BMW's new X6 is an enigma -- tall like a seven-seat X5 and with the same outer dimensions, yet only able to carry four passengers. Many have wondered whether a market exists for a vehicle with the size, weight, and fuel-economy of an SUV but little of the utility. As far as BMW is concerned that's exactly the car's point -- the X6 is an SAC, or Sports Activity Coupe, not a family-hauling SUV. And the automaker has made this clear in the X6's pricing, which bumps it into a class above its more practical X5 cousin.
The X6 XDrive 35i begins at $53,275, and can head north quickly with options such as a sport package ($3600) premium sound ($2000), and navigation ($1900). In comparison a base X5 starts at $45,900, albeit with only 260 horsepower available from its inline-six compared to the X6's even 300. Moving up to the V-8 X6 XDrive 50i will cost you a full $10,000 more, with prices starting at $63,775. Again this is considerably more expensive than a comparable X5, which comes in at $54,500, but the SAC has a significant power advantage (400 horsepower versus 350).
Navigation and multi-contour seats are standard on the V-8 model, but otherwise the option list for both versions of the X6 is virtually the same. Loaded up an X6 XDrive 50i easily reaches the $80,000 mark, which raises a simple question: will X6 shoppers really pony up an extra $8000 on average for a vehicle with about half the seating and cargo space of an X5? BMW is confident their SAC appeals to a whole different buyer, but time will tell.
For more info be sure to check out Ed Loh's first drive of the X6, as well as his Truck Trend video on the new SAC.
Source: BMW