Review of the BMW X6M 2020: competition

The BMW X6 has long been the ugly duckling of the Bavarian brand's SUV family, often cited as the genesis of the cool coupe-crossover trend.

But look back at its 12-year history and it's clear that the X6 resonated with buyers around the world with over 400,000 units produced.

Now, in third-generation form, the X6 has shed the clumsy and sometimes silly image of its progenitor and evolved into a much more mature and confident model.

However, at the head of the new range is the flagship M Competition trim, which features a sporty V8 petrol engine to match the bulky and muscular exterior.

Is this a recipe for success or should BMW go back to the drawing board?

BMW X 2020 models: X6 M competition
Safety Rating	-
engine's type	4.4 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	12.5l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$178,000

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

The X6 has long been a BMW model to love or hate, and in its latest third-generation form, styling is polarized as never before.

Maybe it's because there have been more coupe-like SUVs on the market since the original X6 debuted, or maybe it's because we've had time to get used to the idea, but the latest X6 looks... okay?

Okay, we're as surprised as everyone else, but especially in this top-end M Competition shape, the sporty proportions, heavily sloping roofline and massive bodywork don't look all that clunky or unappealing.

The X6 has long been a BMW model to love or hate.

What also helps make the X6 M Competition stand out is its sporty body kit, fender vents, aerodynamically optimized side mirrors, fender-filling wheels and black accents befitting a polished performance flagship variant.

It certainly stands out from the usual SUV crowd, and with the engine tucked away under a sculpted hood, the X6 M Competition isn't a case where all the shows aren't on.

You might argue that the look of the X6 M Competition is a bit ostentatious and over the top, but what do you expect a big, luxurious, performance SUV to look like?

Step inside the cabin and the interior balances sporty and luxurious elements almost perfectly.

The seat is perfect thanks to the many adjustments of the driver's seat and steering wheel.

The front sport seats are upholstered in soft Marino leather with hexagonal stitching, carbon fiber details are scattered throughout the dash and center console, and small touches like the red start button and M shifters elevate the X6 M competition from its more standard look. brothers and sisters.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

The BMW X6 Competition costs $213,900 before travel expenses, just $4000 more than its more traditionally styled twin.

While the $200,000-plus price tag is certainly no small deal, things start to look a little better when you compare the 6 M Competition to other models that use the same engine and platform.

Take, for example, the M5 Competition, a large sedan that costs $234,900 but has the same running gear as X6.

Also, consider that the X6 is an SUV, which makes it more attractive to those looking for higher ground clearance and more practical storage options.

The X6 M Competition is equipped as standard with four-zone climate control, door closer, automatic tailgate, power front seats, heated front seats, Harman Kardon audio system, panoramic glass sunroof, adjustable exhaust system, keyless entry and keyless entry. start button.

For the dashboard, BMW installed a 12.3-inch screen, while the multimedia system is a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay support, gesture control, digital radio and wireless smartphone charging.

The multimedia system is a 12.3-inch touchscreen unit.

However, in such a luxurious SUV, we appreciate the attention to detail.

Take, for example, the spare tire, which is stored under the trunk floor. In any other car where this happens, you would just have to raise the floor and then struggle to get the tire off while trying to support the floor. Not on the X6 - there's a gas strut on the floor panel that keeps it from falling off when it's lifted up. Smart!

There is a spare wheel under the boot floor.

The front cupholders also feature heating and cooling functions, each with two settings.

Like the M model, the X6 M Competition also features an active differential, sports exhaust, adaptive suspension, uprated brakes, and a powerful engine.

It should be noted that there is no cooling option for the seats, and there is no heating element on the steering wheel.

However, the metallic paint and carbon fiber interior, as seen on our test car, are free options.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

With a length of 4941mm, a width of 2019mm, a height of 1692mm and a wheelbase of 2972mm, the X6 M Competition offers plenty of passenger space.

There's plenty of room for passengers in the front seats, despite sport seats that hug and support in all the right places, while the rear seats are also surprisingly functional.

The front sport seats are upholstered in supple Marino leather with hexagonal stitching.

Even with my six-foot frame positioned behind the driver's seat adjusted for my height, I still sat comfortably and had plenty of leg and shoulder room.

The sloping roofline, however, doesn't help the headroom situation as my head just brushes against the Alcantara ceiling.

Another thing is the middle seat, which is only suitable for children due to the raised floor and seating arrangement.

All in all, I'm really surprised at how comfortable the X6 M Competition's rear seat space is to use - it's definitely more practical than the stylish looks would suggest.

The sloping roofline affects headroom for rear passengers.

Storage options abound throughout the cabin, too, with a huge storage box in each door that easily accommodates large bottles of drinks.

The central storage compartment is also deep and roomy, but it can be a little tricky to get your phone out of the cordless phone charger as it's hidden under a curtain.

The 580-litre trunk can expand to 1539 liters with the rear seats folded down.

While this figure doesn't quite match the 650L / 1870L figure of its X5 twin, it's still more than enough for weekly shopping and a family stroller.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

The X6 M Competition is powered by a 4.4kW/8Nm 460-litre twin-turbocharged V750 petrol engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Drive is sent to the road via a rear-shift xDrive all-wheel drive system that delivers zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. The X6 weighs 2295kg, so this level of acceleration almost defies the laws of physics.

The engine is shared with the X5 M Competition, M5 Competition and M8 Competition.

The 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine develops an impressive 460 kW/750 Nm.

The X6 M Competition also outperforms its rival Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe by 30kW, although the Affalaterbach SUV delivers 10Nm more torque.

However, it is important to note that the current Mercedes uses the old 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and is due to be replaced by the new GLE 63 S model, which switches to AMG's ubiquitous 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 450 kW. /850 Nm.

The Audi RS Q8 will also arrive later this year and develops 441kW/800Nm of power thanks to a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged petrol engine.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

Official fuel consumption figures for the X6 M Competition are pegged at 12.5L/100km, but we managed 14.6L/100km on our morning drive with nearly 200km.

Sure, the hefty weight and big V8 petrol engine contributes to fuel mileage, but engine start/stop technology helps keep that figure down.

What is it like to drive? 9/10

With such a large footprint, you just don't expect the X6 M Competition to drive as well as it does, but it's great to have your expectations tested from time to time.

The seat is perfect thanks to the many adjustments of the driver's seat and steering wheel, and visibility (even through the small rear window) is excellent.

All controls are easy to grasp, and if you just leave the X6 to its own devices, the sporty elements almost fade into the background.

Dive into the drive settings, though, and you'll notice Sport and Sport Plus options for the engine and chassis, while steering, brakes and M xDrive settings can also be dialed up a notch.

However, there is no set-and-forget drive mode switch here, as each of the aforementioned elements can be adjusted individually to get the exact response you want from the car.

The X6 M Competition certainly stands out from the crowd of conventional SUVs.

Even the transmission has its own independent setting, with manual or automatic shifts, each of which can be set to three levels of intensity, while the exhaust can also be loud or less loud.

We love the flexibility this gives, and it opens up the ability to use the engine in full attack mode while the suspension and transmission are in comfortable settings, but it does take some time sitting in the driver's seat and tweaking this and that to get things going. right.

However, once you do, you can save these settings in M1 or M2 modes, which can be turned on with the push of a button on the steering wheel.

When everything is switched to the sportiest options, the X6 M Competition is much more like a fast hot hatchback attacking corners and devouring the open road than its high-riding SUV body style would suggest.

To be fair, BMW M connoisseurs know a thing or two about building a big brute.

Fitted with mammoth 315/30 rear and 295/35 front Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, the X6 M Competition benefits from superglue-like levels of grip in most situations, but a throttle thump can still crush the rear axle mid-corner.

The X6 M Competition is equipped with 21-inch alloy wheels.

Climbing is no problem for an SUV weighing over two tons thanks to M Compound Brakes with six-piston front brakes hooking 395mm discs and single-piston rear brakes hooking 380mm discs.

When you don't put on the trunk, the X6 M Competition also doubles as a compelling luxury subcompact, but even in the most comfort-oriented chassis setup, road bumps and high-speed bumps are transmitted directly to passengers.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10

The BMW X6 has not been tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP and is not crash rated.

However, the mechanically linked X5 large SUV scored a maximum of five stars in testing in 2018, scoring 89 percent and 87 percent in adult and child protection tests, respectively.

Safety equipment fitted to the X6 M Competition includes a Around View Monitor, Tire Pressure and Temperature Monitor, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Reversing Camera view, rear cross traffic warning. , front and rear parking sensors and built-in video recorder.

In terms of protective gear, there really isn't much left for the X6 M Competition, although it loses a point due to its lack of a crash safety rating.

In its favor, though, is the fact that its onboard technology works unobtrusively, and the adaptive cruise control is one of the smoothest, easiest-to-use systems I've ever tried.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Like all new BMWs, the X6 M Competition comes with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, three years of roadside assistance and a 12-year corrosion protection warranty.

Scheduled service intervals are set every 12 months or 15,000 km, whichever comes first.

BMW offers two five-year/80,000 km service plans for the X6 M Competition: the $4134 base option and the $11,188 Plus option, with the latter including replacement brake pads, clutch and wiper blades.

Despite the high cost of maintenance, this is not a surprise for a car in this price category.

What we like is that BMW lives up to Mercedes' promise of a five-year warranty on its entire lineup, including high-performance AMG models.

Verdict

SUVs are so popular right now, and the BMW X6 M Competition is the most popular high-riding coupe you can get until its German rivals introduce their powerful equivalents.

In many ways, the X6 M Competition is one of the most popular BMW models available today; it's covered head to toe in luxurious features, its performance puts most sports cars to shame, and it exudes a swagger that doesn't care what you think.

What more could you want from a modern BMW? Maybe high safety standards and practical interior space? The X6 M Competition has them too.

Sure, you could opt for the slightly cheaper and more traditional X5 M Competition, but if you're spending over $200,000 on a powerful SUV, don't you want to stand out from the crowd? And the X6 M Competition certainly stands out.

Note. CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, providing transportation and food.