The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Distinctive shape
- Successful styling
- Impressive performance
- Optional twin-turbocharged V-8 power
Dislikes
- Cramped rear row
- Expensive
- Impractical for an SUV
- Poor outward vision
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2023 BMW X6 sacrifices the X5’s practicality in favor of fashion, but doesn’t skip a performance beat.
What kind of car is the 2023 BMW X6? What does it compare to?
The 2023 BMW X6 is nearly identical to the X5 mid-size luxury SUV, though it stands out thanks to its a fastback-style roofline. The X6 is pretty, it’s expensive, and it’s a pretty expensive contender in a competitive segment that includes the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Porsche Cayenne, and Jaguar F-Pace.
Is the 2023 BMW X6 a good SUV?
Yes. The 2023 X6 has handsome looks inside and out to complement its fantastic acceleration, though cargo capacity falls shy of the more practical and traditional X5. The X6 earns a TCC Rating of 7.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What’s new with the 2023 BMW X6?
The X6 now gets standard synthetic leather upholstery, and there have been some minor changes to the features menu—most notably, gesture control is no longer available. This follows similar changes for 2022 that resulted in wireless device charging becoming an option rather than standard. Chalk it up to the chip shortage and other widespread industry supply issues.
If looks could kill, it would be an Uzi. The X6 makes an attractive mashup, shapely without being svelte or sleek. The inside boasts excellently executed BMW cues, with eye-catching swaths of wood or metallic trim dividing the cabin into digital space and leather-clad conversation lounge.
Performance escalates from merely impressive to unreal. Even the base model, fitted with a 335-hp turbocharged-6 and 8-speed auto transmission, charges off the line with a pace that defies its girth; cornering demonstrates grip and grace but also induces body lean. The X6 clears steep performance hurdles with the serious M50i model, featuring an adaptive air suspension, and it’s absolutely amazing in M trim made track-ready with the Competition package. That adds up to 617 hp, a 0-60 mph sprint well under four seconds, fantastic grip, and a ride that shifts from stiff to harsh depending on surface quality.
The X6 sheds a baker’s dozen in cubic feet of cargo capacity compared to the X5, but still earns good scores for utility. The roofline impacts back-seat space, too, forcing taller rear passengers to slouch or lean.
There’s no crash data, but the X6 is similar to the X5, which earns solid scores in this area. The X6 gets standard blind-spot monitors and automatic emergency braking, with options such as a surround-view camera system and adaptive cruise control.
How much does the 2023 BMW X6 cost?
Pricing starts at $71,095 for the xDrive40i, which has all-wheel drive, synthetic leather upholstery, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. With Bowers & Wilkins audio, wireless smartphone charging, and 22-inch wheels, the X6 M Competition soars to $120,000.
Where is the 2023 BMW X6 made?
It’s produced in South Carolina.
2023 BMW X6 Styling
The fastback-styled SUV has better posture than before, but we’d still take an X5.
We’ve yet to figure out how to describe the X6 any way other than a fastback SUV. Still, we give the X6 a 7 here, with extra points for the interior as well as the exterior.
The X6 features a higher price yet less interior space, and BMW’s done well with this idea. The current X6 successfully soothes concerns over its wanna-be coupe back end and its tall-SUV proportions. The roofline falls quicker than the elevator in a luxury high-rise, the kidney grille is predictably huge, and the doors nip and tuck away as much visual weight as possible. It’s about as pretty as possible.
Inside, the X6 takes an even more dramatic turn by offering colorful leather to complement BMW’s typical horizontal cockpit design. Digital displays and touchscreens dominate the top half of the dashboard, trimmed by metal or wood, yet the overall effect is serene.
2023 BMW X6 Performance
The X6 isn’t exactly nimble—and it isn’t at all slow.
BMW offers three distinct configurations of X6, all with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Every combination delivers sizzling performance, and the top trim is outrageously quick. We give a 7 here based on the performance of the base V-6 model; it would be an 8 if our rating was based on the lower-volume V-8 models.
Is the BMW X6 4WD?
Yes, every version gets all-wheel drive.
How fast is the BMW X6?
The base xDrive40i is fitted with a 3.0-liter turbo-6 good for 335 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, sent to all four wheels by an 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s muscular yet subdued, and capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in roughly five seconds.
The M50i upgrades to a 523-hp 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, which runs to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds with effortless shifts from the 8-speed and a guttural soundtrack that sounds more Detroit than BMW. Despite the two turbos, it’s lag-free, and with manual mode, the paddle shifters can flip through gears and stay there.
For interstellar-grade speed, it’s the X6 M. This model features a version of the twin-turbo V-8 tuned to 600 hp, and with the Competition package, 617 hp. These models boast 0-60 mph times of 3.8 and 3.7 seconds, respectively.
The X6’s power management is tenacious yet forgiving, staunchly anti-wheelspin, and not at all nimble. This crossover can hit nearly 5,000 pounds, and BMW relies heavily on technology and geometry to tame understeer. Standard adaptive dampers adjust stiffness and balance out some of the road texture transmitted through the biggest wheel options, while the higher-end models get sport suspension tuning, air springs, rear-axle steering, and active roll stabilization, which combine to combat body lean. The base X6 is a cheerful commuter and adventure companion, and becomes a ferocious track competitor in M and Competition versions; the experience becomes sports-car-like with astonishing acceleration and a ride that’s almost brittle.
2023 BMW X6 Comfort & Quality
The X6 shaves valuable cubic feet from the X5.
The BMW X6 shares running gear with the X5, but the change to the roofline may be the biggest influence on rear passengers’ experience. We give an 8 here, which includes points for front seat comfort, overall fit and finish, and cargo space; however, we can’t give the two points we give the X5 for back-seat space and five-passenger accommodations.
The X6 gets front 16-way power-adjustable and heated buckets with synthetic leather upholstery; real leather and seat coolers are optional. Tall drivers have plenty of room in front even considering the standard panoramic sunroof, and the seat cushions can be adjusted to support wider torsos, shorter arms, or longer legs.
There’s 35.7 inches for rear-seat legroom, but headroom’s been significantly trimmed compared to the X5 to the extend that 6-footers will likely graze the headliner.
Cargo capacity checks in at 27.6 cubic feet behind the rear row, and 59.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The X5 offers 72.3 total cubic feet, but that sacrifice seems to be worth it to X6 buyers. Overall, interior finish and quality are excellent, with plenty of options that appeal to a multitude of senses.
2023 BMW X6 Safety
The X6 hasn’t been crash-tested yet.
How safe is the BMW X6?
There’s no crash-test data published, so the 2023 BMW X6 can’t be rated here. That said, it’s similar in structural integrity to the X5, which is excellent.
BMW equips the X6 with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, parking sensors, adaptive LED headlights, and automatic high-beams.
Safety add-ons include lane change assist, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system, which we recommend to help alleviate the X6’s poor outward vision.
2023 BMW X6 Features
With excellent warranty coverage and technology flourishes, the X6 ranks well for features.
With a few changes to the features menu over the past few years, the X6 still rates highly, picking up a point for the 4-year/50,000-mile warranty that includes three years of scheduled service. It’s a 9, missing just one point for value.
Which BMW X6 should I buy?
We like the base $71,905 X6 xDrive40i, which includes all-wheel drive, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, satellite radio, a 12.3-inch digital gauge panel, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The $90,095 M50i adds remote start, 20-way power-adjustable front seats, M-tuned steering and suspension, and a Harmon Kardon 16-speaker audio system.
Options range from a light-up grille to a head-up display, upgraded leather upholstery, wireless smartphone charging, a Bowers & Wilkins audio system, a dynamic handling package, and distinctive 21- or 22-inch wheels.
How much is a fully loaded X6?
Budget $114,695 for the X6 M, and then another $9,300 for the Competition package.
2023 BMW X6 Fuel Economy
Efficiency loses to power in the X6.
Is the BMW X6 good on gas?
BMW squeezes as much mileage as possible from the heavy, tall, powerful X6, but a 2 on our scale is the best it can do. That’s based on the EPA’s ratings of 21 mpg city, 25 highway, 23 combined in xDrive40i trim.
In M models, gas mileage nosedives. The M50i is pegged at 16/22/18 mpg, while the M and M Competition both get 13/18/15 mpg.
