The 2010 BMW X6 M is a wild ride, but who is going to buy it? The X6, which already doesn't sell very well, offers great performance with the 400-hp V-8 in the X6 50i model, which starts at $67,475. BMW demands $89,725 for the X6 M, making it an expensive track toy.
If you're one who is looking for what is surely one of the highest-performance crossovers ever built, however, the 2010 BMW X6 M is a fine choice. Take an already fast crossover and give it the M treatment, and you end up with an extremely fast crossover, one that is capable of beating many sports cars. Despite its size, the X6 M truly is an enthusiast's car. A lot of people will likely have no idea how capable the X6 M is; to them, it will be just another crossover on the road. For those who do know the differences between an X6 M and other X6 models, like the guy in the E30-series BMW M3 who gave me thumbs up, it's definitely something to admire.
The interior of the four-passenger X6 M doesn't differ much from other X6s, either, not that this is a bad thing, since the standard X6 interior is as nice as a 7-series cabin. One noticeable difference, though, is the big, heated, M steering wheel with paddle shifters. BMW does it the right way: the right paddle is for upshifting, and the left paddle is for downshifting, which is the instinctual setup. Although the front seats look great, I found them very hard and uncomfortable after an hour at the wheel, and they don't have as much lateral support as I would expect in a vehicle with this level of cornering capability.
While I'm amazed by the acceleration, cornering, and braking performance of the X6 M, for the asking price, I'd like a little more utility out of my 5324-lb, high-riding crossover. That's why I'm looking forward to driving the X5 M, which has the same powertrain and chassis upgrades, but seats seven and has more cargo space.