2009 BMW X6 xDrive35i Review

Although you can’t really compare the 6 Series BMW’s handling to the X6, you can most certainly throw it around as many corners as possible to find out how it behaves.

This question, as per usual, led me to Mt Glorious where the X6 was put through its paces. Heavy braking, tight corners and numerous other handling tests. This is when I realised BMW have got something really right here.

For some reason, even though you’re sitting relatively high up, the Beemer has no issues going around corners at speed. It almost doesn’t seem to make sense. There is none of that we-are-going-to-roll-because-we-are-in-an-SUV feel to it at all.

There is an explanation though, it’s called BMW Dynamic Performance Control (DPC). Currently only available on the BMW X6, Dynamic Performance Control is BMW’s answer to, well, proper handling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Remember how I said BMW don’t do front-wheel drives? It may be because BMW engineers cringe at the idea of understeer. This desire to eliminate understeer characteristic has lead to the creation of DPC as the system changes the X6’s characteristics to perform with the attitude of a rear-wheel-drive car.

The idea sounds simple, kind of. Instead of a traditional limited-slip differential, the DPC works by switching power between the left and the right rear wheels. Think of it this way, when you go canoeing and you want to turn left what do you do? You brake the paddle on the left, this is essentially how most ESP systems work by using braking on individual wheels to regain traction.

BMW’s DPC works a little differently, instead of braking with the paddle on the left to turn left, it powers on with the paddle on the right. So instead of braking the left wheel to regain traction loss to the right, it sends a little more power to the right wheel to bring the left back in order. A torque difference of up to 1800rpm between the left and right rear wheels is available. It does all this without you even realising. Make sense? No, good because that’s the last time you’ll hear me talk about it.

Engine – check. Handling – check, so what else should a coupé do well, of course, it has to look good. This is where it gets a little tricky, the X6 is one of those cars that some tend to politely go: “uh…  I … uh.. yeah.. I guess it looks okay”. Much like the 6 Series, it’s a love it or hate it attitude.

For me, I am a fan of the 3 Series look-a-like front. There is minimal overhang too, further cementing the car’s dynamic credentials.  However the rear seems a little more controversial. It’s just a little too overweight looking for my liking. It’s worth mentioning that at 1983 mm, an X6 is 50mm wider than an X5 and it is 23mm longer too (4877mm). The overall proportions and the rear in particular make the car look heavy and sluggish, two things which it definitely is not.

 

BMW says the long body overhang at the rear gives its sport activity coupé its desired stretched coupé silhouette, however it doesn’t seem to do much for it’s overall looks. The roof itself is at its highest point directly over the front row of seats.

Moving inside the question once again worth asking is, why only four-seats? BMW says given that all other coupés in the line-up only have four-seats and the X6 shares their DNA, it only needs four-seats. The company’s internal research also shows those buying or interested in the X6 are mostly from two-person households so the number of seats is not a big factor in the purchasing decision.

Frankly, after a week in the X6 I had to agree. With all four seats full, a drive to the Gold Coast was undertaken and the level of comfort and luxury mixed in with the car’s sporty credentials proved a big hit.

The rear seats are more than adequate to seat an average sized male in comfort for hours. I can hear you asking, why not just buy a 3 Series coupé? Well, because like all other BMW X series, the X6 provides what BMW call an “elevated, command seating position”. Better known as “I-can-see-more-than-you-can”.

Only now does the X6 make perfect sense. A powerful smooth engine, sporty handling and coupé like characteristics combined with a higher driving position and AWD capability wrapped in BMW skin, elegance and luxury. Excited?

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