Like the BMW X4, the X6 walks the line between car and SUV, but it falls more on the SUV side when it comes to size and handling. The X6 M jumbles that balance with outrageous performance and aggressive bodywork. BMW made no major updates to the SUV for 2023.

Under the hood, the X6 M carries a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8. In standard form, it makes 600 horsepower, but buyers can opt for an upgrade to the Competition Package, which brings an additional 17 horsepower. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, along with all-wheel drive. The system can shift power delivery between wheels that need it most, including a mode that sends most to the rear wheels for a more engaging driving experience. Acceleration for the standard model lands at a 3.8-second zero-to-60 time.

Adaptive dampers are standard, and the SUV rides on massive 21-inch wheels. Despite its size, the X6 M feels like a lively sports car, and the acceleration from the twin-turbo V8 is brutal by any measure of that word. At the same time, its ride can be rough and noisy, thanks to its large wheels and sporty suspension.

The X6 M’s interior is plush, and it comes standard with Merino leather upholstery. Carbon fiber trim and a finished, velour-carpeted cargo area are nice touches, and BMW includes an Alcantara headliner for extra luxury. The front seats are deep and heavily bolstered, and the back bench is surprisingly well padded. That said, the X6’s sloping roof cuts into headroom and reduces cargo space compared to a traditional SUV shape. The good news is that there’s plenty of legroom in back, so it’s not a complete penalty box.

BMW includes plenty of standard luxury features that make the sport X6 M feel worth its stout price tag. The list includes four-zone automatic climate controls, a power tailgate, folding rear seats, a panoramic moonroof, power seats, three-stage heated seats, a heated front armrest, a heated steering wheel, and a memory system.

Standard tech includes a 12.3-inch configurable digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. BMW hasn’t clarified, but we expect the 2023 X6 M to get its latest iDrive 8 system. A full-color head-up display is also standard, and the SUV comes with a built-in dashcam system to record track drives and everyday commutes.

We don’t have safety scores for the 2023 X6 M yet, but it gets a lengthy list of standard features, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure alerts, rear cross-traffic alerts, and forward-collision warnings.

The 2023 BMW X6 M has a starting price of almost $115,000. It competes with the Audi RS Q8, the Mercedes-Benz GLE, the Porsche Cayenne, the Jaguar F-Pace SVR, and the BMW X5 M.