It is quite logical that the BMW X6 has become the target of hatred of motoring enthusiasts. It is the car that, in the current range of the Munich-based carmaker, perhaps most spits on the principles that have defined this brand in the past. The X6 is a typical image of our time , with which many of us cannot reconcile. One single fact provoked me to write this article. Unlike most petrolheads , I think the X6 is a hell of a car.
When the X6 appeared on the menu, I squealed like many other fans of the brand . The car was not only another proof of the decline of my favorite car company, it also made no sense to me at the time. Who would want to buy an overpriced, crippled "knockback" ?
It didn't take long, however, for X6s to be everywhere. The Audi Q7, the old X5 and the Mercedes ML probably fell into the ground. They weren't even in the bazaars, they simply disappeared. The X6 invasion was overwhelming . Every peroxide blonde with a Vuitton brain had to have that “new off-road Bavarian.” I once saw five X6s in a row in Paris… All black. One could also easily get the impression that a gold chain and a down jacket are part of the standard equipment of the "ix six". She stood in front of every casino and brothel within six months. The monstrous hybrid with a propeller in its emblem immediately became an icon of dubious individuals with dubious taste. Yes, one could easily find a reason to hate the X6. I too had a very clear opinion on the X6. Without driving it… And this is unfortunately a very common phenomenon in the motoring enthusiast community. Condemning something I have no personal experience with. Let's call it autoracism…
One day, however, I had the opportunity to drive this icon of the decline of an iconic brand … At that time, I had been photographing for a motoring publishing house for less than a year, and I had a relatively good run-in of new cars. I was able to recognize what was above average and what was below average in current production. The BMW X6 appeared in our editorial office because of the new engine, then the most powerful six-cylinder turbodiesel in the range with the designation xDrive40d (yes, in most of the photos here we provocatively have the most heretical version: X6 M). I first drove a few kilometers as a passenger, and at that point the X6 didn't make a big impression on me. After the photo shoot, I got behind the wheel and something happened that I really didn't expect. It was there. The feeling like in a real BMW . How the hell is that possible? The current top five doesn't mean anything to me… The current top three doesn't mean anything to me… And suddenly I'm sitting behind the wheel of an SUV, which logically should be a long way from the true essence of BMW, and at the same time everything evokes the right feelings in me… Perfect position behind the wheel, confidence already in the first meters , an excess of power, immediate response to the gas pedal and steering, perfectly dosed brakes, the urge to drive absurdly fast, not even a hint of the sponginess so usual in the SUV category, agility… agility? A nimble SUV??! Did I really write that?!! No other SUV has ever impressed me so "sportily" (yes, I used that word in connection with a two-ton monster, I deserve a slow and painful death). And with the exception of the Porsche Cayenne and Macan, I drove almost every SUV that is currently sold in the Czech Republic.
Behind the wheel of the X6, you'll soon realize that nothing in the four-wheeled world eats up the miles more efficiently and confidently than the X6. As a means of transportation from point A to point B, perhaps only Boeing works more efficiently. After all, the way it disguises speed is also reminiscent of an airliner. The X6 has a front window located very close to the crew. That, and the relatively predictable front end of the body , makes you feel like you're driving a much smaller car. For example, you won't find anything similar in a Touareg, Mercedes ML or Range Rover. Not only do they make you feel like you're driving a car the size of an ocean liner, the steering response feels more like steering than operating a passenger car. Now, of course, I'm exaggerating a bit, but the X6 is simply in a different class . I remember reading in the British Autocar test of the first generation X5 years ago that it drives like an upper mid-range sedan. I thought to myself at the time that it was impossible to deceive physics in such a way. Now I know that, at least for the "ix-six" (I never drove the first-generation X5), BMW really succeeded to some extent.
In the X6, thanks to the higher position (you can see over most of the other traffic), the excellent forward view (the "A" pillars do not screen so much due to the small distance from the crew), the feeling of a smaller car and the powerful engine (306 hp, 600 Nm) you experience feelings of total dominance over the surrounding area behind the wheel operation. You can only experience such superiority and easy overtaking on a motorcycle. You'll find that everyone is keeping pace and overtaking is such a natural and relaxed activity that you won't get tired even if you're frantically overtaking all day. Yes, it would be naive to expect real sports experiences from such a mastodon, but the ability with which this large SUV eats up the surrounding traffic is truly unreal. And, strangely enough, also fun… Thanks to the X6, I now understand the notorious racers in white vans a little more. Riding the "saw" with the "barn" gives a special feeling of satisfaction. Actually, now I understand all those who pay over two million crowns for a "barn" with the BMW brand…
If you spend more time behind the wheel than is healthy, buying an X6 is probably the best way to avoid it. Perhaps only if a person was forced to spend a lot of time in the districts and not on the highways and roads of the first classes, a really fun car would be a better choice. In fact, I did n't sit in the back once all day, so I can't tell you how bad it is to sit there. I didn't even maneuver through the narrow streets of inner Prague to be able to confirm that rearward visibility is worse than from the Lambo (you just need to check the parking camera in the extra equipment and the problem is over). All I can tell you is that the X6 drives damn well. Of course, this article of mine probably won't persuade any petrolhead to buy an X6 . However, I hope it will at least do a little bit to alleviate the X6 hatred that exists in the petrolhead community… No, I'm not that naive, I know that this article will actually only increase the petrolhead hatred towards me :))
However, I'm not the only crazy person in the world who defends the existence of the X6 among petrolheads. Finding out what I was going to write about, my colleague Dan referred me to the PistonHeads forum, where a user with the nickname "Simond S" claims to have sold his Aston Martin DB9 because he prefers to drive his X6…
Have understanding for the people who buy the "ix-six" and for BMW for making it. If you expect the least tiring and at the same time very fast travel from the car, the only Rolls can be a better choice… And if you ever have an X6 aggressively hanging on your bumper , be understanding. The driver doesn't want to upset you, they probably just think you're parking or have a breakdown and will be long gone before you say "you stupid moron".
Photos used: 12x BMW AG and RajdlStudio.com
