X5 4.8 sport vs. X6 5.0 impressions

[Pex5]

I have an 09' X5 4.8 with the 20 inch wheels and last week my good friend was kind enough to lend me his 09' X6 5.0 (he was recuperating from surgery and my 550 is in the body shop).

First, in daily use, the two cars are very dissimilar. Anyone who thinks that the X6 is an X5 with...(fill in the blank) should stop that thought process immediately. The X6 is much more masculine (body lines and exhaust note). It drives as if its half the size and weight of an X5. My X5 doesn't use its tires nearly as much as the X6 does b/c the X6 prompts you to dump it into a corner and accelerate out. In the X5, this style of driving starts to 'feel' reckless at a point (subjective observation). The power difference is night and day. The X5 isn't slow, but the low end wall of torque with the twin turbo makes for a different driving frame of mind all together. I felt as though 10 mpg as the price of admission for the big smiles in the X6 is a better deal than 13 mpg for the X5's acceleration. My wife drove the X6 and although impressed by the power, she said she wouldn't give up the higher ride height, roomier interior and more family oriented image of the X5. So these are two cars for two different people. My lease is up in a few months and I could definitely see myself driving an X6 5.0 (how un-green to have 2 performance SUVs). Its sleek, manly, fast and fun and exclusive. The only thing I would improve are the brakes (which felt great, but with all that power you need exemplary brakes - drilled, carbon etc..) and try to lighten the car a touch. Its handling threshold seemed the easiest of its limits to reach. Great car though. So comfortable as well (particularly with the rear hatch opening right at my waist height). I have never really had a car that was good in the snow (although I drove our E53 X5 for a season). I would rather lease a twin turbo 550i xdrive, but that car probably won't be available for another 10 to 18 months and I don't like the looks of the GT. So, the X6 is definitely in contention.

Happy motoring,
DRP