The X6 carries a weird design language but offers excellent performance and driving dynamics despite being a hefty crossover SUV.
The BMW X6 is a luxury Sports Activity Vehicle, as BMW calls it, from the german brand and has been around since its 2008 model year. The X6 carries a weird design language but offers excellent performance and driving dynamics despite being a hefty crossover SUV. The SUV is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 motor or a much bigger and powerful 4.4liter turbocharged V8 that can propel the SUV to 60mph from a standstill at an impressive 5.2seconds.
The 2013 BMW X6 is offered in two trims: the xDrive35i and the xDrive50i. The former comes with a 3.0liter straight-6 motor and a host of features ranging from premium leather upholstery to a BMW Assist emergency communication system. The latter comes with all the features of the xDrive35i and further adds a power powerful and bigger V8 engine and some extra features such as sportier front seats with more support and a voice-controlled navigation system with real-time traffic.
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Trim |
xDrive35i |
xDrive50i |
|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$59,800 |
$70,400 |
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Key Features |
19-inch wheels |
More powerful 4.4liter V8 engine |
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Automatic and adaptive xenon headlights with auto-leveling and LED halo running lights |
14-way "multicontour" front seats with adjustable bolsters |
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Heated 10-way power front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment and driver memory functions |
Navigation system with real-time traffic and voice controls |
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Power liftgate |
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Keyless ignition |
We Recommend
We would recommend you the xDrive35i trim since it comes with a plethora of comfort features along with a strong performance. If you desire to have more performance then the xDrive50i would suit you better. But be ready to shell out more both in terms of the price of the vehicle and its fuel bills.
The 2013 BMW X6 is powered by a 3.0liter turbocharged I-6 motor which is capable of whipping out a healthy 300 horsepower and 300lb-ft of torque. The power figures are adequate to propel the SUV from a standstill to 60mph in 6.3 seconds which is a decent figure for the X6’s heft. Coming to the engine, it is super smooth and efficient at the same time and there is no lack of power in any given situation.
Within the city limits, the motor feels relaxed while on the highways too and the motor will do triple-digit speeds happily. The motor is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which takes care of all the power from the motor and ensures that none of it is wasted.
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Models |
BMW X6 sDrive35i |
Porsche Cayenne |
Audi Q7 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$59,800 |
$48,850 |
$46,800 |
|
Engine |
3.0L DOHC 24 Valve Inline 6 Turbocharged |
3.6L V6 |
3.6L Supercharged V6 |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
6-speed manual |
8-speed automatic |
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Horsepower |
300 @ 5800 |
300 @ 6300 |
280 @ 4780 |
|
Torque |
300 @ 1400 |
295 @ 3000 |
295 @ 2250 |
The Porsche Cayenne has identical horsepower output as the X6 but delivers a slightly less, 295lb-ft of torque. The Audi Q7 has equal torque output as the Cayenne but offers a lower 280 horsepower despite being fitted with a supercharged motor.
Big and beefy SUV’s were never exactly fuel-efficient with all those heft and power under their hood. The BMW X6 is not an exception here and offers a decent fuel economy rating considering its power and size. The crossover SUV returns an average of 16mpg within the city while out on the highway the number climbs to 23mpg. The combined rating is 20mpg. With a big gas tank of 22gallons, the X6 offers a decent overall driving range too.
|
Model |
BMW X6 sDrive35i |
Porsche Cayenne |
Audi Q7 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (city) |
16 |
15 |
16 |
|
MPG (highway) |
23 |
22 |
22 |
|
MPG (combined) |
20 |
18 |
19 |
The Porsche Cayenne is slightly less fuel efficient than the M6 while the Q7’s figures are almost similar to that of the X6’s.
The interior of the X6 is quite identical to the X5 since it is based on the latter. The X6 comes with sportier seats and proper bolstering to keep you in place while cornering. The whole interior is tastefully designed as per BMW’s standard and everything is put together quite nicely.
The materials are of very high quality and there are ample aluminum inserts within the cabin to accentuate the interior nicely. The rear seats are well cushioned and comfortable but the headroom is quite lacking owing to the massively sloping roof at the rear. Overall, the finishing and the quality of the cabin is of premium quality.
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Model |
BMW X6 sDrive35i |
Porsche Cayenne |
Audi Q7 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Passenger capacity |
5 |
5 |
7 |
|
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
38.3/59.9/40.4 |
N/A |
38.4/59.5/41.7 |
|
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
37.2/57.0/35.9 |
N/A |
38.8/58.5/38.8 |
|
Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
N/A |
N/A |
35.9/49.4/29.2 |
The Porsche Cayenne’s interior dimensions are not available but the SUV comes with a plush and comfortable interior with plenty of features too. The Q7 can seat two people using the third-row seats but they are extremely compact and are only suitable for smaller kids at the best.
The infotainment system of the 2013 BMW X6 comes with the brand’s iDrive system which controls some major functions of the car as well as handles all the entertainment features too.
The system offers some handy features which include a 10-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, and iPod connectivity.
Some highlighted features of the infotainment system are as follows:
The exterior styling of the BMW X6 looks quite unconventional with a steep sloping roofline at the rear. Due to that, the SUV looks less rugged and more coupe-like with four doors.
The front end looks nothing out of the ordinary and comes with the traditional look from BMW and comes with a neat front fascia with stylish headlamps containing LED halo lights. The overall design of the SUV gives it a muscular appeal and quite appealing to most of the buyers.
|
Model |
BMW X6 sDrive35i |
Porsche Cayenne |
Audi Q7 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb weight (lbs.) |
4630 |
4835 |
4938 |
|
Length(in) |
192.0 |
190.7 |
199.6 |
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Width(in) |
78.1 |
78.7 |
77.5 |
|
Height(in) |
66.5 |
72.7 |
68.5 |
|
Ground clearance (in) |
7.8 |
8.7 |
9.3 |
|
Wheelbase (in) |
115.5 |
114.0 |
118.0 |
|
Track width (in) F/R |
64.7/67.2 |
N/A |
66.1/66.6 |
The X6 is the shortest vehicle on the list while the Q7 is the longest one owing to its three-row seating arrangement. The X6 is also not quite tall and has the least ground clearance on offer.
The BMW X6 also impresses in the safety aspect as well, which is the case with almost all the vehicles from BMW. The SUV comes with a strong build quality and some advanced safety aids such as BMW Assist emergency communications system and flashing tail lights.
Some important safety features of the SUV are as follows:
The BMW X6 is a distinctive vehicle which might not appeal to or satisfy everyone out there with its unconventional styling and a gimmicky SUV appearance. The vehicle is more performance focused with a powerful I-6 motor and an optional turbocharged V8 motor. The comfort levels are worth mentioning and there are oodles of features on offer inside the cabin. However, the rear-seats of the SUV are quite unpractical with a very restricted headroom which gives it a coupe-like appearance.