TEST DRIVE BMW X6 exudes unexpected charm with nimble movement
The BMW X6 SUV / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
The BMW X6, undeniably the most iconic large coupe SUV in the world, exudes unexpected charm with surprisingly nimble driving performance — a feature hard to anticipate due to its strikingly muscular exterior.
The X6 is considered a pioneer in the mid-to-large coupe SUV market after making its debut in 2007. The vehicle’s symbolic position has not been shaken for more than a decade, as few rivals succeeded in leaving a stronger impression in terms of sleek design and powerful driving performance.
The vehicle’s major appeal is unarguably its masculine design, which is why the vehicle is often found on the wish list for many so-called "young and rich" customers here.
A rear image of the BMW X6 SUV / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
The BMW X6 xDrive40i M Sports edition was delivered for a test drive, and this reporter's first impression was that the vehicle was much more agile than expected. Its acceleration was smooth yet powerful, giving the vehicle a modern image. It accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in only 5.3 seconds. The model's 381-horsepower output was also more than enough for most city drives under Korean road conditions.
Maintaining the core identity of BMW vehicles, the X6 also remained highly responsive and nimble when decelerating.
When this reporter turned on its sports mode, its responsiveness became much sharper, allowing drivers to enjoy the extreme masculinity of the vehicle. Under the comfort mode, however, the vehicle remains quiet enough to compete with typical luxury sedans.
One downside appears to be its less practical trunk due to the coupe-style body shape.
Even with the massive body size, the X6’s fuel efficiency remained satisfactory with some 10 kilometers per liter for a round trip of approximately 200 kilometers between Paju and Yongin, two cities located in the northern and southern parts of Gyeonggi Province, respectively.
The interior of the BMW X6 SUV / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
The figure was much higher than that of its rivals, such as the Genesis GV80.
The X6’s unmatched appeal is reflected in its solid sales. Sales for the vehicle reached 3,449 last year, surpassing its major rivals from other luxury imported carmakers, such as Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
Some 2,000 Porsche Cayenne Coupe SUVs were sold during the same period, and sales for Mercedes’ GLE Coupe also came in at some 1,600. Less than 700 Audi Q8 were sold last year.
The price for the X6 starts from 124.6 million won ($85,000) here. BMW debuted the third-generation X6 in 2019 and conducted a facelift in 2023.