2019 BMW X6 Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
byJames Riswick
Edmunds Contributor
James Riswick is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.Pros
- Engines provide strong acceleration
- Comfortable and quiet ride
- Quality interior with comfortable front seats
Cons
- Sloping roofline cuts down cargo space
- Hard to see out the back
- Limited rear headroom
What's new
- More advanced driver safety aids are now standard
- Apple CarPlay is now standard (subscription-based)
- Part of the second X6 generation introduced for 2015
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.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
6.9 / 10Trim tested
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.
Scorecard
| Overall | 6.9 / 10 |
| Driving | 7.0 |
| Comfort | 8.5 |
| Interior | 6.0 |
| Utility | 6.5 |
Driving
7.0Engine and transmission performance are big positives for the X6. It's pretty quick for the class, and the engine and transmission are smooth operators. Unfortunately, the steering communicates little back to the driver.
Comfort
8.5This is an area where the X6 does it right. Ride quality is good for a performance SUV. The adjustable suspension absorbs imperfections of varying sizes with ease. The cabin is very quiet. Seat comfort is excellent up front and acceptable in the rear.
Interior
6.0Interior space suffers because of the X6's stylized exterior. The sloping roof limits headroom and rear-seat access. Rearward blind spots are also prominent. Cargo and storage space are merely average, and the rear seatbacks do not fold completely flat.
Utility
6.5The rear hatch opening is low. The smallish cargo area is aided by underfloor storage. The rear bench seat folds 40/20/40 but not fully flat. The door pockets are usefully large, but the door bottle holders are angled dramatically.
Technology
The X6 has BMW's iDrive interface, which has touchscreen functionality (though the screen is smaller than the X5's) in addition to the console-mounted knob. Apple CarPlay is included but only as a one-year subscription.
Which X6 does Edmunds recommend?
Of the available configurations, we'd go with the rear-wheel-drive sDrive35i or the all-wheel-drive xDrive35i. The 35i's six-cylinder engine is sufficiently powerful, and not splurging on the xDrive50i frees up money to spend on options. We'd get the M Sport Design package for its sportier look and the Dynamic Handling package, which adds adaptive dampers and active roll stabilization. It won't help this SUV's utility deficiency, but it'll definitely maximize its sporting potential.
2019 BMW X6 models
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).
