BMW's X6 M joins the latest trend toward crossovers with less upright hatches and sleeker-looking sheet metal. It delivers the same performance as the X5 M in a trendier wrapper, though that comes at the expense of some lost cargo space. Like its sibling, the X6 M is all-new for 2020.
Available Trims
BMW offers the X6 M in standard and Competition grades, with both getting the same twin-turbo V8, similar performance upgrades throughout the interior and mechanical bits. Though the Competition gets more power and a few other changes to help boost performance and make it look even quicker.
Standard Features
Base at this level means that the X6 M is still well equipped. On the inside, it comes with a special M leather steering wheel and M gearshift lever as well as heavily bolstered sports seats. with M illumination to show off. That's in addition to the adjustable thigh support, backrest width, and pneumatic lumbar adjustment. The X6 M offers 12.3-inch screens for the dash and infotainment, the largest BMW offers, using a new iDrive version and a tablet-like touch interface. The system gets two USB-C ports to keep your mobile device charged up, and a head-up display lets you keep your eyes on the road when you're going fast.
M-specific brakes start off the performance features, wrapped with 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels. The M braking system gets two different pedal feel options, depending on how much feedback you'd like from your left pedal. Adaptive suspension with roll stabilization is standard, as is extra chassis bracing, stiffer mounting points, and a more performance-biased alignment for the suspension. On the outside, X6 M models are set apart with larger wheels and a more aggressive body kit with prominent grilles and flared wheel arches.
The X6 M Competition adds more power and a standard M Sport Exhaust that lets more noise out of the engine. It has a stiffer suspension than the standard M as well as a unique wheel design. The Competition trim uses black trim for the grille surrounds, mirror caps, and badges and includes the fancier Merino Leather interior that's an option on the X6 M model as standard with multiple colour options.
Both get a full suite of driver aids that include active driving assistant with blind-spot alerts, lane departure warning, rear collision warning, pedestrian warning with city collision mitigation and speed limit information.
Key Options
For driver aids, the Driving Assistance Professional Package comes with radar cruise control with stop-and-go capability as well as lane-keeping assistance with side collision protection and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant. That's a new feature that can keep the vehicle in-lane at speeds up to 60 km/h in heavy traffic, handling steering, accelerator, and brakes.
Also on the list is the premium package that adds parking assistant with surround view, drive recorder dashcam, heated and cooled cupholders, a panoramic roof, ventilated front seats, the Driving Assistant Pro, massage function, and sunshades. The Ultimate package adds all that plus carbon trim outside and for the engine cover, the M Driver's package, BMW's display key, and a Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system, and you can add a night-vision package as well as the M Driver's pack separately.
Fuel Economy
As of this writing, fuel economy estimates for the X6 M and X6 M Competition aren't yet available.
Competition
The X6 M sat in a niche by itself for years, but now there's plenty of competition for the Competition. Mercedes-AMG has the GLE 63 Coupe, Porsche's Cayenne comes in a track-ready Coupe version of its own, and even the Range Rover Sport offers similar dynamics and stylish looks.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed