2019 BMW X6

The X6 was already interesting but BMW has taken it one step further for 2019 MY by making different features such as blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, automated emergency braking, and forward-collision warning system as standard across the lineup. Yes, BMW has finally decided to make Apple CarPlay standard on every trim. 

The xDrive 50i however comes with a more powerful 445 hp 4.4L twin-turbo V8 engine. The different packages such as the Convenience package, M sport package, and the Premium package have been updated with features such as four-zone automatic climate control, SiriusXM satellite radio subscription, heads-up display, wireless charging, and Wifi Hotspot. An Executive package lets you have automatic high beams, soft close doors, and rear manually operated side window shades.

Which Trim should you buy?

Although both 35i and 50i versions are excellent, we would suggest the sDrive 35i as it seems to be the most valuable one. Its $64,545 price tag feels worth it once you see how it is fully loaded with almost everything. And if you are still not satisfied then you can always opt for additional features. Different packages are available giving buyers a vast level of customization. 

If you want to make X6 more sporty, the M sport package provides various visual changes. Driver assistance plus package lets you have even more safety features and finally if you want to enhance the driving experience of X6 then the Dynamic Handling package is available which loads active roll stabilization and adaptive suspension dampers with the rear air suspension system.

The base 35i version of the 2019 BMW X6 is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 cylinder engine. The base engine can produce 300 horsepower and a torque of 300 lb-ft. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission which shifts cogs smoothly and briskly. We must say the engine feels excellent and ever-ready as flooring the pedal in this one is going to leave you with a big smile on your face. The 2019 X6 sDrive 35i can go from 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds and can finish a quarter-mile in 14.4 seconds. These timings are only made possible because of the buttery smooth automatic transmission. 

Going fast from standstill is not the only quality X6 has, you will get one of the best driving experiences in this segment. Both sDrive 35i and xDrive 35i are excellent but if you are still not satisfied then xDrive 50i is available with a monstrous 445 hp & 480 lb-ft 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. This one is all about setting the tarmac on fire with its 4.7 seconds 0-60 mph run. 

The 2019 BMW X6 is impressive on its own but when stacked against its rivals it offers the least power and torque figures on paper. It is the slowest to hit 0-60 MPH at 5.8 seconds while the Porsche Cayenne can do it in 4.9 seconds thanks to its enhanced driving dynamics and aerodynamically superior body. Audi Q8 is the most powerful of the lot owing to its mild hybrid system that helps with an extra boost, while the Land Rover’s supercharged engine offers similar performance as well. 

How well does the 2019 BMW X6 handle?

The impressive engine on the 2019 X6 provides enough oomph to get you on its side, but the steering wheel is a bit conflicting; At least in the beginning or should we say in comfort mode. It feels way too light and occasionally numb. However, switching to sport mode results in quick changes and we mean in a better way. We must mention that the suspension system of X6 is easily one of the best as it eliminates most bumps from low, medium to large without any problem. 

All in all the driving experience you get is pretty good as X6 can easily tackle sharp corners with acceptable body roll. This makes it a solid SUV for locals as well as for long travels. And yes do not forget that you can further enhance this experience by opting for the dynamic handling package.

2019 BMW X6 Braking Performance

The 2019 X6’s exceptional performance on the road is incomplete without a proper leash. Having a competent braking system is necessary. It weighs over 4,500 lbs and it does have a bit of body roll but it is acceptable. Thankfully, BMW has loaded the 2019 X6 with 13.7-inch brake rotors front and 12.6-inch brake rotors at the rear. And yes both front and rear discs are well ventilated. 

The braking system is paired to various brake assists providing maximum stopping power no matter what situation. The efficient braking system is the reason why X6 can be stopped from 60-0 mph in the shortest braking distance of 119 feet. That being said, the brake pedal feels spongy and needs getting used to for optimum braking performance. 

The 2019 BMW X6 is a bit heavier than Porsche Cayenne and the Range Rover Velar but lighter than Audi Q8. Despite being heavy, the Q8 offers impressive braking performance thanks to its larger brake rotors. The X6 has the smallest brake rotors of the lot while the Velar, although weighs less and has almost similarly sized brakes as that of the X6, has a longer stopping distance. 

When we first throttled the 2019 BMW X6, the amazing power output and performance on the road sure impressed us but also created a feeling of getting an average fuel economy. But surprisingly it offers 18 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined. These stats are one of the best in its class you can find. 

When combined with a decent-sized 22.4 gallons fuel tank, you get a 537-mile driving range. What makes it even more awesome is that even if you decide to go for the V8 engine, the fuel economy you get is pretty good and does not disappoint, offering 19 mpg combined fuel economy as per the EPA ratings. 

The 2019 BMW X6 offers an impressive fuel economy when compared to its rivals with only the Porsche outperforming it in this regard. The supercharged engine under the hood of the Velar has an identical fuel economy rating while the Audi Q8 sips the most fuel amongst all the cars present here. The Cayenne also offers the largest gas tank capacity, translating to the best driving range on offer here. 

It might have an awkward design on the outside for some, but the interior of the 2019 BMW X6 is absolutely gorgeous. You get a beautifully designed cabin with premium quality materials. The dashboard is equally attractive with a broad black bar and a fully digital gauge cluster which lights up in different colors according to driving mode. In the middle is a tab-like display for an infotainment system plus a decently crowded lower center console. The sport leather steering wheel with metallic accents feels and adjusts amazingly. The visibility in the front is decent but at the rear is just a nightmare.

Talking about seating capacity, the 2019 X6 can seat 5 people in two rows. Moreover, you get 8-way power-adjustable front seats with a heating function. For the rear, a 40/20/40 split-folding bench seat is available. As standard, all seats come with Dakota leather upholstery which is pretty good and can be upgraded to even more premium quality ones. As for the interior room, the front seats are fully comfortable with ample room for occupants. However, the rear seat comes with a shortage of legroom. Even the headroom is limited because of the sloped roofline. The cargo capacity it offers is average at best because of an odd design but you will find enough storage spaces inside the cabin.

The X6 offers an attractive and premium quality cabin. It also offers adequate room for front-row occupants but the cramped up rear row seat is best for shorter people. Audi Q8 takes the win here for it offers the most spacious front and rear row along with an impressive cargo capacity of 30.5 cu ft. Being the flagship model of the Audi lineup, the interior screams luxury wherever you touch. Standout interior features:

• Four-zone climate control
• Dakota leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• 14-way power-adjustable front seats
• Wood or aluminum trim
• Ventilated front seats
• Sport seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The infotainment system of the 2019 BMW X6 is powered by BMW’s iDrive. A 10.2-inch touchscreen is available for accessing various features. The large display is responsive, offers high resolution and the UI is intuitive. The voice activation system is good once you get familiar with the commands. And yes BMW has finally added Apple CarPlay support but needs a subscription after the first complimentary year of service. The same can't be said about Android Auto. 

The standard HiFi sound system is likable but we would advise opting for the premium sound system by Harman Kardon. Other features such as Real-time traffic display, weather band, SiriusXM, and auxiliary input jack are also available. And yes via additional packages USB support with BlueTooth, wireless charging, and WiFi hotspot can be added to the features list. Standout infotainment features:

• 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay compatibility 
• Upgraded 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system
• Wireless charging
• WiFi Hotspot

The exterior design of the 2019 BMW X6 is where things get complicated. You get an SUV that looks like a mixture of fastback from the rear but an SUV from the front. That being said, people have started to take a liking to it and many other manufacturers have also started to experiment with similar designs. 

At the front, you get your usual BMW face with a double grille. On the sides, cornering lights on curved fenders with 19-inch light-alloy Y spoke wheels look good. At the rear, you get a decent trunk with a sloped roofline on top just like a fastback which is acceptable. But If we had to sum up X6’s exterior design in one word then we would use “quirky”

Dimensions wise, the X6 is a bit on the smaller side than its rivals which certainly messes with the volume inside the vehicle. But the compact design offers better control over the vehicle and the 7.7 inches of ground clearance offers decent off-road capabilities and a lowered stance. The Land Rover Velar has the highest ground clearance while the Audi and Porsche SUVs offer more clearance than the Bimmer. Standout exterior features:

• 19-inch light-alloy Y spoke wheels
• Body-colored front and rear bumpers
• Sliding and tilting glass 1st-row sunroof with sunshade
• Front fog lamps
• LED brake lights

The 2019 X6 is based on the BMW CLAR platform which is shared by its sibling X5. The vehicle might look aggressive but BMW has done an excellent job in keeping safety in check. They have made various safety features standard across the lineup such as forward-collision warning system, blind-spot monitoring system, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. 

Front and rear parking sensors with a rearview camera are also available and yes even a night vision system can be had by paying extra. Lastly adaptive cruise control with stop and go technology is available via a separate package. Unfortunately, X6 hasn’t been crash-tested by NHTSA and IIHS but we believe it should be as good as its siblings. Standout safety features:

• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane departure warning system
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go technology
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Night vision system
• Forward collision warning system

2019 BMW X6 vs 2019 Audi Q8

When stacked against Audi Q8, BMW X6 offers bigger room for front-row occupants and excellent braking performance. On top of that its six-cylinder engine offers better fuel economy which when combined with a decent-sized fuel tank results in a pretty good driving range. Audi Q8 on the other hand is faster, offers better room for rear row occupants and cargo capacity. Between the two, Audi Q8 offers a better deal.

2019 BMW X6 vs 2019 Porsche Cayenne

The X6's engine performance is certainly impressive but when put against the Porsche Cayenne, it falls behind. The 2019 Cayenne is much faster, offers a bigger fuel tank, and thus an impressive driving range. The cabin of both SUVs is somewhat similar in volume but Cayenne offers more cargo capacity. It is a tough choice between the two.

2019 BMW X6 vs 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

Going against Land Rover Range Rover Velar is a bit of a leap for X6. But somehow the BMW X6 turns out to be in a similar vicinity in the 0-60MPH acceleration test. It also offers better braking power and mileage, but Range Rover excels by offering a more spacious cabin.

The new BMW X6 might have an inconsistent exterior design which leads to the shortage of room inside its cabin for both the passengers and their luggage, but its qualities like aggressive yet efficient engine, visually attractive premium quality cabin, and comfortable driving experience are enough to attract usual SUV buyers. So if you don’t mind the quirky design language and limited off-road capabilities, the X6 is one of the plushest rides that you can buy for your family weekend duties.