Despite having more than two tonnes to motivate, BMW’s new direct-injected, twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 makes 300kW of power, 600Nm of torque and 0-100km/h goes in a searing 5.4 seconds.
There are simply no holes in its power delivery and it makes some of the most delicious V8 sounds this tester has ever heard, even at low speeds.
The X6’s handling is spectacular for such a big beast. Agility, grip, composure and lack of body roll are impressive and it’s only in really tight going that its heft catches up.
The xDrive all-wheel-drive system splits power 60:40 but can send all drive to the front or back wheels. Its Dynamic Performance Control system shifts drive between the rear wheels. On loose surfaces the X6 is supremely sure-footed.
The steering, while precise, has variable and strangely artificial weighting. Craggy road surfaces disturb the ride more than expected, especially at low speeds. Tyre and wind noise intrude at highway speeds.
There’s plenty of space up front and the seats are supportive, offering a huge range of adjustment.
The X6 doesn’t have rear-side airbags but with twin front, front-side and curtain airbags, stability-traction control, anti-lock brakes, parking sensors and a reversing camera, its safety is still impressive.
Yes, the new twin-turbo V8 is inspiring and the handling brilliant but its bulk isn’t justified by the added utility you typically get in a 4WD. When you consider there are similarly priced road cars that go harder, drive better and are just as easy to live with, it starts to look more like a Sumo wrestler in a gymnastics contest.
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