Here, people, is a truly contreversial car. The BMW X6 started life as a plain SUV — until BMW decided to create a brand new niche car sector. They call it the SAV — sport activity vehicle. Or for short a coupe SUV. This design is instantly recognisable due to its sloping roofline and roar of its engine. But does the world really need a SUV coupe?Well, Australia says no. After a recent Drive ( www.drive.com.au net poll 57% of people said no and 29% ON TOP OF THAT said it was not for them. As you can see from this poll the X6 just slots into one of the many niches ranging from LCC (light city coupe) to BMW’s own APV (activity performance vehicle). What the world really needs is more fuel efficient car from the large and medium car sector.Back to the X6 review. The X6 performs very well and in some cases as good as a M3. The handling is a bit on the slow side but the straight line speed makes up for these…struggles. With an optional twin turbocharged V6 with 300kw (which has a starting price of AUD$145,000, 0-100km/h in 5.4 secs) this SUV is really a performer, being only a little off the pace against the Porsche Cayenne, king of performance off roaders. The X6, though, offers many standard features, though start pricing a pretty steep. It favours more to families than to hardboy racers as the top model, awkwardly named the xDrive50i, comes in an automatic transmission only. But the most serious problem is under the skin.The drivetrain of the X6 has been tuned for maximum stiffness, for maximum acceleration. Suspension has been lowered and stiffened for better on road handling and precision. But, offroad? The main reasons for buying a SUV is: a)Offroad capabilitiesb)High ride positionc)SafetyThe X6 has none of the sought after features of a soft roader. It’s off road abilities are minimal as it is fitted with wheels too small and tyres too smooth. Running over anything will jarr your spine due to its rock solid suspension. The driver ride height is not high at all, in fact it is about the same as a tall hatchback. And the safety is as good as the 3- series BMW, which is no bad thing but if you were to have a head on collision with another SUV, you would be a lot worse off than the other.Overall, the X6 is a good car, though it is uncertain of what niche it’s in. It performs well and handles much better then other SUV’s. But would I buy it over it’s main rival, the Cayenne turbo? In short, no. The Cayenne Turbo has all the reasons to buy a SUV and adds performance and handling into the mix. Stuttgart all the way. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil
Gallery
