2024 BMW X6

The X6 M has a more slender kidney grille, but with a larger lower grille and larger side air intakes to cool off the V-8. The biggest visual distinguisher are the staggered wheel sizes, with 21s up front and 22s in back, or the flashiest colors, such as Wildberry Metallic ($5,000).

Inside, a horizontal theme stretches across the dash with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch touchscreen curving under a single pane of glass toward the driver. Most of the climate control buttons migrate into the touchscreen, leaving only a tiny band of controls for the hazards, defrosters, and volume knob. Slim center vents sit in between the touchscreen and climate bar. A controller dial and drive mode buttons remain in the console, which now has a pushbutton gear selector instead of a lever. BMW balances natural textures such as wood and leather with aluminum accents for a calm, almost serene cabin.

How fast is the BMW X6?

Most X6 shoppers opt for the base X6 xDrive40 and its revised turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6. It makes 40 hp and 51 lb-ft of torque more than its predecessor, to 375 hp and as much as 398 lb-ft with the mild-hybrid engaged. It sprints to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, according to BMW, but if this daily commuter tempts you into becoming a daily sprinter, consider your tires: The X6 rides on 20-inch wheels with run-flat tires, though 21-inch wheels with performance run-flat tires and 22-inch wheels with performance tires are options. The 8-speed flicks effortlessly through low gears, and the only time you might want the paddle shifters is to downshift a few gears before a passing move to alert the turbocharger of what’s to come. 

It’s quick enough to earn a point on our scale, and seems quicker when considering its hefty size of 5,002 pounds. It earns another point to a 7 total for offsetting some of that weight, but even with a near perfect weight distribution, a lower ride height than the X6, and a double wishbone front suspension and multilink rear with adaptive damping at all four corners, the X6 still has handling characteristics of an SUV. A deft SUV, but an SUV no less. The blistering 0-60 mph times of the M60i and X6 M Competition would earn another point to an 8, if rated separately. 

Compared to the X5, the X6 rises 2.2 inches lower in height and has a ground clearance of 8.5 versus 8.7 inches. The M models sit 0.5 inch lower. 

X6 M60i xDrive performance

The X6 M60i xDrive also employs a mild-hybrid with its twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8. Output hits 523 hp and 553 lb-ft, and it launches to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. The M60i includes M Sport exhaust, rear differential, and brakes with blue calipers, as well as ventilated disc brakes to arrest its 5,300 pounds. Oof. This is the midsize BMW SUV that best manages comfort with giddy performance. Even with its mild electrification, it’s the antidote to EV performance, with a visceral V-8 and dynamic exhaust, and an electronic limited slip differential that instantly adjusts torque to the rear wheel with the most grip. That’s key on the lean that comes from so much weight being shoved around behind such a potent V-8. It’s also priced about $35,000 less than the X6 M Competition, so you can add the $2,200 Dynamic Handling Package for active roll bars front and rear to limit that body lean. 

X6 M Competition performance

If you must have the best of what BMW offers in midsize SUV form, it's the X6 M Competition. The mild-hybrid powertrain migrates for the first time to the M Competition, and its twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 rates at 617 hp and 553 lb-ft. It shakes off its 5,375 pounds for a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds, but the chassis is tuned so stiff to balance all that weight that the rigid handling as well as the large staggered wheels (21 inches up front, 22 in rear) seems to soak up every single thing the road is putting down. You must love speed and must need an SUV to endure that compromise on the daily, but once engaged the X6 M stands for Marvel when it comes to mechanical wizardry. A car this big shouldn’t handle as well as the X6 M, thanks in part to its electronic limited slip rear differential and chassis stiffness. 

With the M Driver’s Package, top speed increases from 155 to 177 mph. Speed is only as effective for performance as braking, so BMW fits the X6 M Competition with 6-piston calipers grabbing 15.6-inch rotors up front and single-piston calipers with 15.0-inch rotors at the rear.

That comfort can be extended to the rear, but only for smaller passengers, and only for two passengers despite the three seat belts. There’s only 35.7 inches for rear legroom, cramped even for compact crossover standards, and 6-footers will need to slouch to fit their heads.  

The middle seat is best served as a pass-through to the back, thanks to 40/20/40-split rear seats. Fold those down and cargo expands to 59.6 cubic feet behind the front, compared to 72.3 cubic feet in the X5.

Which BMW X6 should I buy?

It’s a question of performance. If that’s a secondary consideration, we’d steer you towards the 2024 X5 that’s $6,400 less. But since we drove you here, you probably want the added juice of the twin-turbo V-8 and better handling of the M60i xDrive. The M Sport brakes, exhaust, and rear differential boost the price to $94,595, but it also adds cooled front sport seats with power lumbar support, wood trim, Harman Kardon sound, and a head-up display. 

In addition to the driver-assist packages mentioned above, options range from a $2,200 Dynamic Handling Package with an air suspension and active roll bars to a $1,000 Climate Comfort Package with heated armrests and a heated steering wheel. If you don’t blush at a six-figure X6, take them both. 

How much is a fully loaded X6?

The 2024 X6 M Competition tops the line at $128,195. It has Merino leather, Alcantara headliner, adaptive cruise control, and the Climate Comfort Package, as well as enough options to scale to $150,000.