BMW X6 35D

It’s the car that’s created a new niche in the market: an opinion-splitting mix of coupé and SUV the likes of which we’ve never seen before. Or so BMW would like you to think. If BMW’s marketing men are to be believed, the X6 is in a class of its own – and when it comes to the styling, that’s certainly true. It resembles a pumped-up X5 complete with a dramatically sloping roofline, and so is hardly lacking in road presence.

At the front, the X6 has a similar face to the X5. And the familiar feel continues inside, with the same dashboard layout. It’s logically arranged and flawlessly put together, and features superb materials. The driving position is perfect and space up front is generous, although the same cannot be said of the rear. Despite its size, the X6 is a strict four-seater – and passengers over six feet tall will struggle for headroom, due to that sloping roofline.

Boot capacity is a healthy 570 litres with the seats in place and 1,450 litres folded flat. And although the area is a little shallow, the hatchback tail makes loading much easier.

Under the skin, the X6 shares a lot mechanically with the X5, but adds BMW’s clever Dynamic Performance Control (DPC) package. This enhances the traction and stability served up by the xDrive 4x4 system by splitting torque not only between the front and rear axles, but also the left and right-hand wheels.

Adding to the fun is the 286bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbodiesel powerplant, which features under the bonnet of the X6 35d driven here. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, and provides outstanding performance, thanks to its torque figure of 580Nm.

The benchmark 0-60mph sprint is dispatched in only 6.9 seconds, yet the big X6 is also economical, returning 34mpg on the combined cycle. The oil-burner is refined as well, offering a hushed note at all times.

Other power choices in the range include a 3.0-litre diesel with a single turbo in the 30d. This delivers 235bhp and arrives later this summer. There are two twin-turbo petrol models: a 306bhp 3.0-litre and a 407bhp 4.4-litre V8 for the flagship 44i.

© Source: autoexpress
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