Monday, September 5, 2011

BMW X6

The 2012 BMW X6 ranks 18 out of 18 Luxury Midsize SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 40 published reviews and test drives of the BMW X6, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
Though reviewers love driving the 2012 BMW X6, they question its purpose. It’s a high-performance SUV with a sports-car price tag and limited utility.

Reviewers can’t figure out what type of vehicle the BMW X6 is, but after driving it, they’ve decided that they don’t care, and call it one of the best-handling, most fun-to-drive SUVs on the market. However, the auto press emphasizes that those looking for practicality or value should look elsewhere. “We set out to determine what the BMW X6 is, and this is our answer: BMW X6 a fully capable, beautifully finished, and superbly comfortable four-place sports car with a trunk big enough for almost any adventure and the ability to tow up to three tons of what won’t fit inside,” writes Car and Driver.

BMW X6

The BMW X6 is a vehicle reviewers love, but consumers may have a hard time justifying a $60,000 purchase. Though its base trim costs $11,700 more than the BMW X5, it has less cargo space and can seat only four (a fifth seat was added as a $350 option this year). The BMW X6’s suspension is tuned tightly to make it sporty, but some reviewers say that makes it uncomfortable as a daily driver. The ActiveHybrid X6 adds $30,000 to the base price and makes 100 more horsepower than the base BMW X6, but it gets worse fuel economy than the base model. And the BMW X6’s 2.5-ton curb weight cuts down on any fuel economy that could have resulted from the turbocharged, direct-injected six-cylinder engine.
But, if you’re in the market for a fun-to-drive SUV with loads of interior amenities and aren’t constrained by a budget, reviewers say you won’t find anything better than the BMW X6. It takes corners like a pro, and the upgraded V8 engine blasts it to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. Plus, it comes stuffed to the gills with standard features like front and rear parking sensors, a power liftgate, leather upholstery and adaptive cruise control. To some shoppers, the BMW X6 will make no sense at all, but to others, it’s an ideal combination of track star and people-hauler.

BMW X6

If you’re in the market for a practical SUV, the BMW X6 definitely isn’t it. But, you can still get a fun-to-drive, luxury midsize SUV with plenty of space for your family for a class-competitive price. The BMW X5 has an optional third row of seating, and its 75.2 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity easily beats the X6’s 59.7 cubic-foot maximum. Plus, the base X5 starts at $47,200, which is $11,700 less than the base X6. And you can still be a speed demon in your X5. A high-performance X5 M starts at $86,400, which is expensive, but undercuts the BMW X6 M by $3,100.
If you’re attracted by the BMW X6’s lifted-back coupe styling but think its starting price is too high, check out the Acura ZDX. It’s a similar coupe-like SUV with an emphasis on performance, but its MSRP is just a hair more than $46,000. That means it costs less than the BMW X6 by about $12,900. Plus, the ZDX comes standard with five seats, which is one more than the BMW X6.