2015 BMW X6 Review

There are coupes and SUVs. And then there are cars like the BMW X6 that sport a coupe design on an SUV-sized body. Now, when the first X6 was introduced, the marriage between a Coupe and an SUV was unseen.  But despite that, more than 2,60,000 units of the car were sold, reflecting the gradual acceptance of what BMW called a ‘Sports Activity Coupe’. However, it had a love it-hate it kind of aura to it. In the 2015 iteration, the Munich-based car maker has worked towards making it better. Not just in terms of design, but also on the inside. We find out how different the new model is.

Design: rating_3.5_rating

Few might find the overall design of the X6 to be a bit odd. While the coupe roofline gives it a nice curvy silhouette, some might think it doesn’t sync too well with the large SUV body. I personally love the way the roofline blends into the integrated spoiler but it kind of eludes practicality; more on that later. But then design is entirely a matter of perspective. That aside, look closely and you simply can’t ignore certain details of the car. To ensure that the front-end looks aggressive and proportionate, BMW has widened and stretched the trademark kidney grille. The sleek twin headlights flanked by the eyebrow LED Daytime Running lights make the 2015 X6 look menacing. 

We particularly liked the air-dams incorporated in the front bumper. They channel the wind towards the wheel such that it exits from the vent near the front doors, thereby reducing aerodynamic drag. The rear, although equally sculpted doesn’t look as butch as the front. Discount the badge and you might just mistake it for a beefier version of the 5 Series Gran Turismo. 

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Interior and Space: rating_3.5_rating

Step inside and you are welcomed by a trademark BMW cabin. The dashboard has horizontally been split into three parts. The upper half is black leather wrapped, the lower half gets an off-white treatment and splitting the two are slats of piano black and wood. The interior and the door trims are also optionally available in American Oak, Fineline Stripe, Fineline Pure, or Poplar Grain fine-wood trim fine-wood trim. The off-white materials used in the cabin gives it an airy feel. 

The seats can be adjusted electronically making it easy to find the right driving position and comfort. There is a fair bit of space at the back too but due to the centre arm rest and the air con controls, seating three at the back won’t be the most comfortable affair. Surprisingly, despite the coupe roofline, the low seating means there is quite a bit of head room even at the back. 

For those planning to go on a long family vacation need not worry about boot space. With the seat back upright the 2015 X6 makes 580 litres of space. Moreover the rear seat can be folded down in a 40:20:40 split thereby expanding on storage space. 

Features and Equipment: rating_4.0_rating

The 2015 X6 comes heavily loaded with features. From Head-Up Display, night vision with dynamic light spot, 360 degree camera to parking assist, the X6 has it all. In terms of safety, the X6 gets 6 airbags, ABS, EBD and all other abbreviations you can think of. It also gets Lane departure warning and pedestrian alert. For the passengers at the back there are two separate HD 9.2-inch monitors with separate DVD drives to view different films on. Talking about movies and sound, the 2015 BMW X6 also comes with a 16 speaker Bang and Olufsen high end surround sound system.

The centre console gets a 10.25-inch screen below which is the dual zone climate control and the controls for the integrated Bang and Olufsen infotainment system. Aside from the media and navigation, the screen also displays vehicle information and settings too. All the buttons are soft touch and well within reach. 

And then there is the automatic tailgate operation. If you hands are full after a shopping spree, a quick wave of the foot under the rear bumper opens up the tailgate. 

Engine and Performance: rating_4.0_rating

The 2015 X6 that is on sale in India is the fully loaded M Sport model. It gets a 3.0-litre inline 6-cylinder diesel unit that is churns 318PS and an impressive 630Nm. All of this power is sent out to all four wheels with the help of an 8-speed automatic transmission. Now that we have the facts out of the way, let’s get on with the feel.

Dig your right foot deep and the car is brisk to get off the line accompanied by the sweet grunt from the engine. It revs up smoothly right up till the 5,500rpm redline and on its way there touches the 100kmph marker in a claimed figure of just 5.8 seconds. Aided by the slick gearbox, the engine is quick to respond to inputs. On the highway, there is ample of power to comfortably cruise at three digit figures with enough punch to spare for those quick overtaking manoeuvres. 

Ride and Handling: rating_4.0_rating

The 2015 BMW X6 has four driving modes – EcoPro, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. Toggle though any of these modes and the powertrain and the chassis dynamics are altered accordingly. The Sport and Sport Plus modes are for those looking to push the car to the limit. Slot the car in one of these, and the steering weighs up nicely, the dampers stiffen up and the engine revs higher as well. Show the 2015 X6 a series of bends and you will be surprised how confidently it takes them on. You don't really feel the 2-ton weight of the car lugging you around while into a corner. 

For your everyday drives in town there are the EcoPro and the Comfort modes. In these modes the Adaptive suspension offers a plush ride quality over potholes and undulations. However, due to the low profile tyres and the large wheels, the bigger bumps still seep into the cabin.  While the stock setup provides comfort, the settings can be individually adjusted using the Driver Experience Control too. 

Price and Fuel Efficiency: rating_3.5_rating

To ensure that the 2015 X6 returns good efficiency, BMW has installed all sorts of technology. To start with, it is based on an intelligent lightweight construction, every gram shed results in energy conserved. Then there is the energy management system with the start/stop technology and the Brake Energy Regeneration. All of this helps the X6 return a claimed efficiency of 15.87kmpl.

The 2015 BMW X6 has been priced at Rs 1.15 crore (Ex-showroom Delhi).  From the Land Rover Discovery 4, Toyota Land Cruiser to the Audi RS6 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class you can get a lot of cars at this price point, some even more feature rich and luxurious, making life a little difficult for the X6. 

Verdict: rating_4.0_rating

The success that BMW achieved with the first X6 took a lot of experts by surprise, especially considering that there are a lot of options available at that price. The Munich-based car maker has been smart to give it timely updates. Given the size of the car it handles fairly well, the engine is an absolute delight and then it won’t break a sweat when driven on a muddy field as well. But while the 2015 X6 isn’t going to stir a revolution like its predecessor, it is an evolution, one in the right direction we must say.