2020 BMW X6

The price of the BMW X6 starts at $64,300 MSRP for the sDrive40i, excluding tax, licensing, registration, and destination/handling charges of $995. This is $5,400 more expensive than the equivalent X5 sDrive40i. The cost of the BMW X6 xDrive40i is $66,600, and topping the range is the X6 M50i at $85,650.

The new BMW X6 mixes a reasonably compliant ride with sharper steering characteristics than the competition from Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Dynamic Damper Control is standard fitment and drivers can choose between two damper settings, one tuned more for comfort, and the other for sportier driving.

The 40i models are more forgiving and provide the X6 with a composed and comfortable ride, much like the more traditional X5. This is definitely an SUV that you can live with every day, and only the optional bigger wheels introduce a bit more noise into the otherwise well-insulated cabin than you'd like. The M50i is a more stiffly sprung configuration, but it stops short of being unacceptably jarring. Switch to Sport mode, and the big X6 can be hustled through corners with vigor. The precise steering and high grip limits - together with those superb engines - encourage you to push on. There's not much feedback through the steering, but look past that and there's little to fault here.

You can further enhance the X6's dynamics with the optional Dynamic Handling Package - active roll stabilization and Integral Active Steering improve the X6's agility, although you can only do so much before its size and weight factor into the equation and remind you that this is a large SUV, not an M2 coupe. Also optional (on the xDrive40i) is the Off-Road Package with two-axle air suspension and an electronically controlled M Sport rear differential. Snow and Gravel modes are included and the package endows the X6 with more off-road capability than before, although this is still no Range Rover.

The new BMW X6 SUV is better than ever before. Inherently compromised because of its novel coupe-like design, it still manages to offer acceptable cargo and passenger space without really matching the X5 in either area. There's no denying the impactful redesign, though, and the X6 must be one of the ultimate left-lane highway tyrants that says "get out of my way". Both engines are class-leading in terms of their power delivery and refinement, and while the X6's weight restricts any sports car aspirations, it remains an engaging SUV that can also keep the family comfortable when needs be. The cabin is a study in meticulous construction and sensible layout, there's enough kit on board so that no variant feels spartan, and the iDrive system remains one of the best. As before, the biggest question mark surrounding the X6 will be whether it is worth over $5,000 more than its in-house competitor, the X5 - as before, the logical answer is no. But where the X5 may elicit the odd compliment, the X6 is likely to cause much more of a stir and if that matters to you, the choice is simple.

Such is the strength of the turbocharged six-pot in the 40i that we'd happily recommend this model, which, when equipped with rear-wheel-drive, amounts to a more than $20,000 saving over the M50i. We'd equip ours with the Executive Package and multi-contour seats in Merino leather, bringing our X6 to a total of $72,645 including the destination and handling fee. That's a fast, brilliantly equipped coupe-SUV for over $10,000 less than the M50i.

The BMW X4 is the smaller version of the X6 and, since it has also been recently revised, is a strong alternative. Both have a very similar sloping roofline, but we think the meaner X6 makes a stronger statement in comparison, although this is of course subjective. The X4 has the option of a 2.0-liter turbo-four in the xDrive30i - that model starts at over $10,000 less than the cheapest X6. The other alternative is the fire-breathing M40i at $61,000. This is $3,300 less than the base X6 but you get xDrive all-wheel-drive, 382 horsepower (47 hp more than the X6 sDrive40i), and a 0-60 mph time of only 4.4 seconds. Of course, the bigger X6 means more space: there's 8.9 cubic feet more cargo room behind the rear seats, 0.2 inches of extra rear legroom, and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room. Interestingly, the X4 has more headroom up front. Both are excellent coupe SUVs but if we could, we'd make the stretch and go for the X6.

We already know how this story goes: buy the X5 if you want more space at a lower price, or buy the X6 if you don't need that much room and you can't resist the BMW X6's coupe style. Other than that, these two are mechanically identical: both use either turbocharged six- or eight-cylinder engines, although the X5 does have a lower-powered V8 xDrive50i variant (at 456-hp, it's hardly lacking) at $76,150, just under $10k less expensive than the more powerful X6 M50i. A larger cargo area (33.9 cubic feet vs the X6's 27.4) and superior headroom make the X5 the smarter choice for families and their stuff. Whether you buy with your head or your heart, you'll be piloting one of the best SUVs on the market right now.