The 2012 BMW X6 comes in only 2 trims, the xDrive35i & xDrive50i, and for the price, both come pretty well equipped from the factory itself. The price difference is huge though, a little too much for an engine upgrade and little features here and there. The base model comes with 19-inch wheels, a 10-speaker audio system, and convenience features like heated front seats, sunroof, & leather upholstery. The upstate variant of the X6 comes with the twin-Turbo V-8 engine and some infotainment features like real-time traffic and navigation system. 

Both the trims can be optioned out with several extra features like a premium sound system, upgraded ventilation and heating system for the seats, 4 zone climate control, etc. Looking at that economical gap, most of the buyers will incline towards the base variant itself. After adding standalone options like Nappa leather, head-up display, keyless entry & ignition, and various color options, the price is going to skyrocket anyway. 

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The V8 engine trim only has more seat adjustability and navigation as standard apart from power boost. And for that, you are supposed to pay $10k extra. Remember, this trim too doesn’t come included with any packages. Considering this, getting the xDrive35i trim gets our vote for today. Talking about the optional packages, get as many as you want, and still, the price will remain below the 70K mark, and you will have a superb, fully loaded luxury SUV.

The 2012 X6 comes with 2 engine options, and both will suffice the needs of most of the buyers. The M series still remains available for performance maniacs anyway. The base trim SUV has a turbocharged 3.0L Inline-6 engine that churns out 300 hp & 300 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to all the wheels as it comes with AWD configuration as standard. 

The 8-speed automatic transmission is a breeze to work with on the highways. If you want the brutal power of a top trim SUV, the xDrive50i will serve you better with the 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 engine which produces 400 hp & 450 lb-ft of torque. This engine also comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and AWD as standard. Just don’t complain about fuel economy afterward. The x35i trim will go from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, while the 50i trim will cover the same in 5.3 seconds.

The X6 is the only Turbocharged option in the group today and even has a lesser capacity engine. The rest of the competition is relying on tried and tested naturally aspirated V6 engines, and most of them are performing better than the X6. With 5.9 seconds timing, the Acura & Infiniti are the fastest in the segment and have similar horsepower compared to the X6. While all others come with standard automatics, the Cayenne is the only one to offer a manual transmission as standard, and this is going to excite some enthusiasts.

Well, if you have chosen the Inline-6 engine, then you will be just fine as the 2012 X6 has the best fuel economy in the segment. It returns 16/23/19 MPG in city/highway/combined driving cycles, respectively. The V8 engine returns 14 MPG in the city & 20 MPG on the highway, not too terrible considering the power boost we are getting. The fuel tank capacity on the X6 is great at 22.5 gallons and will allow you a respectable 423 miles of combined driving range.

All the SUVs in the group today have exact similar mileage figures except for the Porsche, but it isn’t doing poorly per se. Just a 2 MPG difference isn’t going to make us cast it out from the segment, considering its superior driving dynamics. Now as the fuel economy numbers are the same, the game shifts to the fuel capacity, where the Infiniti FX35 sits on top in this regard.

The interior of BMW cars is simple to the point you will start questioning the price tag, but it is all about the materials they use rather than how good it looks. Even though there are no special design elements or curvy A/C vents, the dashboard and most of the panels are covered in soft leather. The glossy wooden trims used on the dashboard and on the center console give it a more natural feel. The seats of the 2012 BMW X6 are very comfortable, thanks to the multi-contoured design and soft leather upholstery. The power-adjustable seats on this SUV are practically insane. Headrests, the side bolsters, and leg extension, everything can also be adjusted electrically. 

Being an SUV, you would expect good interior space on this one, but the X6 disappoints in the second row. New for this year is the optional second-row bench seats. Maybe 2 passengers will feel comfortable if they aren’t tall, but the middle passenger seat is completely unusable. Even for the standard seating arrangement, the roofline starts scraping your head the moment you sit upright. Slouching like a potato bag is the best remedy if you want to feel comfortable in this second row. Apart from the standard equipment, you can also add an Active Ventilated Seat package that includes automatically adjusting driver seat bolsters, ventilated seats, and perforated leather upholstery, whereas the Premium package includes four-zone climate control.

Though the cargo capacity is great, the way the boot opens will confuse you even more. What is this exactly?? A coupe that opens up like a hatchback?? The cargo scene is the same as usual with folding seats and a power liftgate. The competition is on par with the X6 when it comes to boot capacity, with the Acura ZDX being the one with slightly more space than the rest. Standout interior features include:

• Full leather treatment
• Piano black finish (Optional)
• Wooden inserts
• Perforated leather seats, Nappa leather optional
• Memory function for the driver
• Immensely adjustable front seats
• 4 zone climate control (Optional)
• Fully power-adjustable steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2012 BMW X6’s infotainment system?

The 2012 BMW X6 comes with a 7-inch display with the BMW iDrive infotainment software, which can be controlled by a rotary knob on the center console. The base trim SUV has a 10-speaker sound system with AUX and iPod integration. Though for some serious music listening experience, you might get the premium 16-speaker sound system for $1,500. 

The rotary knob functionality is actually great for selecting options as you don’t have to lean towards the screen to touch it. For the old school people, BMW still has retained the dedicated 8 preset buttons for radio channels. Opting for the x50i gets you BMW Assist emergency telematics, Bluetooth, and a navigation system with voice controls and real-time traffic. Standout infotainment features include:

• 7-inch touchscreen
• Bluetooth
• AUX & iPod integration
• Satellite radio
• Live traffic
• Navigation
• CD/DVD player
• Voice commands

The design language of the 2012 BMW X6 is a disappointment, for us at least. It’s like they started making a compact SUV and slapped a coupe’s body on top of it. The X6 would have turned out to be a better-looking vehicle overall if they had stuck with the compact SUV design template. The front end of the X6 isn’t disappointing at least, but it isn’t great either. The small kidney grille is straight-up copied from their sedans and looks very much out of place. 

The only design detail worth mentioning on this SUV is the body line that traces the door handles and merges itself into the taillights, a nice one. At the rear, it becomes more evident what we said about slapping a coupe’s body on top. As standard, you get 19-inch wheels, power tailgate, sunroof, automatic and adaptive bi-xenon headlights and foglights, while opting for the Sport package gets you 20-inch wheels, Active Drive enhanced suspension, and darker exterior trim. Overall, the 2012 X6 is a premium SUV with a unique design.

The BMW X6 is overall the biggest vehicle by dimensions, but that doesn’t really reflect inside its cabin sadly. The weight of the SUV should be good news in terms of structural integrity, but we will see that in the safety column. The 2012 Acura ZDX is wider and longer than the X6 by a few tenths of inches, but it sits a little low on the ground at 62.8 inches. It is probably the shortest vehicle of the lot. Standout exterior features include:

• 19-inch wheels
• Power liftgate
• Sunroof
• Automatic and adaptive bi-xenon headlights 
• Fog Lights
• Soft closing doors

As always, the luxury vehicles aren’t being sent to crash testing. The 2012 X6 hasn’t been tested by agencies as well. The X6 weighs in heavier than all of its competitors, and that is solely because of the high-quality sheet metal BMW is using. Well, automakers are always cautious about their vehicle’s strength, but a crash test score makes things easy for buyers. Even though we don’t have any crash data, BMW has installed some active safety features to avoid a crash in the first place. Standout safety features include:

• Blindspot monitor
• Hill descent control
• BMW Dynamic Performance Control
• Lane departure warning
• Adaptive cruise control
• Backup camera

The 2012 BMW X6 is very subjective in terms of looks. Let’s just skip the looks’ part. The performance of the X6 is one of its strongest points. It handles really well and the body roll is very minimal, but that’s it about the pros. The interior space is very limited, especially in the second row. While the overall comfort and material quality inside the cabin are top-notch, what’s the point if you can’t take advantage of it. To sum it up, we would advise you to get a proper SUV or a proper sedan.