2024 BMW X6 M60i Review

Some weeks as a car reviewer are, frankly, better than others.  This was a really good week for me, speeding around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in a 2024 BMW X6 M60i.  BMW calls this a coupe, a title I have never quite accepted, but in simple terms it is a large SUV with a sloping roofline, a hatchback, and a lot of curves for those who are tired of the squared-off looks of so many SUVs these days.

Exterior 

In years past, I have not loved the looks of the X6, but the styling changes for 2024 have changed that for me. New for 2024 is a redesigned grill and new LED headlights and taillights.   BMW avoided chrome on the sides, and the 22” M Sport wheels are among the best-looking I’ve ever seen.  

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An understated rear spoiler and quad exhaust set out to the corners complete the rear view, and you can’t help but notice the side vents at the rear that channel air from the front, and the big vents in the fascia to feed air to the hungry V8.  I will admit that the Isle of Man green exterior color would likely not be my first choice, but the reaction from people I ran into this week was overwhelmingly in favor of this hue.

Powertrain

The magic lies under the sculpted hood where there sits a massive 4.4-liter Twin Turbo V8 that is putting out 523-horses and an incredible 553-pound feet of torque.  The big V8 is aided by a 48-volt mild hybrid system, but understand that it is not intended to aid fuel economy, instead it helps with low-end power and eliminates any turbo lag. 

Hooked to the engine is an 8-speed automatic with shift paddles, and when all is said and done, the heavy M60i will propel you from 0-to-60 in a quick 4.2 seconds.  Top speed is limited to 130-miles per hour and in an open and safe environment, I pushed it to 117-miles per hour before letting off.

Interior

There is no denying this SUV is a beast, yet when you open the door, you realize it is also a very luxurious vehicle. The coffee-colored Merino leather interior is gorgeous.  Front seats are comfortably bolstered with a diamond pattern and heavy stitching.  A wonderful mixture of carbon fiber and leather starts at the door panels and extends across the dash.  It looks rich, yet futuristic in many ways.

As you sit down behind the large comfy steering wheel with controls, you notice how large the windshield is.  This makes visibility fantastic.  A large head-up display greets you and you can choose the info you want to see there.

Your eyes can’t help but go to the 12.3” digital gauge cluster that is easy to read and very colorful.  The speedometer sits on the left side, the tachometer to the right and neither is the traditional round shape.  The middle can be configured to whatever you choose, but I found the digital speedometer helped me keep my speeds largely in line.

Center dash is a massive 14.9” infotainment screen that operates by touch or a round dial on the center console.  If you have flashbacks to the horror of the old BMW i-drives, put that out of your head.  Today, it is fast, it is easy to operate, and everything makes sense.  You operate the climate controls including heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, the 464-watt incredible Bowers & Wilkins sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the navigation, and more apps than you could possibly ever use.

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The center console is adorned with more carbon fiber, and behind a sliding door you’ll find a wireless charger, two cupholders, and USB and USB-C ports.  Under that, a small crystal gear toggle, which is unusual but a really nice touch.  The start button is there, as is the auto hold button, and you can change the drive modes from sport to comfort, to eco pro.  A second push of the sport button brings you sport PLUS, which is more fun than the law allows, literally.  Everything changes, and the transmission shift hard and fast, and gives you pronounced downshifts that are a blast.  Use the shift paddles if you wish, but the Bimmer tranny will do a better job than you ever could.

Moving to the back seat was a nice surprise.  There is still plenty of head and leg room in spite of the sloping roofline.  There is a nice pulldown center console with cupholders, and rear seat occupants can control their own temperature, there is a power port, Air conditioning vents, and smartly, there are USB and USB-C ports built into the front seats behind useless-but cute-small sliding doors.

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Another nice surprise was the cargo area. There is 27.6 cubic feet of area, that expands to almost 60-cubic feet with the 2^nd row seats folded down, and a massive area underneath that, that has an actual spare tire and jack back there.  The cover that raises to reveal the spare and additional storage will stay up by itself thanks to a gas shock, a really handy touch.   

Standard Equipment and Options

As you might expect with a BMW, it is fully loaded with standard equipment like a panoramic moon roof, keyless entry, power liftgate, remote start, power tilt steering wheel, ambient lighting, really cool entry lights as you approach, and a lot more.

Options total over $17,000 and include the Dynamic Handling Package, Driver Assistance Package (self-driving system), Parking Assistance Package (self-parking and 3D surround view rear camera), Climate Comfort Package (heated/cooled seats and 4-zone climate control), the 22” wheels, leather dashboard, carbon fiber trim, and the Bowers & Wilkins sound system.  The truth is, if I were ordering this vehicle for myself, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Safety 

It has all the safety features you could want including LED headlights and taillights, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and cross traffic alert.

One caution:  I am super-sensitive to making sure my review vehicles are always locked, so I have a habit of hitting the lock button multiple times, as if that will make it even more locked.  It’s not unlike why we hit the floor button on an elevator repeatedly as if that speeds things up.  However, three pushes to the lock button on this BMW and it remotely starts.  Twice people had to tell me my car was running.

Ride and Drive  

Kids, I can’t describe how well this SUV drives and handles, how exhilarating the acceleration is when you really get on it, or how it can turn from lion to lamb in a split second and transform into a luxury cruiser.  This may be the best example ever of a vehicle that quenches your thirst for the racetrack but can also be a tremendous daily driver.

Fuel economy-as if you care-is 17 in the city and 22 highway for a combined 19 miles per gallon, and no I didn’t come close to getting that.

What You'll Pay 

MSRP is $111,995 which is certainly a lot of money but look at Porsche Cayennes and Range Rover Supercharged Sports that are both over 500-horses, and they’ll set you back north of $150,000.  I know: I’ve owned both and have concluded the BMW X6 M60i is an exceptional value.

Verdict

I fully understand now BMW’s slogan:  The Ultimate Driving Machine.