BMW X6 | Photo Credit: Yash Gawde

I’d have picked a very different day to drive a car like that. The car you see in the accompanying photograph, just so you know, features a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 530 bhp. Those are 530 of highly pedigreed horses which means laying them down is hardly a matter of talent. All you need to do is find room to do so. Although, I feel far less brave on rainy days. On second thought, maybe this was a good thing in the context of self-preservation.

While it’s backed up by brazenly bold specifications, what really is the X6 all about? For starters, it’s no new nameplate to the world or even to India, for that matter. In its early days, it often polarised opinions for its unprecedented attempt at merging an SUV with a pronounced coupe-like rear end, but like with most hotly debated BMWs that was soon forgotten. Eventually, the X6 carved a niche for itself by primarily being a really enjoyable car to drive, while being distinctly different to the X5.

It hasn’t been around for the last handful of years, though, so BMW thought it fit to mark its return in a way you couldn’t miss. That explains why it’s called the X6 M60i and BMW’s many worshippers will know exactly why this car/SUV/coupe is a very big deal. I must apologise for the somewhat unflattering photographs, but the X6 looks properly handsome in the flesh. Its muscular hunched-down stance and width give it the presence of something special, and even the uninclined will struggle to ignore it for the raucous burble its quartet of exhaust pipes emit.

360 degree tour

On the spec front, this X6 wears as many M bits as BMW could assemble. The 21-inch wheels, for instance, are stunning and look like they mean business. The blacked-out bits of trim, headlined by the kidney grille, look sinister. The cabin is a sea of deep red. And there is an unmistakable sense of occasion to everything about this X6. It’s dramatic from every angle. I’d have liked to see it wear a more dramatic colour, perhaps, but that’s the only thing I’ll grudge it for now.

Inside, think of the X6 more as a 2+2 GT — an exceptionally good and practical one — and you’ll like what follows. This is undoubtedly a front-row car. The seats look sporty, but in reality they’re built for long-range comfort. There’s seat ventilation (of course) and also a terrific massage function with a host of modes, all of which really do work as advertised. The steering is perfectly round and not flat-bottomed. There’s a darkened panoramic sunroof, even, and it features an electronically retractable sun shade as well.

Given a choice, I wouldn’t choose to be seated at the back. While the seat itself is plush enough, the floor is a bit high-set, the windows are quite small and the sloping roofline (even though it doesn’t affect headroom) really takes away from any sense of largesse. While space itself isn’t at a premium — not by a long shot — it simply isn’t the most appealing place to spend a long time in. A collapsible armrest (with cupholder extensions) does allow direct access to the boot, though, which is helpful. Speaking of which, the boot is quite brilliant! The flat and high boot floor (no space-saver) should see no trouble swallowing a lengthy road trip’s worth of luggage. A 2+2 GT, then. Agree?

It drives like one, too. Rather, you’ll find yourself settling into this frame of mind once you’ve had your fill of driving it impatiently. In Sport+ mode, which sets the suspension, steering and drivetrain to their most aggressive, the X6 is unbelievably (for its mass, that is) agile. In an instant, it behaves as if it were a low-slung sports coupe — the kind BMW is rather excellent at building — and it shows, equally, in how remorselessly it accelerates as well as how it corners. All the while, you can hear its V8 engine produce an addictive soundtrack with a faint old-world burble that’s worth every penny. Of course, there’s a bit of gimmicky sound reproduction through the speakers as well, but even with the feature turned off, it still sounds fantastic.

While you may struggle to find utility in its speed, to be truthful, it just feels so good to have 76.47 kg-m of torque and a rapid 8-speed gearbox. Even under the speed limit, there’s enough ‘feel’ to the X6 which makes it so memorable to drive. The best bit, though, is how easy it is to drive fast. I’m sure this is a car better suited to the first world on the usability front, but that it made me want to keep driving it in Mumbai — through red-alert levels of rain — should tell you something about its character. An everyday supercar? This might just do the trick for you! You shouldn’t feel irresponsible, either, because it also features a 48V mild-hybrid motor!

That’s not to say it’s perfect, of course. There’s a shocking absence of premiumness to a lot of plastic buttons (steering wheel, door panels), for example, and while they may be built well, they don’t feel so to the touch. The rear seat is definitely a compromise even if to a subjective degree and the lack of a spare wheel (or a space-saver) can never be a good thing, right? You also have to remember to disengage all collision-avoidance features every time you restart the car, although it’s something you can quickly adapt to. The one ‘flaw’ you can look past is the narrow outward visibility from the rear windscreen which is angled to seem nearly horizontal. This isn’t such an issue because the parking cameras are fantastic, but on a rainy day, especially without a rear wash/wipe feature, you have no view whatsoever. You could say these are things you sign up for when choosing a car of this kind and you wouldn’t be wrong, I suppose.

What about its peers? Well, the X6 slots in between the Audi SQ8, the Mercedes-AMG GLE coupe and the Porsche Cayenne, and objectively speaking, choosing one is a matter of what stirs you emotionally. At ₹1.78 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi), the X6 M60i is cleverly priced, but is it the one you should choose over the rest? I’ll have to drive one on a sunny day to let you know!

@TheMotorGram

Published on July 10, 2026