A four-wheel drive that looks like a coupe? BMW thinks it has found a new niche with an X6 that is styled in the shape of the 6-series but drives even better than the more brutal-looking X5.
This is another milestone in the amazing journey that the 4x4 has made from humble workhorse to cult car and now onwards to luxurious sporting eye-catcher.
Butch it may be, but the X5 has proved a good seller. Being a BMW, it appeals on its road driving abilities with little pretence at being an off-roader. You are more likely to come upon one on the school run than on a rocky track in the Mournes. The same is true of most sports utility cars; people buy them for the lifestyle image.
Driving the X6 in the north of Scotland earlier this year, I was hugely impressed by its handling. Its grip and composure on twisting roads owes much to a new dynamic performance control system that diverts power to the wheels with grip and counteracts under steer - the tendency to run wide. Back to back on a handling circuit in the slightly bizarre surroundings of the car park beside Dounreay nuclear power station, the X6 was noticeably nimbler than its smaller brother.
On the road, it feels more biddable and has huge reserves of grip. When it goes on sale next month, it will have this advantage over its sibling but I suspect that the system will be offered on all four-wheel drive BMWs in due course.
My test car had a new twin-turbo, 3.0-litre diesel engine offering a very smooth and quiet 286bhp. There will also be a single turbo diesel with 235bhp plus two petrol engines offering 306 and an awesome 408bhp. For the first time in my memory, BMW says it expects to sell mostly diesels – a sign of the times – but quite a change for a company that resisted diesels for so long.
The diesels show a clean pair of heels to competitors such as the Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover sport. Equipped with an ‘efficient dynamics’ package, as are all Beemers these days, they return around 34mpg on the combined measure and emit 217 and 220 g/km of carbon dioxide respectively. This is below average for their size and performance and means lower London congestion charges and road tax than the more serious fuel guzzlers.
Considering that the X6 costs just £1,500 more than an X5, I am wondering if BMW is going to undermine its top seller. One key difference is that you cannot specify an extra row of seats in the X6 and its sloping roofline does have some effect rear headroom and boot height.
While it is lovely to look at, the X6 is a bit of a nightmare to look out of when reversing. Parking beepers are a must for you cannot see much to the rear as I discovered when trying to retrace my tyre marks along a riverside track. Most cars in this class have a similar problem, it has to be admitted suspect.
Well, there had to be one flaw in a car that surprised me with its performance and agility.
AT A GLANCE
ENGINE – Twin turbo, 3.0-litre, six-cylinder diesel unit developing 286bhp
PERFORMANCE – Accelerates to 62mph in 6.9 seconds, 147mph top speed potential
ECONOMY – 34mpg on combined cycle
EMISSIONS – 220g/km carbon dioxide
PRICE - £44,145
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