 M gets unsettled on less than perfect roads. Steering is accurate and direct and provides some road feedback to the driver, but its heavy weighting can also make trolling for a parking lot space more of a chore. BMW also loves giving you lots of drive mode options. There are six settings for the transmission alone. We can see the appeal of the customization possibility, but having this much choice can get overwhelming.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the X6 M? The front sport seats offer plenty of adjustment and support along with available heat, massage and cooling. Both the heat and cooling functions could be more powerful, but otherwise it doesn't get much better. The rear seats are a little too upright and flat for adults to really get comfortable. The X6 M Competition's ride quality isn't harsh and actually handles big impacts well. But even in the softest Comfort setting, it's never really settled.

　　Just like the related X5 M, the X6 M generates a lot of road noise when driving over broken pavement. Otherwise the rest of the cabin is pretty well insulated against ambient and wind noise.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below