2026 BMW X6 M60i

The best-selling BMW in America is the X5, and the 2026 BMW X6 is the same SUV but with a sweptback roofline, less utility and a higher price. The X6 is all about style. Therefore, a decision to get one is rooted in your preference for its sportier appearance, your acceptance of its reduced interior room, and your willingness to pay extra for it. Should you proceed down the X6 ownership path, rest assured that everything else about BMW's SUV coupe aligns with the X5, a good thing indeed.

The original BMW X6 gave birth to the SUV coupe segment when it first went on sale in 2008. Since then, other automakers have created rivals using the same ingredients. Those most faithful to the original recipe include the Genesis GV80 Coupe, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and Porsche Cayenne Coupe. However, the less extreme Audi Q8 and electric Tesla Model X also count as BMW X6 alternatives. Of course, the BMW X5 should be on this list, too, as it is essentially the same SUV in a different (more practical) wrapper.

When comparing the BMW X5 and BMW X6, there are obvious differences, such as how the X6 costs thousands more but offers less rear passenger room and cargo space. Beyond that, the X6 has standard all-wheel drive, while the base X5 features rear-wheel drive. You can also get the X5 as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, but not the X6. There are numerous smaller variations between the two models, but the X6 is undeniably sleeker and more stylish than the X5, which wears a conventional square-roof SUV design. The X6 is also a far less common sight on the road, making it a more exclusive choice in a midsize luxury SUV.