Last week, we had a chance to drive BMW’s new X6 at a press launch event here in South Carolina. Our trip began at the Spartanburg plant where the vehicle is built. We drove from Greenville north about an hour then south to Laurens, where Michelin proving grounds are located.

In reviewing this vehicle, it’s important to recognize that the X6 isn’t trying to be a regular SUV — that’s the X5’s job. With that in mind, we did our best to evaluate it strictly on what it is.

So, What is it?

BMW’s latest offering in the crossover field, a specific new slot as the world’s first “sport activity vehicle,” as the company calls it.

It’s as though BMW designers did an exercise where they asked themselves what if we made an SUV that handled like a sports car? Give it some good fastback looks so that it doesn’t look like a high-riding wagon. Oh, and make it get up and go.

Thus the plan for the BMW X6 was hatched.

Take a BMW official aside and with a clever wink and a nod, he may acknowledge that some of the SUVs vehicles they make in South Carolina don’t really get off road that much. But no matter…the off-road came to them during the media preview of its new X6 Sport Activity Vehicle in and around Greenville/Spartanburg, this past week.

In two separate incidents, both on paved road surfaces, the company’s new X6 xDrive 5.0i had a chance to test their mettle where one was forced off the road, and ended up straddling a sign post that punctured its fuel tank, while the other was cruising around on the Michelin Laurens Proving Ground road course minding its own business when a local deer tried to impale itself on the hood. The X6s were both out of commission until repairs could be made, and everyone else was fine, excepting for one deer.

What’s it up against?

Well, not much, really. Being a pioneer in your own niche isn’t always an easy thing and could get quite lonely. Especially while waiting for others to come to the playing field. When compared to the BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 407-horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, only two other competitors come to mind: the Range Rover Sport, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. The Infiniti FX50 and Audi Q7 Premium 4.2 could fit in as well, but with a power deficit. And not one qualifies as a fastback sport activity coupe vehicle, either.

Opt for the 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine and the field grows larger. The six is an engine we have seen before in the 335i and the new 135i models, and remains a favorite. Still, no fastback or “four-door coupe” choices. So in the grand scheme of things the X6 is definitely unique.

What’s it cost?

See Leftlane’s full pricing guide. (xDrive50i model tested).

Any Big Breakthroughs?

BMW touts the X6’s new 4.4-liter V8 as the “world’s first” V8 engine where the twin turbochargers and catalytic converters are housed in the valley between the two rows of cylinders. They are able to do this through the use of direct injection, which frees up all the space where, on a traditional V8 engine design, the fuel injectors and before that, carburetors used to reside. The result is an engine that can be installed in relatively compact surroundings. Engine response is immediate, with expected, but minimal turbo-lag. Expect times of 0-100 km/h in 5.4-seconds.

Dynamic Performance Control is another breakthrough, making its world debut in any BMW. It offers various means of taming a nearly 5,000-lb (4,993-lb) vehicle, and is amazing in its execution. Although the X6 is all-wheel-drive (xDrive) with variable distribution of power from front to rear, the new DPC enables more precise control between the two rear wheels-left to right. The result is improved steering, and traction, especially under unexpected or evasive maneuvers such as quick lane changes or situations where under or oversteer would be a problem. On the Michelin Laurens Proving Grounds wet pad, lane changes were surprisingly quick and uneventful, regardless of how much water was being tossed our way.

How does it look?

BMW has pioneered the new niche of Sport Activity Vehicle, which apparently implies an active lifestyle and the vehicle to carry all your “activities” in it. They call this new one a “sports activity coupe.” The overall design is definitely a four-door, but probably one of the better looking four-doors we’ve seen. The front clip appears to be right out of the X5 parts bin. Go rearward and things take a decidedly sportier turn, sloping upward into a “power wedge” design. Chisel-cut sides lend a muscular appearance to the X6, and also provide for the car’s waistline. Window surrounds are offered in two styles, bright (polished metal) or black. This week, I like the brightwork. Check back with me in a month, and I might have a different answer. Our test vehicle was riding on 20-inch Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires, which did a nice job of filling the wheel wells.

Others have called the X6 for its “big ass.” We wouldn’t go that far, but the backside does remind us of a duck’s rear, or “D.A.” as it used to be known, which tapers upward.

On the other hand, the low-tapered roofline, which lends itself to the sporty appearance of the X6, also causes some of its detractions. The sporty look comes with a price, as extra care needs to be taken getting in and out of the car, both in front and back, unless you like repeatedly banging your head on the doorframe.

And inside?

The cabin of the X6 is not the huge people hauler of other manufacturers. It is a four-seater that coddles its occupants in a sporty, secure way that holds them and their things in place. Front seat accommodations are typically all business, as expected, offering miles and hours of non-fatigued driving. The bolstered front seats hold driver and passenger alike firmly in place during rapid lane changes and spirited driving situations.

A glaring omission, though: Where are the grab handles above the doors? Knee pads on the center console protect driver and front passengers from bruising while cruising at breakneck speed through the local Macy’s parking lot. While others voiced concerns, we had no problem with rear-seat comfort as well.

All the other interior accoutrements are pieces we’ve seen in other members of the BMW lineup. From the center binnacle which houses the iDrive screen, to the chrome surrounds of the speedo and tachometer, to the paddleshifters on the steering wheel, things are as we have grown accustomed to seeing in a BMW interior. We still admire the design of the shift controller of the Steptronic 6-speed automatic transmission. A nice accent is the use of bamboo veneers as part of the wood trim offerings along the dashboard. An available heads up display allows the driver to keep looking ahead. A word of caution: certain types of Polarized sunglass lenses render the display invisible in the windshield.

The cargo hold can accommodate four golf bags, according to BMW media information. The rear seats fold down in a 60-40 arrangement for larger, bulkier items.

But, does it go?

Yes it does. With the 4.4-liter cranking out 442 lb-ft of torque, and the twin turbos supplying added boost, and considering the X6 is no lightweight when tipping the scales at nearly two and a half tons, the fact it’s as agile as tested is impressive. Even with the engine electronically limited to 155 mph, (isn’t it time to move past these limits? -Ed) the X6 shows it can deliver, whether on a closed course, highway driving, or cruising down the streets in your neighborhood. Mileage, as expected with a high-performance V8, checks in at 13.4 city, and 24.75 hwy for a combined 19 mpg average.

In fact, the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged stablemate proved it’s no slouch in the acceleration department either, again taking weight and purpose into account. Yes, it’s true–the X6 is not as svelte a package as a 3-series with a similar engine. But checking in at 6.7 seconds for 0-62 mph, it is still about as much fun as you will ever see in any sort of SUV. Expect mileage in the range of 15.8 city, and 27.3 hwy for a combined average of 21.5 miles per gallon.

In either case, we found ourselves shifting through the gears of the Steptronic 6-speed automatic with the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. And then again, not, choosing to let the gearbox take care of the progressions on its own.

Why you would buy it

This is your chariot if you want power, agility and style in a package that is about the most anti-SUV crossover out there. And then there is that club called “exclusivity.” This is one of those vehicles that you won’t find in most of your neighbors ‘ drives—unless you live around a bunch of like-minded neighbors. It is a fun car to get in and push, while hauling more than just the kids.

It’s sort of like a jacked-up hatchback with lots of luxury and power.

Why you wouldn’t

You want an SUV — this is not one. If you are used to dragging around more than three kids from school to soccer practice and such, get over it. They won’t fit. This is a four-seater, period. As a cargo hauler, it is more efficient. The regular X5 is a solid offering, and if you’re looking for a typical SUV from BMW, by all means take one out for a spin instead of the X6.

Words and photos by Mark Elias.

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