2012 BMW X6

xDrive All-Wheel Drive
If selecting an SUV (or SAV), the vehicle's additional weight should at least be offset by some all-season capability. And few all-wheel-drive systems are more capable than BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive. Despite the additional hardware, the X6 – in most versions – still enjoys an almost ideal 50:50 weight distribution. Even in the Sunbelt, the very occasional rain or snow will only reinforce your purchase decision.

Historically Good Resale
There is absolutely no rational reasoning behind the purchase of BMW's X6. It is an impulse buy, and as such, you should prepare yourself in advance for buyer's remorse. Happily, the X6 should still provide a reasonable return on your investment. If you're leasing rather than purchasing, however, we'd advise a short-term lease, after which you can find a true sport sedan. Or true SUV.

Inside you'll find traditional BMW strengths in the area of driver ergonomics and - if you can overlook the lack of rear-seat headroom - passenger comfort. The view from the driver's seat is not unlike that of the 6 Series until, of course, you try to view what's behind you in the next lane. Then, the blind spot that is the 2012 BMW X6 fastback profile makes itself known. To its credit, everything is well crafted, and the tighter cabin dimensions convey an intimacy rarely offered in more traditional SUVs.

Beauty, we'd agree, is in the eye of the beholder. With that, behold a "sporty" fastback roofline atop an SUV platform. With the end result weighing some 5,000 pounds it becomes hard to fully appreciate the execution when built on such a shaky assumption. To its credit, the X6 is less awkward than Honda's Crosstour, but we're damning the 2012 X6 with very faint praise.

In its entry-level xDrive35i form, the 2012 X6 benefits from the delightful strains of BMW's turbocharged (300 horsepower/300 lb-ft of torque) in-line-6. And despite wonderful performance numbers – a 0-60 time of just over six seconds and an electronically limited top end of 130 – the 5,000 pounds of the X6 will be felt with a full passenger and cargo load. Opt for the xDrive50i and you'll enjoy some 100 more horses and an extra 150 lb-ft of torque, which is probably the sweet spot in the X6 lineup. Both the ActiveHybrid and X6 M offer more go, but they also both start north of $90,000. The xDrive35i and xDrive50i are connected to 8-speed automatic transmissions, the hybrid receives a 7-speed automatic and the "M" makes do with six. But at 150 mph, who's counting?

3.0-liter turbocharged in-line-6
300 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
300 lb-ft of torque @ 1,300-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8
400 horsepower @5,500-6,400 rpm
450 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20


4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, dual electric synchronous motors
480 horsepower @ 5,500-6,400 rpm (hybrid mode)
575 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,500 rpm (hybrid mode)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/19

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (X6 M)
555 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
500 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-5,650 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/17

As noted earlier, the BMW X6 shares its basic platform with the X5. What BMW regards as its more "sexy" sheet metal doesn't, however, come cheap, adding some $10,000 above the cost of a base X5 to become the base X6. You'll invest just over $60,000 for the xDrive35i. Opt for the V8-equipped xDrive50i and you'll spend upward of $70,000, and the ActiveHybrid X6 begins at $90,000. That $90K figure is, coincidentally, also where the X6 M begins, and can quickly accelerate – literally and figuratively – into six figures. Go figure... Of course, BMW typically enjoys best-in-class resale. And check Kelley Blue Book's Fair Purchase Option for an idea of what consumers are paying for the same car in your area.

To find out what consumers are really paying for this vehicle, first select a style to see the Fair Purchase Price| Calculate payments for this vehicle