SOUTH CAROLINA, USA –
What’s this then?
BMW says that this car you’re looking at right here is the new second-generation X6.
Wait a minute. It looks like the old one.
Indeed. The basic silhouette is the same, as you’ve cleverly noticed. The only styling changes you’ll probably spot would be the redesigned front end, with bigger headlights, more prominent chrome double kidney grille, and a slightly more aggressive front bumper treatment. At the back, the shape is slightly more streamlined, and the car now apes its smaller X4 sibling more accurately, which itself looked very much like the previous X6 anyway, so, er…

That’s just silly. Why wouldn’t they make bigger changes?
Because the X6 has clearly been a huge money-maker for BMW, despite boasting one of the more polarising designs in modern times. People either loved it or hated it, and somehow more than 260,000 folks fell into the former camp. Those are impressive sales figures indeed for a car that more than a few have criticised as being pointless and impractical.
Is it, though?
Critics will say it is, but you have to understand that the first X6 was one hell of a trendsetter, heralding the era of the truly sporty-looking SUV. Indeed, BMW insists on calling it a Sports Activity Coupe, or SAC, despite it having more than two doors. Cars like the Range Rover Evoque, and BMW’s own X4, have to thank their existence to the X6. You don’t buy an X6 to haul your family around (for that you buy an X5), but you have one because you want to look good doing everything, be it cruising around town or bashing through dirt tracks. So it’s not entirely pointless in that sense.
And if you want to talk practicality, at least the X6 can seat five, with a three-seater rear bench as standard (it was optional on the old car). Boot space is also a handy 580 litres, and if you fold down the rear seats, it goes up to 1,525 litres, 75 litres more than the outgoing X6. That’s arguably more than enough practicality for most people.

I see. So it’s like an SUV coupe?
Yes. Now you’re getting it.
But then, I’m confused. Does it drive like a big bulky SUV or a sporty coupe?
On the road, the X6 feels ridiculously agile and handy. Physics-defying is an oft-used term to describe the car’s handling, and it’s clearly an apt one. Despite the car’s size and weight, it corners almost like a much smaller car. There’s plenty of grip, and honestly it does feel quite surreal that such a big car can drive in such a manner. In a sense you have to trust that the X6 can take on corners as well as any decent hot hatch can, and over time you gain the confidence to indulge in some spirited driving, which is an activity the X6 clearly enjoys.
The model we spent the most time with on the roads in South Carolina, where the international test drive was held, was the M50d variant, which packs a turbocharged straight-six 3.0-litre engine that produces 381bhp and a staggering 740Nm of torque. Performance is therefore brisk, and you are never ever found wanting for power, which is delivered in a smooth fashion via the slick eight-speed automatic gearbox. If there’s any criticism to be levelled at the X6, perhaps the ride quality could be better sorted, as it veers between too softly-sprung in Eco Pro and Comfort driving modes, and a tad too firm in Sport and Sport+, despite the standard Adaptive M suspension on the M50d models. But perhaps we’re just being too picky.
We also drove the petrol-powered X5 xDrive50i briefly on the track, and it feels equally quick and as lovely to drive as the M50d, and offers a lovely V8 growl from its 4.4-litre engine to boot. But you’ll probably end up paying through your nose in petrol bills with that model, so we’d still opt for the diesel version in the end.

If it’s that great to drive, then surely it’s hopeless off-road?
Again, surprisingly, not really. The X6 boasts of BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system, as well as torque vectoring to help split power and send the right amount to the wheel that needs it the most in any given situation. Technologies such as Hill Descent Control (HDC), which helps you climb down steep hills without rolling over, and a front-mounted bumper camera which can assist with detecting obstacles just out of your sightline, are also handy tools to assist with your off-roading adventure.

Right. So it’s a case of, new car, same as the old car?
Pretty much. But as you can see, the X6 in itself is already an excellent all-rounder in the first place anyway, so BMW has clearly been wise to leave it pretty much alone and only inject minor improvements into it. Whether you like it or loath it, there’s no doubt that the X6 does have its fans, and quite a substantial number of them indeed. Why change a winning formula, right?

NEED TO KNOW: BMW X6 M50d
Engine 2,993cc, 24V, turbo diesel inline-six
Power 381bhp at 4000-4400rpm
Torque 740Nm at 2000-3000rpm
Gearbox 8-speed automatic
Top Speed 250km/h
0-100kmh 5.2 seconds
Fuel Efficiency 6.6L/100km
CO2 174g/km
Price To Be Announced
Availability Early 2015