2016 BMW X6 M Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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It could be the most pointless vehicle that BMW has ever made, but the X6 M has sold remarkably well and is an undeniably impressive performer. It, and the closely related X5 M that is built at the same South Carolina factory, have proven to be successful blends of SUV-level comfort and savage performance, and both are moving to new iterations for 2016.
Introduced as a “Sports Activity Coupe”, the X6 isn't much more than an X5 with some of the roofline shaved off, and the performance-oriented M version is also set apart by more aggressive front fascia, new M-specific forged 21-inch alloy wheels, quad exhaust tips, a rear spoiler, and plenty of M badges. New colors include Long Beach Blue Metallic and Donington Grey Metallic. Despite having less room, the X6 M costs a few grand more than its X5 stablemate, with an MSRP that breaks the six-figure mark at $102,200.
BMW’s marvelous S63 V8, which displaces 4.4 liters and is boosted by two turbochargers, makes an incredible 567 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, enough to bring the 5,000 lb-plus vehicle from 0-60 in four seconds flat and give the X6 M an impressive towing capacity of 5,952 pounds. Fuel economy is an unremarkable 14 mpg city/19 highway, but BMW does boast that it's a 20% improvement over the last model. The 8-speed Steptronic transmission with automatic and manual modes is a newer design and said to be a significant improvement over the previous 8-speed.
The all-wheel drive X6 M will perform surprisingly well in a straight line; but its performance in the corners is even more shocking. Like the X5 M, it remains flat in corners and despite its mass will change direction with all the swiftness that you’d expect from an M car. Economy, comfort and sport driving modes adjust engine management and suspension stiffness and should be familiar to anyone who’s owned a BMW in recent years, but the M version also comes with launch control for quick getaways. The xDrive all-wheel drive system can send all of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels, and the vehicle’s Dynamic Stability Control will keep you from letting all that torque get away from you. Even when it’s turned off, it will step in for extreme situations involving lost traction--so it looks like excessive burnouts are out of the picture.
An impressive blend of sportiness and expensive luxury, the interior of the X6 M is an attractive place to be, with an M-specific instrument cluster, footrest, display screen, leather steering wheel, and aluminum paddle shifters and shift knob. Also included are a navigation system with voice activation, a touch screen display, Harman/Kardon premium speakers, and a rear view camera.
The biggest problem with the X6, when compared to the X5, is actually what differentiates the two vehicles in the first place: the sloping roofline. In the X6, the slope starts at the B-pillar. That means that rear seat headroom is diminished and that the amount of rear cargo room under the tapered tail is almost laughably small for such a large automobile. And all the usable room from the X5 that was sacrificed in the X6 was done for a styling element that doesn’t really make it any more attractive. Styling is subjective, however, and tens of thousands of buyers have been willing to sacrifice the cargo room and the extra money for the X6.
Like the X5 M, the X6 M appeals to the kind of driver who likes the feel and raised driving position of an SUV, but wants face-melting performance on top of it all. One difference is that the X6 M buyer is willing to sacrifice practicality for style and exclusivity, since the shape of the X6 admittedly draws the eye more than the more conventionally shaped X5, and since no other manufacturer makes anything quite like it.
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2016 BMW X6 M Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Active charcoal air filtration · Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Automatic climate control rear air conditioning · Dual rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · 20G hard drive · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 2 subwoofers · Total Number of Speakers: 14 · 600 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 15.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 15.2 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with storage · Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: aluminum · Door sill trim: scuff plate · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Headliner trim: Alcantara · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ambient lighting: color-adjustable · Cargo area power outlet: 12V · Cargo cover: retractable · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Footwell lights: color-adjustable · Memorized settings: passenger seat · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 18
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 3.15
Engine
Alternator: 210 amps · Battery: maintenance-free
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: quad exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 10.2 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: auto delay off · Tail and brake lights: LED · Taillights: adaptive
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: driver side auto-dimming
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 18
Rear Seats
Type: 40-20-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: anti-trapping feature · Moonroof / Sunroof: power sunshade
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: post-collision safety system · Parking sensors: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 17.9
Suspension
Air Suspension: rear · Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Leveling: self leveling suspension · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: BMW Assist · Smart device app function: maintenance status
Tires
Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse