X6 Test Drive

[bimmerborn]

I am just coming back from X6 XDrive35i test drive. No. Sorry folks, but no. I will tell you why in a little bit. The car I drove was not even "PDI"ed (Pre-Delivery Inspection?) so many functions would not work. Like power tilt / telescopic steering wheel was not functioning. However that did not hold me from test drive. This car is agile. Better than 328i but not as good as 335i. I know I am comparing apples and oranges, but it is same engine as 335i. It was very good for an SAV (or SAC). Having max torque on 1,500 rpm I was the first jumping on the traffic light. Feel is awesome. Looks are excellent. Vents in very nice location. iDrive felt good. Very similar to 5 and X5. Different than 6. New "Auto H" feature was nice. Useable for stop and go traffic. Also nice touches inside. Padding for your right knee on the center console. New Oyster interior looks great. It is a nice color.
Ready for complains? Rear view is not good. You see the upper half of a 3 series windsheild behinde you. If there is a Z4 behind, then you will not see it. Hence the standard Parking Distance Control. Then I had blind spots at passenger side, rear quarter panel area. I am talking about a huge blind spot. So there was blind spot at my side's B-pillar. And this is supposed to be a coupe so smaller side pillar? What turned me off was the rear seats. Very hard to get in and out. And not view. They are too deep down. I had a 1" headroom left in rear. And I am 5' 4". Getting out means you have to put your hand on the rear seat center console, which has a plastic door on the cup holders and might break.
But the car was awesome. A nice BMW as it should be.

[cheaptrick]

How is acceleration compared to 3 series 335? Or compared to 6cyl and 8cyl x5? Cheap

[Sonoman707]

Took my X3 in for its Inspection II today at Sonnen BMW in Marin, CA. They received two X6s this morniing. One o$54K - the other $65K.

Looks almost exactly like an X5 from the top of the door down with the current angular design queues. But - the top is this sloped, rounded and smooth appendage stuck on top. First look/impression - seemed odd. Like idiots - they parked one right next to an X5 for an obvious similarity/difference comparison.

[bimmerborn]

How is acceleration compared to 3 series 335? Or compared to 6cyl and 8cyl x5? Cheap

Spec says XDrive35i is a 6.5 second car. It felt like a 6.5 second car too. 335i is faster.
Long time since I drove both E70s (Susan Kommen event) I recall X5 3.0si felt heavy to me. The XDrive35i didn't feel that way. It felt more like 4.8i, except you seat about 3" lower. X6 shows it is a wider car compared to X5.

[cheaptrick]

Thanks Bimmerborn that sounds spot on. Cheap

[XZLR8]

I talked to my salesman yesterday about the X6. They just received their first unit for testdrives, so he's going to contact me once it's prepped and ready for the public. I'm really curious to drive it, even though it's probably the V8 that would be of interest to me in the long run.

I had the opportunity to sit in the X6 at a recent 1-Series Event and had the same two concerns that were mentioned in the initial post on this thread... difficult entry/exit to the rear seats and poor visibility. I'll be curious to see if those impressions change once I get it out on the road.

[bimmerborn]

Folks please do not get me wrong. X6 is an awesome car. Very sporty and a pure BMW engineered car. When I said no to it I am comparing base X6 to a $5K cheaper base X5. For that price difference you do not get standard leather, PDC, Sport Steering with Paddle Shifters, DPC Dynamic Perforamnce Control, 40 extra horse power coming from Twin Turbos, and you get 100 more lbs and bigger co-effecient drag. But I will pick X5 since it is a more practical SAV.

[XZLR8]

I had a chance to drive the X6 last night. It was the first one that my dealership received, a 3.5i with Sport & Tech in the new Red color with Black "comfort seats" and "dark wood."

First of all, surprisingly, I really like the Red exterior. I can't imagine ever ordering it -- I'm a silver/gray guy as a matter of habit, if not necessity -- but the Red is really stunning. It's dark enough to not be obnoxious, but very sporty, especially with the black shadowline trim.

Sitting in the driver seat, everything is very similar to our X5. There are a few minor differences, such as the padding on the center tunnel and the addition of paddle shifters, but it's essentially the same. Good headroom (which was a concern of mine), etc. I really would miss the panorama roof that's in our X5, though, which is made worse by the fact that the opening in the roof in the X6 is VERY small. Rear visibility, as has been mentioned before, is tricky. Looking in the rearview mirror, the back window seems like a sliver... a high sliver. This would be less of a problem, perhaps, if BMW's back-up camera wasn't so pathetic. (That's a big complaint of mine with our X5. The camera is nearly useless at night.) I like the back seats and the console between them -- very nice -- but getting in and out is a bit of a gymnastic event. There are no "oh sh!t" handles to help entry and exit, either. That seems like a silly oversight on BMW's part.

I can't tell you how impressed I was with the 3.5 engine. Great off-the-line acceleration, nice exhaust note, very responsive. It felt as powerful as our X5 4.8i from 0-60. I'm sure you'd notice a difference in the 60-100 range, but for most needs, the 3.5 engine is a peach. It makes me anxious to drive the 5.0, though. If the early reports of lag aren't true, the 5.0 is going to be a killer. Handling, too, is phenomenal... a definite improvement over our X5, which is certainly no slouch. In the X6, you quickly forget that you're driving a vehicle as large as you are... and it IS large. It feels nimble and responsive, more like a 335i than the X5. BMW did a great job here.

Overall, I like it and would definitely consider one, probably as a replacement for our X5. I'd lean toward the 5.0, of course, but I am a little scared to see the MSRP. The X6 3.5 that I drove was not "all option" equipped, but still came in at $66K with Sport and Tech. What's that going to mean for the 5.0? $80K is a possibility, no question. Ouch.

[PalBay]

XZLR8, Nice writeup on your drive!!!! I'm w/ you,cannot believe BMW did not put OS handles in the back seat.Also,If the rear door swung open a little further,that would help the rear seat issue BIG TIME.Thanks. PalBay

[Vilnius]

Although I am going to get the X6 50, I took a 35i for a spin today. Fortunately, there was a little race track nearby. The dealer was holding the OS handle with both hands.
I was disappointed. The acceleration was quite sluggish, much like my Acura MDX. But the saddest part is that it does have a looooong turbo lag! So we drove away from the track to check the X6 on a bumpy road (hard to find one in Chicago suburbs). I never had a BMW before so I had nothing to compare with. The engine during accelerations was way too loud and I didn't feel like it was delivering for the noise produced. Surprisingly, I did not feel much shatter in my teeth on the broken and re-patched over-and-over pavement. Then I noticed that the air conditioner was on and the dealer pointed out that X6 has a sports mode. I said: we need to go back to the race track and try it again with no power sucking devices on and in most aggressive mode. We did. There was a little improvement in acceleration but under steer remained almost the same. I need to mention that the race track was little wet.
So, I am waiting for 50 hoping that it will be better 'connected' to my body.

[5Xwen]

I was disappointed. The acceleration was quite sluggish, much like my Acura MDX. But the saddest part is that it does have a looooong turbo lag! .

Why does the twin turbo have turbo lag in the X6, but has no lag in any of the other BMW's that use it?:dunno:

[XZLR8]

Why does the twin turbo have turbo lag in the X6, but has no lag in any of the other BMW's that use it?:dunno:
I didn't detect any lag in the X6 3.5i that I drove.

[cheaptrick]

Not so much a question of lag on the one I test drove, more like a delay in getting all that weight moving. Not instantanious. My e93 335 just goes NOW and keeps on going when I put the pedal down. The x6 goes but seems to have to build up to it. Maybe a lot more inertia? It would be interesting to compare the two power to weight ratios. I'm sure the 8 with 100 more hp and 100+ more torque should be more immediate, but it is reported to have lag. Don't get me wrong it's plenty quick enough, but this is a BIG car almost 5000lbs about 20% more that e92. I have one on order and it's plenty fast enough for me. Cheap

[NetSpySD]

I would rather have an X6 with the 6cyl @20MPG than the V8 at 12MPG.

It is not a race car. That is what the M is for.:)

[sullic1]

I test drove a X6 today, and I concur, it does have a long turbo lag. My girlfriend and I just came back from a two week euro delivery of her 335xi, so I know the engine. Huge difference between the two vehicles. I liked the X6, but I think I am headed for a X5 Diesel. Much more torque, so it should pull like a V8 in day to day driving.

[sdbrandon]

I test drove a X6 today, and I concur, it does have a long turbo lag. My girlfriend and I just came back from a two week euro delivery of her 335xi, so I know the engine. Huge difference between the two vehicles. I liked the X6, but I think I am headed for a X5 Diesel. Much more torque, so it should pull like a V8 in day to day driving.

Most likely the X6 is tuned for fuel economy. So the turbos won't spin up unless needed. Perhaps using manual/sport mode would make a difference? :dunno:

As with all BMWs, when a new model comes out, future software updates address any true performance issues noted by the majority of customers if possible.

[TMQ]

It doesn't make sense that X6 is tuned for fuel economy. I would say that the increased weight gives the feel that the vehicle is a bit slow to respond.

Interestingly, when similarly equipped, the X6 is cheaper that the 535xiT.

[sdbrandon]

It doesn't make sense that X6 is tuned for fuel economy. I would say that the increased weight gives the feel that the vehicle is a bit slow to respond.

Interestingly, when similarly equipped, the X6 is cheaper that the 535xiT.

It is also cheaper than an X5 V8. Same 0-60 but the X5 V8 pulls more after 60-70MPH and uses 20-30% more gas.