BMW X6 xDrive40i review: buying styling over an X5 you will not miss
3.4/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
The X6 is a well-executed idea rather than a necessary one: the mild-hybrid inline-six is smooth and strong enough for Bahrain's roads, xDrive copes fine with the odd sand track, and the driving experience genuinely feels a notch more special than a regular X5. What you are paying the premium for is the roofline, full stop — decide honestly whether that matters more to you than the extra headroom and boot space the X5 offers for less money.
Pros
- Smooth, strong mild-hybrid straight-six that never feels short of power
- Genuinely sportier feel through a corner than the regular X5
- Service network and parts availability mirror the well-proven X5
- Distinctive road presence that a segment of Bahraini buyers specifically shop for
Cons
- Real price premium over the mechanically identical X5 for styling alone
- Smaller rear window and thicker C-pillars hurt reversing visibility
- Boot space and rear headroom both step down from the X5
- Makes less sense than the X5 for a family regularly carrying three children
The X6 exists purely because BMW noticed the Range Rover Sport and the original X6 (E71) proved buyers would pay extra for a lower roofline on a big SUV, and it has kept doing brisk business in the GCC ever since. The xDrive40i's mild-hybrid straight-six is the pick of the mainstream range: smooth, quiet, and strong enough that most owners never feel short of power.
How it feels different from an X5
Sitting lower and wider than the X5, the X6 genuinely does feel a touch sportier through a corner, and the roofline gives it road presence that a handful of Bahraini buyers clearly value enough to pay for. The trade-off is a materially smaller rear window and thicker C-pillars, which make reversing without the camera a leap of faith.
Living with it day to day
Boot space drops versus the X5 and rear headroom for taller adults is noticeably tighter, but front-seat comfort, cabin quality and the general sense of solidity are unchanged. Service costs and parts availability mirror the X5 closely through BMW's Bahrain network, so there is no reliability penalty for choosing the coupe roofline — only a styling premium and a practicality trade.