2014 BMW X6 xDrive50i 8AT AWD (450 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW introduced the SUV-coupe X6 on the market in 2007, right before the world financial crisis, and, due to that, its sales were not as significant as expected. But the second generation unveiled in 2014 became a hot-seller in the manufacturer’s lineup.

After the world economy bounced back, the German automaker considered that the future of its SAC (Sport Activity Coupe), as it likes to call it, was secure. So, it followed the same recipe of using the platform from the X5, fixed the problems noticed by BMW’s customers, and in late 2014, launched the second generation of this nameplate. This time, the automaker did it right.

The X6 sparked a huge controversy on the market, with people either loved it or hated the shape of the vehicle. At the front, the car looked similar to its X5 sibling, but the headlights looked more aggressive thanks to their swept-back shape on the sides. In addition, the grille with vertical slats didn’t look as big as before, and BMW’s design team made that possible by increasing the front bumper’s dimensions. To keep the engine cool, the automaker installed another grille on the lower side, flanked by round fog lamps offered as an option. While most customers approved the look of the front fascia, the sloped-down roofline divided them. It was a love-it or hate-it reaction at that. BMW tried to make an SUV look sportier, and the X6 was exactly that. The feeling was emphasized by the wide rear fenders, which sported an arched sculptured line above the wheel arches. Finally, at the back, the automaker installed new LED taillights mounted way up, close to the vehicle’s belt line.

Inside, unlike its predecessor, was no longer offered as a four-seat vehicle as standard. Still, the automaker kept that option on the list for those willing to share the car only with three people at most. The front seats were comfortable and bolstered to keep their occupants in place during high-speed cornering maneuvers. On the redesigned dashboard, BMW installed the infotainment screen in a pop-up position, even though it wasn’t retractable like in an Audi. The instrument cluster kept the same four classic BMW dials: fuel level, speedometer, tachometer, and oil temperature. Between the driver and their side passengers, the automaker placed a tall center console that housed a big storage area under the armrest, the rotary knob for the iDrive infotainment unit, and the gear selector for the standard automatic transmission. Starting with this model, BMW moved the lock-unlock button on the driver’s door and replaced it on the center stack with the knob for the advanced safety systems.

BMW installed a wide range of diesel and gasoline engines under the 2015 X6 skin, with six or eight cylinders. One of the oil burners, known as the M50d, featured four turbochargers and raised the power to 381 PS (375 HP). All X6s came fitted as standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive systems.