BMW X6 Review

How It Drove - Performance

There are two petrol engines - the BMW X6 xDrive35i is powered by a 2,979cc twin-turbocharged engine that produces 306hp with a 0 to 62mph time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 149mph. The BMW X6 xDrive50i features the other twin-turbocharged petrol engine a 4.4-litre V8 unit producing 408hp - which can achieve 0 to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph.

There are also two diesel engines - the BMW X6 xDrive30d has a turbocharged 235hp diesel engine which is capable of 0 to 62 mph in 8 seconds with a top speed of 137 mph. The BMW X6 xDrive35d features the same engine as the xDrive30d except there are two turbochargers which allows the X6 xDrive35d to complete the 0 to 62 mph sprint in 6.9 seconds before going on to a top speed of 147mph.

We drove the BMW X6 xDrive35d with the 2993 cc twin-turbocharged diesel engine. The 3.0-litre engine is currently the most powerful six-cylinder production diesel engine in the world. To remove any lag from the turbochargers which is common with turbocharged cars the xDrive35d features two - one to take care of the low down speeds and one to take over when the revs have increased. There can be a fractional delay when pulling off but otherwise it feels quite potent.

The result is that the BMW X6 xDrive35d produces 286hp at 4,400rpm, while peak torque of 580Nm is available from 1,750rpm to 2,250rpm which is enough to propel it from is 0-62 mph in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 147 mph which is quite impressive.

Until the engine warms up you will notice some diesel chatter but it does quieten down.

You cannot specify a manual gearbox and all BMW X6s come with six-speed automatic transmission with has been tuned to give sporting gear change characteristics.

You can shift gear manually should you wish to via the tunnel mounted gear lever selector or via the two paddles on the back of the steering wheel. You simply knock the gear lever forwards to change down or back to change up - simple and quick. Personally the novelty does wear off and you tend to leave the transmission in the fully automatic mode but if you get the revs right and change down at the right moment you have a very powerful vehicle when overtaking (not that it is that bad in its auto mode).

Amazingly, the BMW X6 xDrive35d only records a Co2 figure of 220g/km which is less than the Volkswagen Beetle 2.0 (automatic), it also returns more to the gallon than the Beetle.