2015 BMW X6 Review

The BMW X6 is redesigned for 2015. Although it looks much the same as last year's model, the sheet metal is, in fact, new and this luxury crossover is slightly longer, taller and wider. Its updated interior includes standard five-passenger seating, a much-needed increase in room for rear passengers and a wealth of the latest electronic features. For those who don't need all-wheel drive, there's now a six-cylinder X6 model with rear-wheel drive, while every AWD model enjoys a slight increase in fuel economy. The optional V8 gets a power boost.

Marketed as a cross between an SUV and a high-end coupe, the 2015 BMW X6 is engaging to drive but offers little in the way of utility.

Practicality is central to the mission of most crossover SUVs; after all, "utility" is part of the name. At the other end of the spectrum, you have coupes, which generally forego everyday usefulness for swoopy styling and sporty handling. Trying to marry the two, as BMW does with the 2015 X6, can be problematic. Based on the midsize X5, the BMW X6 has a dramatically sloping roof line that gives it a unique silhouette but puts the squeeze on interior room. It provides quick acceleration and a comfortable ride as crossovers go but not significantly more so than the more conventionally shaped X5, which has vastly more space for groceries, people and pets. See what we're getting at?

That's said, there's a sinuousness to the BMW X6's sheet metal that might be appealing if you want a luxury crossover that looks different from the rest. For 2015, BMW has redesigned the X6. The flavor of the styling hasn't changed, but the automaker has tried to make this midsize crossover a bit more useful. This is most evident in the backseat, as the 2015's X6 longer, taller, wider body has opened up considerably more headroom and legroom. By popular demand, the previous X6's standard rear bucket seats have given way to a more useful three-person bench seat. The cargo bay remains small for a midsize SUV, though.

However, the X6 does deliver great performance from its stout inline six-cylinder and V8 engines. The V8 is up to 445 horsepower this year, and keep in mind that a new high-performance X6 M model is still to come later in 2015. Beyond that, the X6 features a taut suspension and impressively smooth ride. Couple that with the 2015 X6's truly posh interior furnishings, and there's a case to be made for this BMW.

In the end, though, most shoppers will be looking for more utility than the 2015 BMW X6 can really deliver. If you find the performance potential of the X6 most appealing, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne all have plenty of entertainment value of their own, yet are far more practical for families. If it's the coupelike styling that grabs you (and you don't necessarily think you'll use the X6's 8-plus inches of ground clearance), cars such as the Audi A7 and even BMW's own 5 Series Gran Turismo have all-wheel drive and similar-sized interiors without all the X6's extra bulk.

For 2015, the X6 sDrive 35i and xDrive35i have a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that develops 300 hp and 300 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard for the sDrive 35i, and all-wheel drive is standard for the xDrive 35i. Both models use an eight-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 22 mpg combined (19 city/27 highway) for the sDrive 35i and 21 mpg combined (18 city/27 highway) for the xDrive 35i. During Edmunds performance testing, the xDrive35i went from zero to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds, which is a quick time for the segment.

The 2015 X6 xDrive50i gets a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 engine that produces 445 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Using the same eight-speed automatic transmission as the six-cylinder X6 models, the V8-motivated X6 will hit 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. Fuel economy is 17 mpg combined (15/22).

Every 2015 BMW X6 includes stability and traction control, antilock brakes, automatic brake drying, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Also standard is the BMW Assist emergency communications system, which provides automatic crash notification, stolen vehicle recovery and on-demand roadside assistance.

Other safety features that are optional or standard (depending on the trim level) include a rearview camera, blind-spot and lane-departure warning systems, a forward collision warning and mitigation system with pedestrian detection, sideview and around-view parking cameras and a night-vision system.

During Edmunds performance testing, braking performance was excellent, as an X6 xDrive35i with summer tires came to a stop from 60 mph in 108 feet, which is much shorter than other luxury SUVs and even on pace with some high-performance sports cars.

BMW's insistence on performance suspension tuning and high-end hardware help the 2015 BMW X6 bridge the gap between a taut sport sedan and a large, high-riding crossover. The X6 has a smooth ride over bumpy surfaces but it can also be switched to Sport mode for a stiffer, more taut driving experience. Handling and steering are acute (especially for such a large vehicle) but there is minimal feedback through the steering wheel. The X6 can be driven quickly, but it isn't a very rewarding experience. One of the clearest realizations of the X6's size occurs on challenging back roads, where you discover that the X6 is neither small nor light.

However, your sense of the 2015 X6's considerable size will quickly be erased by the brilliant performance from both the inline six-cylinder and V8 engines. The historically snappy turbocharged six-cylinder should be enough for most, especially since the steep premium for the X6 xDrive 50i is due almost entirely to the engine under the hood. Then again, what an engine: Plant the throttle on an open road and it seems the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 wouldn't be out of place in a locomotive, as it propels the X6 with supreme authority regardless of the driving situation.

The X6's interior has always been a strong suit, and the redesigned cabin for 2015 is even nicer than before. With a Jumbotron-sized 10.2-inch screen positioned at the top of the center dash, an all-new electronic gauge cluster and rich-looking upholstery and trim throughout, BMW hasn't cut any corners when in here. The slick and attractive iDrive interface works well for controlling and adjusting all of the X6's systems, though in our experience it typically takes a few more clicks and twists of the control knob to get what you want; some rival systems are easier to use.

Front-seat passengers will welcome both the X6's exclusive padded knee bracing along the center console (a feature the X5 doesn't have) and the deep door pockets for oversize drink bottles and other supplies. Perhaps more important is the extra legroom and headroom in the backseat, which now seats three across in the standard configuration. Getting in and out of the backseat can be a bit of an event, too. The sloping rear roof forces most adults to duck down pretty low to climb in, while also maneuvering around the arch for the rear wheelwell. Once inside, the extra legroom on this year's model is noticeable, but headroom will still be an issue for taller passengers. And in an SUV that nears six figures with options, we'd like to have rear seats that can recline, too.

But the extra passenger space comes at the expense of the X6's already skimpy cargo hold. Last year's X6 offered 25.6 cubic feet of cargo volume behind its rear seats; now it's down to a meager 20.5 cubic feet. Drop the rear seatbacks and there are just 53.9 cubes. For perspective, Porsche's Cayenne, itself not the most capacious crossover around, has a maximum cargo capacity of 62.9 cubic feet. On the upside, the 40/20/40-split rear seatbacks gives you the flexibility to seat a passenger or two while hauling longer items.