2013 BMW X6 xDrive35i SUV

The 2013 model year, which actually began in the spring of 2012, sees few changes for the X6. Adaptive LED headlights are a new option, complementing the LED taillights. There are new exterior colors and two new interior colors: Vermilion Red for the standard Nevada leather and Ivory White for the available Nappa leather.

The exterior of the 2013 BMW X6 is one of its most distinguishing features, but it may not be liked by everyone. It has a roofline that slopes down rather sharply, like a classic fastback coupe, descending all the way down to the tail. This styling, combined with the large wheels and other sport styling cues, makes the X6 easily noticeable on the road.

The overall design of the X6 has even been emulated by less expensive cars like the Acura ZDX. The taillights of the 2013 BMW X6 sit exceptionally high on the trunk, and the belt line is also located high against the small and short windows. Overall, this crossover gives the look of a coupe on steroids, with a more muscular suspension.

Some visual changes for the 2013 BMW X6 include small tweaks to the signature BMW front grille, reshaped exhaust pipes, and relocated fog lights. The headlights get white caps that are very similar to other vehicles in the BMW stable. The caps have embedded LED lights, much like the 1-Series and 6-Series models.

The 2013 BMW X6 has xenon headlights as standard and adaptive LED headlights as an option. The M Performance Package is available, which adds a slightly different exterior trim, darker exhaust tips, and 20-inch alloy wheels to the crossover.

The 2013 BMW X6 shares a lot of its interior elements with its bigger and more popular sibling, the X5. In front, the biggest difference between both cars is that the X6 has sportier seats and a cushioned center console designed for knee protection. As expected, BMW fits the cabin of the X6 with high-quality materials and a superb sense of styling. The iDrive interface is included standard, giving drivers access to a wide range of customization options and electronic features.

Despite the pros, the interior of the 2013 BMW X6 is also its biggest problem. The sloping roofline of the crossover cuts the rear headroom by two inches. A large center console is standard, allowing only two people to sit in the rear. However, the console can be removed, making it a three-person bench. Nevertheless, the rear bench lacks the comfort present in the X5 and many of the X6’s competitors, and they sorely lack any adjustment.

Another big drawback of the 2013 BMW X6 is its cargo room. The dramatic swoop of the roofline toward the rear of the car looks great from the outside, but it does away with a huge amount of potential cargo space. The X6 offers around 25 cubic feet of space, which is decent on its own, but poor in comparison to its competitors.

The rear seats can be folded down, but this opens up only 60 cubic feet of space at most, which is rather disappointing. At most, the cargo space of the 2013 BMW X6 can be used for occasional light hauls, but nothing more than that.

The 2013 BMW X6 gets standard safety features like front and side-impact airbags up front and side-curtain airbags for the front and rear seats. Other standard safety features include front-seat active head restraints, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, adaptive brake lights, xenon adaptive headlights, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Optional safety features include side-view and rearview cameras. The BMW Assist with automated crash response is available as a standard feature with the 2013 BMW X6.

The base engine for the 2013 BMW X6 is a 3.0-liter, turbocharged, six-cylinder engine that delivers 300 horsepower (hp) and 300 lb-ft of torque. This engine is available for the BMW X6 35i model. The 50i model gets the more powerful 4.4-liter, turbocharged, V-8 engine that delivers 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque.

Both engines have an eight-speed automatic transmission and the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system as standard. With the six-cylinder engine under the hood, the x35i can go from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in around 6.3 seconds. The x50i can touch this mark in 5.2 seconds. Both are acceptable figures, but BMW offers a performance-enhanced version as well, with the X6 M.

Despite its weight and size, the 2013 BMW X6 delivers quite an amazing performance. It offers impressive cornering abilities due to smart weight distribution, the xDrive all-wheel drive, and wide and gripping tires. Although the steering feels too heavy at low speeds, it evens out at higher speeds. Despite the positives, there is no escaping the fact that the X6 is heavy and large, and this feeling is even more pronounced when driving through winding roads.

• Acura ZDX
• BMW X5
• Infiniti FX
• Porsche Cayenne