Stop paying $80,000 for a BMW SUV with less space – the X5 does everything better for less

BMW has built its reputation on combining luxury and performance better than almost anyone. Whether you’re looking for a sedan, coupe, or SUV, the brand consistently offers vehicles that feel refined on long trips while still offering enough athleticism to keep enthusiastic drivers entertained. Few automakers have mastered this balancing act so effectively.

However, in recent years, manufacturers have become increasingly obsessed with creating specialized SUV body styles. Coupe-inspired crossovers have become one of the biggest trends, promising sleeker styling and a sportier image than traditional utility vehicles. The problem is that these designs often sacrifice the very qualities that make SUVs attractive in the first place, namely practicality, passenger space and cargo capacity.

A premium German SUV perfectly highlights this contradiction. Beneath its controversial styling lies a genuinely impressive luxury vehicle with strong powertrains, excellent road manners and a luxurious cabin. Unfortunately, its dramatic roofline introduces compromises that simply don’t exist on its more conventional sibling. The result is an SUV that’s still enjoyable to drive and easy to admire behind the wheel, but leaves many buyers wondering why they should pay more money for less space and usability.

The BMW X6 is smooth and luxurious, but its coupe styling lets it down

It costs more than an X5 but looks worse

If you’re looking for a sporty yet luxurious crossover, there’s no better place to look than a BMW dealership. The German brand has absolutely nailed the balance between comfort and driving pleasure in a way that few can consistently match. In its lineup of impressive crossovers, the X6 stands out for its sloping roofline, which BMW says makes it sportier and more elegant. In our opinion, however, it’s simply a less attractive and more expensive X5 with less boot space.

Models and prices of the 2026 BMW X6

Coupe-style SUVs don’t really make much sense to us, particularly when the sloping roofline is found on a mid-size SUV like the BMW X6. The styling compromises rear seat and cargo space so much that I might as well have bought a 4 Series Gran Coupe. While we accept that there are a large number of people who like the body style, it seems pretty ridiculous for BMW to charge you more for less. The BMW X5, which comes with almost identical equipment and a more spacious interior, costs between $4,400 and $6,700. less Expensive, depending on the finish.

What makes all of this worse are the nuances of the exterior styling. Even those who like coupe-like SUVs have found the X6 to be a rather controversial vehicle. Its proportions are extremely strange, as it looks like a 4 Series Gran Coupe that has gained too much weight. While everything beneath the surface is still fantastic, unfortunately cars are emotional purchases, which is why the X6’s styling lets it down so much.

Beneath that controversial exterior lies a pretty athletic machine.

BMW offers two brilliant powertrains here

Credit: BMW

We’ve always been told not to judge a book by its cover, and that certainly applies to the BMW X6. While we don’t like looking at it from the outside, once you’re behind the wheel you’re tempted to forget about all that nonsense. As usual, BMW has delivered a machine that, despite your already high expectations, offers performance that will surprise you.

Performance specifications

Basic tuning motor

3L I6 hybrid

Base Fit Transmission

8 speed automatic

Base trim powertrain

All-wheel drive

Base Adjustment Horsepower

375 horsepower at 5200 rpm

Base tightening torque

383 foot-pounds @ 1850 RPM

Base fuel economy (city/highway/combined)

23/26/24 miles per gallon

Base Fit Battery Type

lead acid battery

Do

bmw

Model

X6

The BMW X6 comes in two different versions: the xDrive40i and the M60i. Models badged xDrive40i in the rear feature a three-liter turbocharged inline-six engine that combines with a 48-volt mild hybrid system to generate 375 horsepower. The M60i, however, has a fantastic 4.4-liter V-8 that makes 523 horsepower. Either way, you get a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the X5All X6s come standard with all-wheel drive.

Considering the X6 weighs just over 5,000 pounds, it’s pretty quick. The xDrive40 can go from 0 to 60 in around 5.2 seconds, and the M60i does the same in an incredibly quick 4.2 seconds. These are BMW estimates, so we imagine they’re even faster in real life. Cornering grip is also heroic for such a big, heavy car, although you always feel that weight. The steering is precise but, as with most modern BMWs, lacks feedback.

The question remains: why buy an X6 when you could just have an X5?

The X6 is simply a less spacious X5

While all that performance is impressive, you can get the exact same setup in the BMW X5, which comes with the same equipment and a more spacious cabin. The X6 doesn’t make much sense in the range. While we understand that some people really like pitched roofs, you can also opt for a pitched roof. M440i Gran Coupe instead and save $10,000. It seems as if the German brand charges you more for less.

Interior dimensions and comfort.

Those sitting in front don’t have to worry about any kind of compromise as there is plenty of room to stretch out. However, it’s a different story if you’re relegated to the back seats. The X6 has almost the same rear seat dimensions as a 4 Series Gran Coupe. The sloping roofline also reduces cargo space, making the coupe-style SUV less practical than an X3let alone an X5.

The interior style here is quite good. The X6 doesn’t stray too far from the established standard that BMW has followed across its range. You get a stylish dual-screen setup atop the dashboard, luxurious materials covering almost every surface, and a host of other tech and convenience features. Once again, the problem is that in the BMW X5 you get the same equipment for much less money.

Coupe-style SUVs are nonsense and the BMW X6 proves it

The crossover trend that has dominated the automotive world for some time now has given rise to some pretty strange trends. Among these trends, coupe-type SUVs seem one of the strangest. From driving dynamics to interior space, it seems like you would have been better off choosing between a sedan or an SUV rather than trying to find a middle ground. The X6 proves this point, as it compromises in almost every important area for a vehicle of this price and size. The real gut punch, however, is that it costs more than its more practical and mechanically identical sibling, the X5.