2021 BMW X6 M Review

The BMW X6 M is a motorsport-bred midsize crossover-coupe, in the same arena as the Audi RS Q8, Mercedes-AMG GLE 63, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe. There are only light changes for 2021.

The heart of the X6 M is a glorious twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that makes 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. Last year’s Competition sub-model has been relegated to a package for 2021, but it still bumps the horsepower to 617. An eight-speed automatic and slick all-wheel drive (AWD) system shuffle the X6 M’s power to where it’s most needed. Adaptive dampers, an active differential, paddle shifters, and several drive modes are also on board. You’ll reach 60 miles per hour in as little as 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 155 miles per hour in the base specification, while the Competition package does it in 3.7 seconds and reaches 177 mph.

Every X6 M comes with 21-inch wheels, an aerodynamic kit, LED exterior lights, power-folding and heated side mirrors, carbon-fiber interior trim, a leather-covered dashboard, leather upholstery, an Alcantara headliner, a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment system that responds to touch and gesture, Apple CarPlay connectivity, a WiFi hotspot, four-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a Harman Kardan sound system with 16 speakers and 464 watts. Android Auto connectivity is new for 2021, as is Sirius XM 360L compatibility. You can specify such options as 22-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, adaptive LED headlights, rear heated seats, heated and cooled cupholders, soft-close doors, a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and upgraded M brakes.

Bruiser though it may be, the X6 M does not shirk off safety duties. No matter how you equip it, you’ll always find forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, speed limit information, automatic high-beams, rain-sensing wipers, and a rear-view camera. Tack on the Driving Assistance Professional package and you’ll get adaptive cruise control, extended crash-evasion functionality, and a traffic jam assistant for limited-access highways. Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ever evaluated the X6 M for crash safety, but that’s not unusual for such niche models.

The BMW X6 M is a veritable muscle car on stilts.