2011 BMW X6

Spacious interior
The X6's spacious interior, while not as roomy as the X5 or 5 Series GranTurismo in terms of vertical space, offers a nice place to spend an evening or afternoon. The new five-seat option expands this capability and makes the X6 about as accommodating as anything that might go up against it.

Eight-speed transmission
Found in the xDrive35i and xDrive50i (the ActiveHybrid X6 gets seven forward gears), the eight-speed transmission is a wonder of German engineering. Absolutely smooth and composed during normal driving or even hard acceleration, it is the perfect match for either engine's generous power and torque output.

If you're familiar with BMW vehicles, you'll find yourself at home in the X6. The seating position is good and fairly sporty for an SUV and the cabin is intimate and cockpit-like, impressive for a vehicle this size. Like all new BMWs, the once-reviled iDrive control cluster on the center console has become more intuitive and user friendly, with a cluster of direct-function buttons to assist the control knob.

BMW set out to create a Sports Activity Vehicle with the sexy, sporty coupe roofline and largely succeeded in that endeavor. From the front it is every bit a sport SUV crossover, while the roofline that plunges toward the rear, a somewhat bulbous rear end and undeniable BMW design elements like the forward kidney grilles and slightly upswept rear gate make the X6 look like virtually nothing else on the road.

The X6 xDrive35i receives a version of BMW's TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower. The X6 xDrive50i receives a TwinPower Turbo V8 that ups the ante to 400 peak Horsepower. The ActiveHybrid X6 also utilizes the turbocharged V8, which is further paired with dual electric synchronous motors that can move the vehicle on their own or assist on acceleration, producing a maximum 485 horsepower. The two gasoline-powered variants both use an eight-speed automatic with Steptronic shift capability (via paddles mounted on the steering wheel), while the hybrid uses a seven-speed automatic.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged in-line 6
300 horsepower @ 5800 rpm
300 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1200-5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8
400 horsepower @5500-6400 rpm
450 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1750-4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, dual electric synchronous motors
485 horsepower @ 5500-6400 rpm (hybrid mode)
575 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1750-4500 rpm (hybrid mode)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/19

As its premium SUV status would denote, the 2011 BMW X6 doesn't come cheap. The base X6 xDrive35i, with a turbocharged inline-six and 300 horsepower, starts under $60,000. The X6 xDrive50i, with turbocharged V8 and 400 horsepower, is around $70,000. The high-tech ActiveHybrid X6 tops the range both in terms of power output and price: 485 horsepower and close to $90,000. Still, even at these prices, the X6 remains fairly competitive with other premium European offerings from Porsche or Audi.

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