MotorTrend Magazine Quick Test

[palbay]

The test track numbers look pretty good...... .86g on the skidpad is sports car territory.They get around to kickin the X6 before its all over.I've not heard any of the other car mag folks describe the X6 as the worst driving BMW ever built.But that's what one of these guys writes more or less at the end of the article.I think a lot these car mag folks fall into the "BMW should never have built an SUV/SAC in the first place" camp.I don't understand how the car can post such good test track numbers but in the next breath we're told it's the sloppiest BMW ever built????? Thanks! PalBay
Quick Test: 2008 BMW X6 xDrive35i

BMW's X6 is more -- a lot more -- than meets the eye.

By Edward Loh
Photography by Julia LaPalme

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As we mentioned in our first drive of the X6 xDrive 35i (hyperlink), BMW's all-new Sports Activity Coupe cuts quite a striking profile.
Built on the second-generation, seven-passenger BMW X5, the all-new X6 is supposed to marry sports-car handling with SUV practicality in a package reminiscent of a sport coupe. The roofline is the signature element, supposedly cribbed from the BMW 6 Series. Inside, the center rear seat and third-row bench have been removed so that the once seven-seater now has room only for four.
The base-model X6 xDrive 35i is powered by BMW's now familiar twin-turbocharged, 3.0L inline-six that BMW puts in everything from the 135i coupe to the 535i sedan. In this configuration, it makes 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to all four wheels via xDrive, BMW's proprietary AWD system. The X6 is also the debut vehicle for Dynamic Performance Control, BMW's all-new torque vectoring system we profiled here (hyperlink
It has fancy duds and gear to match, but does the X6 have the performance to back up it up? Word from the test track is, "Ja."
Despite weighing nearly 5000 lb (more on that later), the X6 xDrive 35i manages to hit 60 mph in 5.9 sec and the quarter mile in only 14.5. From 60 mph, the X6 comes to rest in 116 ft. For SUVs, especially ones weighing this much, anything under 120 ft is damn impressive.




At the skidpad and figure-eight course, the X6 records 0.86 g and 26.3 sec at an average of 0.67 g, respectively -- yet another impressive showing for such a heavy SUV.
So she drives as good as she looks then? Not so fast. Our testing reveals two critical faults with the X6:
It's heavy. Our fully loaded X6, equipped with every option including 20-in. wheels, tips the scales at an extra-hefty 4387 lb. That's about 700 more than at least one of the Bimmer's main competitors. Impressive stuff when you think about the acceleration and braking numbers, but imagine what could have been minus 500 or so pounds.
The X6 also drives heavy, surprising given its impressive performance on the test track. In fact, the X6's numbers are quite a surprise to technical editor and test driver Kim Reynolds, who is ultimately disappointed by this driving machine.
"I find the X6 grating. I think it's nice looking, but cars shouldn't be like this," he says. "While the steering has that light, tingly quality -- that characteristic BMW tremble -- everything else feels like it missed the target.
"[It] wobbles, shudders, plows at the limit," he continues, "and does so much damage to BMW's reputation for building fine-driving automobiles, it's almost obscene."
Add in the fact that our fully loaded model cost $64,420, more than $11 grand over the $53,275 MSRP, and perhaps the smartly styled, sharp-handling BMW X6 doesn't appear quite so striking.
The 2008 BMW X6 xDrive 35i is on sale now.

[Viperfreak2]

Kim Reynolds, I have four words for you: You don't get it. Or is that five words? Oh well, here's five: Get a real job, loser.

So much damage to BMW's (handling) reputation? Gimme a break!

At a Jerry Springer show, she's be the one on stage yelling at the audience!

[palbay]

Viperfreak2, +1 Thanks! PalBay

[Steved]

Our review (Drivers Republic) will say differently. It really does set a new bar for handling within the SUV segment and makes a clear differentiation over the X5.

BMW should just stop calling it a Coupe (or SAC) and start calling it a more dynamic interpretation of the X5 (which is how they described it at the press launch).

[Viperfreak2]

I call it a 4 wheel drive 6 series.

[toohotdoc]

My brother works for a dealership and went for a test drive on a track and he was telling me it handles much better than my X5 and the centre of gravity is amazing. He was telling me how there is almost no tilt and the X6 flies around obstacles. I am interested in getting one myself but when reading reviews from Motortrend and other reputable magazines, it makes me think twice which i hate doing. I cant see any other car out there that is so close to an SUV but drives like a car and has good gas milage. Oh, not to mention there will be chips comin out from companies like Dinan where it will boost the HP up, giving BMW a SUC monster with a V6.

[Viperfreak2]

Reputable? Good one! They do still take money for advertising, don't they?

I haven't heard anyone call the X6 a "SUC monster" yet. Or a V6.

[5Xwen]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...son/index.html

The X6 loses a showdown with the $17K less expensive FX35.

[Viperfreak2]

Same tired blah blah. It's cheaper, so it's better! Right.

The X6 kicked the FX35's butt in handling, but didn't feel so good to the retarded editors. Is everyone at MT an editor?

Just like the Viper and Vette, the Vette usually wins the contest even though it's slower. "More practical, smoother ride and less expensive!" and hey, it has cupholders! So do minivans.

Take it to the track and see which one makes you a winner, and gives you a bigger smile. Same with the BMW, no matter what the MT staff feels.

[toohotdoc]

Totally have to drive this vehicle on a track to know the difference. Nürburgring Ring time of 8min 30 sec, common, thats 10 seconds slower than the e46 M3, and thats a M model. That right there shows you that this new breed is more sportscar like than anything else on the market. I wouldnt compare the X6 to the FX at all because its not in the same category. The v6 TT engine is the international engine of the year, no infinity comes close to recognition like that. I think Motortrend are bored out of their minds looking for a comparison to the X6.