BMW X6

Which BMW X6 Version Should You Buy?

The BMW X6 choice depends on whether you value fuel economy, acceleration, high torque or a simpler specification. Across the supplied catalogue, the X6 appears in five-door SUV form and covers three generations, including restyled first- and third-generation ranges.

The BMW X6 choice depends on whether you value fuel economy, acceleration, high torque or a simpler specification. Across the supplied catalogue, the X6 appears in five-door SUV form and covers three generations, including restyled first- and third-generation ranges. The recorded production period begins in November 2008, while the latest restyled third generation starts in February 2023 and has no measured end date. The strongest listed versions produce 530 hp, the quickest reach 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, and the lowest measured combined consumption is 6.0 l/100 km. Prices, reliability, engine-oil specifications and problems are not measured in the supplied data, so they cannot determine this comparison.

BMW X6 generations: what changed?

The first-generation BMW X6 ran from November 2008 through May 2012 as an SUV 5-doors with eight listed versions. Its range spans 235–479 hp and includes Gasoline, Diesel and Hybrid engines, six-, seven- and eight-speed Automatic gearboxes, and AWD throughout. The 235 hp 30d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic is the least powerful version, while ActiveHybrid 4.4 AT xDrive is the most powerful at 479 hp.

The first-generation restyling ran from June 2012 through May 2014, retaining the SUV 5-doors body and offering five versions. Every listed version uses an eight-speed Automatic and AWD. Power ranges from 245 hp in 30d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic to 407 hp in 50i 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic, while M50d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic provides 381 hp and 740 Nm.

The second generation ran from June 2014 through January 2020 as an SUV 5-doors with six listed versions. Its engines range from 249 to 450 hp, and every entry has an eight-speed Automatic and AWD. Compared with the restyled first generation, its lowest measured combined consumption falls from 7.4 to 6.0 l/100 km, while its quickest acceleration improves from 5.3 to 4.8 seconds.

The third generation ran from July 2019 through January 2023 as an SUV 5-doors with nine listed versions. It expands the choice to 249–530 hp and introduces listed MHEV versions. Most entries use AWD, although 40i 3.0 AT MHEV sDrive Steptronic uses RWD. Every version has an eight-speed Automatic.

The third-generation restyling starts in February 2023, with the production end not measured. It remains an SUV 5-doors and contains four versions, all with an eight-speed Automatic and AWD. The range runs from 298 hp in 30d 3.0 AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic to 530 hp in M60i 4.4 AT V8 MHEV xDrive Steptronic.

BMW X6 engine specs

Repeated names are separated below by generation and horsepower so that distinct catalogue versions remain identifiable.

For output relative to displacement, the third-generation M50d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic leads the listed Diesel choices at about 133.6 hp per litre. The third-generation M50i 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic produces about 120.6 hp per litre, while the restyled M60i 4.4 AT V8 MHEV xDrive Steptronic is almost identical at about 120.6 hp per litre. Among the restyled third-generation six-cylinder choices, 40i 3.0 AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic delivers about 125.1 hp per litre, compared with about 113.6 for 40d 3.0 AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic and about 99.6 for 30d 3.0 AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic.

BMW X6 performance and fuel economy

The quickest listed choices are the third-generation M50i 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic and the restyled M60i 4.4 AT V8 MHEV xDrive Steptronic. Both reach 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and have a 250 km/h top speed. The M50i records 10.7 l/100 km combined, while the M60i records 11.4 l/100 km; city and highway figures for the M60i are not measured.

For a stronger economy-performance balance, the second-generation M50d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic reaches 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, tops out at 250 km/h and records 6.6 l/100 km combined. The third-generation M50d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic matches its 5.2-second acceleration and 250 km/h top speed but produces 19 hp and 35 Nm more; its combined consumption rises by 0.6 l/100 km to 7.2 l/100 km.

The lowest combined figure is shared by the second-generation 30d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic versions with 249 hp and 258 hp: both record 6.0 l/100 km, with 6.7 l/100 km in the city and 5.5 l/100 km on the highway. Both reach 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and 230 km/h. Their acceleration and economy are identical in the data, so the 258 hp entry provides 9 hp more without a measured consumption penalty.

Within the restyled third generation, 30d 3.0 AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic records 7.7 l/100 km combined, 6.1 seconds to 100 km/h and 233 km/h. The 40d 3.0 AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic adds 42 hp and 50 Nm, cuts acceleration by 0.6 second and adds 12 km/h, while combined consumption increases by 0.5 l/100 km. City and highway consumption are not measured for either version.

The restyled 40i 3.0 AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic reaches 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and records 8.5 l/100 km combined. Compared with the restyled 40d, it has 35 hp more but 160 Nm less, accelerates 0.1 second quicker and uses 0.3 l/100 km more combined. Its city and highway consumption are not measured.

BMW X6 dimensions, weight and wheel specs

The first generation and its restyling have 212 mm of ground clearance and an 85-litre tank. The second generation also has 212 mm of clearance and an 85-litre tank. The third generation increases clearance by 4 mm to 216 mm and uses an 83-litre tank; the restyled third generation retains 216 mm but reduces the tank by 3 litres to 80 litres.

The lightest listed X6 is the second-generation 30d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic at 2065 kg kerb weight, whether specified with 249 or 258 hp. Both have a 2780 kg gross weight. The heaviest is the first-generation ActiveHybrid 4.4 AT xDrive at 2525 kg kerb and 3025 kg gross.

Among the fastest choices, the third-generation M50i 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic weighs 2235 kg kerb and 2975 kg gross, equivalent to about 4.22 kg per horsepower. The restyled M60i 4.4 AT V8 MHEV xDrive Steptronic weighs 2315 kg kerb and 3085 kg gross, or about 4.37 kg per horsepower. The M50i therefore carries 80 kg less kerb weight with the same 530 hp and the same 4.3-second acceleration.

Measured wheel sizes include 275/40 R20 and 315/35 R20 for the first-restyling M50d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic. The second-generation M50d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic lists 255/50 R19 and 285/45 R19. Several third-generation versions list 275/35 R22, 315/30 R22, 275/40 R21 and 315/35 R21, while some performance versions list only 275/35 R22 and 315/30 R22. Wheel sizes for all other entries are not measured.

Which BMW X6 version is the best choice?

For minimum measured fuel use, choose the 258 hp second-generation 30d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic. It matches the 249 hp version’s 6.0 l/100 km combined consumption, 6.7-second acceleration and 230 km/h top speed while adding 9 hp. At 2065 kg, it carries about 8.00 kg per horsepower, compared with about 8.29 kg per horsepower for the 249 hp version.

For Diesel performance, choose the third-generation M50d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic. Its 400 hp and 775 Nm are the highest Diesel outputs in the data, and it combines a 5.2-second acceleration time with a 250 km/h top speed. The second-generation M50d is the economy alternative: it is equally quick to 100 km/h, but its 6.6 l/100 km combined figure is 0.6 lower.

For current-generation balance, the restyled 40d 3.0 AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic offers 340 hp, 700 Nm, 5.5-second acceleration and 8.2 l/100 km combined. The 30d saves 0.5 l/100 km combined, whereas the 40i gains 35 hp and 0.1 second in acceleration. The decision is therefore explicit: 30d for the lowest listed consumption, 40d for the highest torque among those three, and 40i for the quickest acceleration.

For maximum acceleration, choose either the third-generation M50i 4.4 AT xDrive Steptronic or the restyled M60i 4.4 AT V8 MHEV xDrive Steptronic. Both produce 530 hp and reach 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. On the measured figures, the M50i is 80 kg lighter and uses 0.7 l/100 km less combined; the M60i belongs to the later restyled range and has an 80-litre tank rather than 83 litres. Price differences are not measured, so the data cannot establish what any extra purchase cost buys.

For RWD, the only listed choice is the third-generation 40i 3.0 AT MHEV sDrive Steptronic. Against the otherwise similarly specified AWD 40i 3.0 AT MHEV xDrive Steptronic, it retains 335 hp and 450 Nm, weighs 30 kg less and reaches 100 km/h 0.2 second sooner. Its combined consumption is 10.2 l/100 km versus 8.8 l/100 km for the AWD version, while the AWD version’s city and highway figures are not measured.

Buyers searching for a BMW X6 used, BMW X6 price, BMW X6 for sale, X6 M or X6 M Competition need information absent from this dataset. No prices, sale listings, X6 M specifications, maintenance requirements, engine-oil capacities, reliability records or engine-problem data are measured here. On catalogue numbers alone, the 258 hp second-generation 30d is the economy recommendation, the third-generation M50d is the Diesel-performance choice, the restyled 40d is the balanced newer option, and the third-generation M50i delivers the strongest measured combination of acceleration, kerb weight and combined consumption among the 530 hp versions.