2018 BMW X6

The 2018 BMW X6 is what BMW calls a Sports Activity Vehicle which is designed to look sporty and is based on the X5 be practical and spacious at the same time. The X6 is available in two engine options and that's the major difference between the two configurations you can have for the X6 i.e. 35i and 50i. The prices for the 35i starts at $62,950 and that for the 50i starts at $77,700. Both the trims come with AWD while the former has it as an option the latter comes with it as standard. The base engine has sufficient grunt to pull the heavy X6 to a decent speed from a standstill and at the same time is sufficient enough to tow up to 6000 lbs. 

The cabin of the X6 follows the familiar BMW design language and BMW has tried a lot to give the X6 a premium appeal. There is leather all around the cabin at prominent places, the dash is finished in soft-touch plastics, and at the top sits big touchscreen infotainment that runs on the latest iDrive interface. In terms of features, BMW has given the X6 all it could for the price point. The major downside of the X6 though remains the rear seat space and the cargo area. Read our interior section review of the 2018 BMW X6 to find out more on that. That said, the 2018 BMW X6 rivals the SUVs like Porsche Cayenne, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 Coupe.

The 2018 BMW X6 is offered in two main configurations i.e. 35i and 50i. The 35i configuration is further sub-divided into sDrive35i and xDrive35i both of them get the same engine but the former is RWD while the latter is AWD. The xDrive50i gets a twin-turbo V8 engine and AWD. Other than the standard features listed below, both the trims also get a few optional packages and standalone features. Both the 35i and 50i can be had with Executive package, Dynamic Handling package, and M Sport Package while standalone options include premium Bang & Olufsen sound system, Night-vision system, Apple CarPlay, rear-seat entertainment, and a few more.

The optional packages like Executive package bundles in a head-up display, soft-close doors, and adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beam. The Dynamic Handling package gets you active roll stabilization and adaptive suspension dampers with air suspension. While the most sought-after package is the M Sport package that transforms the X6 into a sportier and a meaner machine with the help of special exterior and interior trims.

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Unless you are a power junkie the xDrive35i would suffice most of the customers without breaking the bank. If you want to further enhance your ride then you can add the Executive and Dynamic Handling package. With this, you will add better ride and handling along with the handy LED adaptive headlights and head-up display. 

" The 6-cylinder models can do 0-60 mph in a commendable six seconds flat. Step up to the V8-powered xDrive50i, and you can hit that number in 4.6 seconds -- right up there with high-powered sports cars." - KelleyBlueBook

2018 BMW X6 Engine and Transmission

The 2018 BMW X6 gets two engine options. The X6 35i configuration is powered by a 3.0-liter turbo inline-6 engine that pumps out 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. Power is channeled via an 8-speed automatic transmission either to the rear wheels or all four wheels.

Going for the X6 50i configuration get you the bigger 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that churns out 445 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. This engine is also mated to the sweet 8-speed automatic transmission but the V8 monster is only available with xDrive or AWD. 

The cheapest among all the SUVs here is the Porsche Cayenne and it is also the only one to be powered by a naturally-aspirated V6 engine. Among the competitors, the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 is the most powerful thanks to its twin-turbo V6 that puts out a beastly 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque which is 85 hp and 84 lb-ft more than what the BMW X6 puts out from its turbo V6.

2018 BMW X6 Acceleration

The 2018 BMW X6 sDrive35i can go from 0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 14.4 seconds. The X6 xDrive35i is quicker in 0-60 mph by two-tenths of a second. While the 445 hp twin-turbo V8 powered X6 xDrive50i sprints from 60-0 mph in just 4.7 seconds.

Among the rivals, the 385 hp, twin-turbo V6 powered AMG GLE 43 sprints ahead of the competition by going from 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds and covering the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds. It was 0.6 seconds faster in 0-60 mph and 0.3. seconds after in quarter-mile compared to the BMW X6.

2018 BMW X6 Ride and Handling

The sporty demeanor of the 2018 BMW X6 may conjure an image of Porsche-like handling and driving dynamics. But the BMW X6 is still not there yet, the steering provides a good feel but lacks feedback and most of the time feels disconnected from the wheels. The BMW X6 is inherently a bulky SUV and that shows when you try to take sharp corners at high speed although putting it in the Sports mode stiffens things up and the X6 regains its composure to a certain extent.

The ride quality of the X6 on the other hand is agreeable and remains comfortable especially in the Comfort mode. Nothing major filters inside the cabin even if you go over bigger bumps or unpaved roads. Speaking of unpaved roads, the X6 with the AWD system and an above-average 8.3-inches of ground clearance gives you slight leverage to venture into mild off-road trails but going in for some serious off-roading isn't advisable.

2018 BMW X6 Braking

The 2018 BMW X6 took 119 feet to stop from 60-0 mph. The BMW gives the X6 a 13.7-inch disc at the front and a 12.6-inch disc at the rear to rein this 4,585 lbs heavy beast. The brake power feels reassuring and there was minimal brake fade on repeated brakings. 

Compared to the X6, the heftier Range Rover Sport courtesy of its bigger brake setup took 1 foot less to stop from 60-0 mph.

2018 BMW X6 Towing Capacity

The 2018 BMW X6 boasts a 6,000 lbs of towing capacity which is decent enough to pull a small trailer or a boat.  

All the rival SUVs tow more than the X6 with the Cayenne and Range Rover Sport boasting the highest, 1,716 lbs more than the X6, towing capacity.

The 2018 BMW X6 sDrive35i as per EPA returns 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. Considering the fact, that the X6 is powered by a turbo Inline-6 and weighs around 4,585 lbs these are respectable figures. The X6 xDrive35i sees a drop of one mpg on the highway only. On the other hand, the twin-turbo V8 powered X6 xDrive50i returns 15 mpg in the city and 1 mpg on the highway. Both the 35i and 50i variant of the X6 gets a 22.4-gallon fuel tank capacity which isn't the highest in the segment.

The Porsche Cayenne matches the city gas mileage of the BMW X6 while the AMG GLE 43 and the Range Rover Sport return one mpg less. On the highway, the Cayenne returns one mpg less while the AMG GLE 43 and the Range Rover Sport return two mpg less compared to the X6. The low gas mileage of the AMG GLE 43 and the Range Rover Sport can be understood from the fact that both the SUVs are heavier than the X6.

"The X6’s interior boasts high-quality craftsmanship and materials. Leather upholstery and poplar wood trim is standard, and first-class upgrades such as Nappa leather, aluminum trimmings, rear window sunshades, and soft-close doors are available." - Cars.USnews

2018 BMW X6 Seating and comfort

The 2018 BMW X6 is based on the BMW X5 and that may not be evident on the exterior but step inside the cabin and you will see the similarity. The front seats are high set that ensures easy ingress and egress with a good view of what's outside courtesy of being based on the X5. Although the same isn't the case with the rear seats that require some athleticism to get in avoiding the sloping roofline. The coupe-like rear eats up the precious rear headroom and cargo space.

The rear seats in darker interior shades due to lower-window lines and lesser headroom feel claustrophobic. Another negative about the X6 is prominent blind-spot and poor rearward visibility again due to the sloping roofline. That said, the overall cabin is well-appointed and there is a generous use of leather at prominent places and seating surfaces. The dashboard comprises soft-touch plastics and wood trim inserts to uplift the luxury quotient of the X6. 

As evident from the above explanation, the BMW X6 is not at all a spacious SUV which is further confirmed by the comparison table above. Exterior dimension-wise the X6 is almost similar to the AMG GLE 43 and the Range Rover Sport except for the width and the height. Yet the X6 lacks behind both the rivals in terms of the head, shoulder and legroom. The Range Rover Sport among all has the most spacious cabin with a generous amount of head and legroom in both rows.

Interior Features:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable and heated front seats
• Driver-seat memory function
• 40/20/40-split folding rear seats
• Available four-zone automatic climate control

2018 BMW X6 Infotainment System

The 2018 BMW X6 gets a 10.2-inch touchscreen that runs on the latest iDrive infotainment system. The infotainment is easy to operate and the screen delivers crisp output. Along with the iDrive BMW also offers ConnectedDrive that adds features like vehicle diagnostics, climate control settings, smartphone apps, customer support, roadside assistance, etc.

For the audio, you get a nine-speaker sound system as standard that can be either upgraded to 16-speaker Harman & Kardon sound system or the more premium Bang & Olufsen sound system. Other optional upgrade includes Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity while Android Auto is still not available on the X6.

2018 BMW X6 Cargo Space

The 2018 BMW X6 offers 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. The rear seats can be folded in 40/20/40-split form to accommodate large size cargo or completely folded down to liberate 59.7 cubic feet of space.

The X5 on which the X6 is based offers 17 cubic feet of space more which the X6 loses out due to its sloping rear.

The BMW X6 beats both the AMG GLE 43 and the Cayenne in terms of cargo space while the Range Rover Sport beats the X6 by offering 0.9 cubic feet more cargo space. And that is when the Range Rover Sport is shorter in length than the X6.

"Not quite as svelte as a sporty hatchback or sedan, the crossover still boasts a profile far more refined today than nearly a decade ago when the first X6 debuted." - TheCarConnection

2018 BMW X6 Dimensions and Weight

The 2018 BMW X6 in terms of exterior looks is among the most daring design in the BMW's history. The front of the X6 strikes a stark resemblance to the X5 but move further to the side and the abomination unfolds with the chopped rear roof and a fastback/coupe-like rear.

The trend has caught up in the automotive world where the rivals have executed a better design. That said, the overall design language isn't anything different from what we see in other BMW cars while opting for the M Sport package does spice up the exterior looks of the sporty X6.

Except for being the longest SUV with the longest wheelbase among all, the BMW X6 loses out to the Range Rover Sport in terms of height, width, and ground clearance. Compared to it, the X6 is shorter by 4-inches, less wide by 3.3-inches, and has 0.1-inches of lower ground clearance. 

Exterior features:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive xenon headlights
• Sunroof
• Power liftgate
• Automatic wipers
• Available adaptive LED headlights w/ automatic high beam

The 2018 BMW X6 is a low-volume seller and thus neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA has crash-tested it. Although the BMW X6 is based on the X5 and both the NHTSA and the IIHS have crash-tested it. Both the agencies have awarded the BMW X5 a perfect score in their respective parameters thus we don't see a reason to doubt why the pricier X6 won't fair similar to the X5 in terms of safety ratings if crash-tested. 

Safety Features:

• Front and rear parking sensors
• Adaptive headlights
• Available surround-view camera
• Available blind-spot warning
• Available lane-departure alert
• Available forward-collision warning w/ low-speed automatic braking
• Available adaptive LED headlights w/ automatic high beam

2018 BMW X6 Vs 2018 Porsche Cayenne

The 2018 Porsche Cayenne in the base trim is powered by a naturally aspirated V6 engine thus is cheaper by a couple of grand than the BMW X6. Although the Cayenne puts out similar power figures but loses to the X6 in a 0-60 mph run. The Cayenne also returns city gas mileage similar to the X6.  But if we talk about towing capacity then the Cayenne can tow 1,700 lbs more than the X6. The Cayenne also handles and drives much better than the X6.

The cabin of the Cayenne is leagues ahead of the X6 in terms of luxury and comfort. But the cargo space is better in the X6 although the Cayenne has more spacious rear seats thus making it more practical than the X6. That said, the aging X6 has completely lost the edge and exclusivity it enjoyed a few years back and in this competition, the Porsche Cayenne is the better bet.

2018 BMW X6 Vs 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 Coupe

The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 coupe followed the same suit of offering a spicier version of the regular model as the BMW X6. The AMG GLE 43 is more powerful and quicker in acceleration courtesy of its twin-turbo V6 compared to the turbo V6 powered X6. Both the SUVs ride and handle almost similarly while the AMG GLE 43 strikes a fine balance between power and gas mileage.

Coming inside the cabin you will see that the luxury quotient of the AMG GLE 43 is a notch higher than the X6 and add to that the cabin space in both rows is better in the AMG GLE 43. although when it comes to cargo space the X6 takes the lead here. That said, if we were to choose between the two we would pick the more powerful and quicker AMG GLE 43 over the X6 any time of the day.

With time BMW has been complacent with the X6 and that has resulted in the X6 starting to lag and feel dated among the updated and better-equipped rivals. The X6 in the base form delivers average performance and towing capacity with respectable gas numbers. But where it dangerously lags is in terms of cabin space especially in the rear seats. Although the X6 gets sufficient cargo space but being an SUV if you cannot sit two adults comfortably at the rear then what's the point of spending extra cash when you can get an almost similar package with better rear and cargo space at a much lower price in the BMW X5. Thus to conclude unless BMW goes back to the drawing board and comes up with a completely new X6 there is no point putting your money in this oddball conception of an SUV.

More from BMW:

• Check out what's expected in the upcoming BMW X6
• Read more on what has changed on the latest BMW X6 since 2018 model year
• Find out more on the 2022 BMW X1 and what's expected

FAQs on the 2018 BMW X6

How much does the 2018 BMW X6 costs?

The price of the 2018 BMW X6 ranges from $62,950 to $77,700.

How many can the 2018 BMW X6 seat?

The 2018 BMW X6 offers seating for five.

Is the 2018 BMW X6 reliable?

The 2018 BMW X6 got a score of 82 out of 100 from J.D. Powers and was ranked at number three behind the Porsche Cayenne in the top 10 SUVs.

What is the 2018 BMW X6's ground clearance?

The 2018 BMW X6 offers 8.3-inches of ground clearance.