2012 BMW X6 - Review

The Basics:

The 2012 BMW X6 is, without doubt, a bit odd. As time goes on, however, much of the market has realized that it's a good kind of odd. Marrying the looks of a coupe with the size, functionality, and utility of a luxury crossover, the X6 no longer a thing to itself, but it does remain at the top of its class.

Above the beltline, you'd be forgiven for thinking the X6 is a sport coupe--and that's just what BMW was going for. Below the middle, however, is where the weirdness begins. It's all muscular luxury crossover, tall, wide, and clearly somewhat off-roady. It's an odd juxtaposition, and one that some will never cotton to, but for others, it works.

Inside, the X6 is roomy and luxurious, as you'd expect from any BMW, with quality materials, leather upholstery, and modern, if understated, European design themes. The sloping roof does curtail rear cargo space somewhat, but it has more room than you might think, and far more than the typical sedan--think of it as a sort of very large hatchback. The roof impinges somewhat on headroom for taller rear-seat passengers, too, but only those above six feet will likely notice.

Performance of the X6, whether in 3.0-liter turbocharged in-line six-cylinder, or 4.4-liter turbocharged V-8, or X6 M form, is strong. Fuel efficiency is generally good across the line, for what it is, thanks to the ubiquitous turbocharging. The ActiveHybrid X6 is discontinued for 2012. The 3.0-liter X6 xDrive35i is rated at an even 300 horsepower, while the 4.4-liter V-8 X6 xDrive50i scores an even 400 hp. The X6 M gets an up-rated 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 good for a massive 555 horsepower. All X6 models come with standard all-wheel drive.

Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS have crash-tested the 2012 BMW X6, though the structurally similar X5 scores top marks of "good" according to the IIHS. Safety features include driver and passenger dual-stage front airbags, front side airbags, head protection system (HPS), adaptive brake lights, active head restraints in the front seats, battery disconnect in the event of an accident, anti-theft alarm, and BMW Assist with Bluetooth.

Features, options, and equipment are abundant: standard 10-way power-adjustable driver's and front passenger's seats, wood trim, a wide range of interior colors and materials choices, a 10-speaker sound system, iPod/USB connectivity, and all the power accessories and adaptive/automatic features you'd expect in a modern luxury SUV.