2019 BMW X6 Review

The 2019 BMW X6 may be called a "coupe" by its makers' marketing wizards, but it's really a five-passenger midsize SUV with the boxy bit at the back chopped off. The resulting fastback-style SUV isn't as useful as a regular midsize SUV or as genuinely sporty as a fastback-style luxury sedan (of which there are now many). Frankly, the X6's compromised nature has never made rational sense to us, going all the way back to the first-generation model introduced more than a decade ago.

And yet, not only has the X6 survived into a second generation, it has spawned a number of copycat competitors. Apparently, there are plenty of folks who are perfectly OK with its practical drawbacks. If that describes you, know that the X6 at least excels in its peculiar niche. It's well-engineered, suitably luxurious and blessed with sensational engines. There's also more standard equipment this year. BMW has made last year's Active Driving Assistant package, which included safety features such as forward collision mitigation and blind-spot monitoring, standard for all X6s.

Of course, you're paying a pretty penny for the X6, so perhaps lots of features should be expected. You're also paying more than a comparably equipped (and more practical) BMW X5, which has been completely redesigned for 2019. The X6 soldiers on using the previous X5's bones for at least another year. That may ultimately mean more to you than the X6's inherent compromises.

The 2019 BMW X6 is a five-passenger midsize SUV with a steeply raked tailgate. That earns it the name "coupe" in BMW's book. There are three main configurations, plus the high-performance X6 M that we review separately. The X6 sDrive35i has a turbocharged six-cylinder engine (300 horsepower, 300 pound-feet of torque) and rear-wheel drive. The xDrive35i has the same engine and equipment but gains all-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive xDrive50i has a turbocharged V8 (445 hp, 480 lb-ft).

Standard equipment for the most basic 35i versions (BMW attaches the name xLine Design to them) includes 19-inch wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, LED foglights, power-folding mirrors, automatic wipers, a sunroof, a power liftgate, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, driver-seat memory settings, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat. For 2019, you also get blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, forward collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning as standard.

Infotainment equipment includes BMW's iDrive interface (a 10.2-inch touchscreen and center console controller), integrated navigation, BMW ConnectedDrive services (including BMW Assist emergency communications) and integrated smartphone apps, and a nine-speaker sound system with a CD player and HD radio. Apple CarPlay is included as well, but only for a year as part of a free trial subscription that must be re-upped.

Stepping up to the xDrive50i gets you the V8 engine, keyless ignition and entry, four-zone automatic climate control, upgraded front seats, upgraded leather upholstery, satellite radio, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system.

Except for the V8 engine, all of these features are optionally available for the 35i models.

Both 35i and 50i models can be equipped with optional packages (BMW also calls these "Tiers"). The Premium Tier adds surround-view parking cameras, a head-up display, an automated parking system, enhanced USB and Bluetooth system, a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless smartphone charging. The Executive Tier adds LED headlights, automatic high beams, rear window shades, and soft-close automatic doors.

The Dynamic Handling package includes adaptive suspension dampers with a rear air suspension and active roll stabilization. The Driving Assistance Plus package adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. An M Sport package gives the X6 sportier-looking bodywork and special interior trim.

Many stand-alone options are also included either in the 50i or the Tiers. However, there's also a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a space-saver spare tire, a night-vision system, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and a rear-seat entertainment system.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the BMW X6 xDrive35i (turbo 3.0L inline-6 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2015, the current X6 has only changed in regards to features availability. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's X6.