Will the new X6 be BMW's next best-seller? Photo Gallery

The first time I saw the BMW X6 I had more questions than answers.

The first time I drove the X6, for a day in the USA, I had answers and more questions.

Now, after putting an X6 through the Carsguide test program at home, I have the bottom line.

The world's first all-wheel drive coupe is a classy car which takes BMW into fresh ground and is likely to be a hit with people who want something new and different and good to drive.

But it is still flawed.

BMW has taken the basic mechanical package of the benchmark X5 and dressed it up in formal clothes. That could have been a good move, except the change from X5 to X6 means less space, less practicality and enough compromises that it cannot be a long-term winner.

BMW does not agree and, not surprisingly, believes it is first into a class - it calls it the Sports Activity Vehicle - which others will soon fill.

“Once again it seems BMW is leading the way with an innovative concept that is just what the market is looking for,” says Tom Noble, the general manager of marketing at BMW Group Australia..

“BMW is leading the way in introducing new vehicles that challenge convention but are borne out of evolving customer demands. The BMW X6 caters for a more discerning sector of the market which wants a specific product and won’t compromise.

"The X6 is a blend of the strengths of the BMW X5 and the BMW 6 Series Coupé served up in an eye-catching form."

So, there you have it.

The X6 is an all-wheel drive that is much the same as the X5, but with a more-advanced all-wheel drive system which sets new standards for vehicles of its type. Engines are all twin-turbos, from a starter petrol six through a similar diesel to the go-fast V8 which hits Australia earlier in the new year.

Look around and there is lots of X5 stuff, from the console design with user-friendly new gearlever for the six-speed auto - with steering wheel paddles as well if you're in the mood - an updated iDrive system, excellent leather, and all the safety systems - airbags, ESP, reversing camera - you expect in a new BMW and any vehicle with a pricetag over $100,000.

But the switch to X6 also means a coupe body, and that cuts one seating spot from the back of the car as well as severely reducing rear vision through the tiny back glass, and a boot which is high and can be tough to load.

But X6 owners, BMW says, are looking more for style and performance than all-out family friendliness.

So it prefers we talk about the 6.7-second time for a 0-100km/h sprint, as well as its efficient dynamics system which means a touring range of up to 700 kilometres, fuel economy as good as 9.5 litres/100km and a reasonable CO2 rating of 285 grams/kilometre.

Still, the X6 xDrive35i comes in from $114,705 with a six-speed automatic and the equivalent diesel will set you back $120,530. That's a lot of money when you can get an X5 from $86,635 or even an Audi Q7 from $88,542.

DRIVING

There are some really good things about the X6.

It drives tight and surprisingly sporty. The luxury in the cabin, particularly in the front seats, is great.

The Dynamic Performance Control, which harnesses the power of a complex multi-clutch differential, always manages to feed the most power to the wheels which need them most. That means it turns far better than you expect from an SUV, with sports car-style feedback and grip.

The turbo six is typically BMW, which means strong and efficient. I could not match the company's claims for economy, but 14.1 litres/100km for a two-tonne sportster is not bad at all and it was sipping below 9 litres at a highway clip.

I also like the quietness, which is helped by a strong 0.34 drag co-efficient, the impact the car makes in traffic, and its ability to carry a couple of golf bags.

And it is great to have an iDrive system which is starting to work with you, although the version I have just sampled in Europe in the upcoming 7-Series limo is a quantum leap and the way it should have been from the start.

And now we come to the other stuff.

Let's avoid styling, because that is a personal thing. And, judging by the looks the X6 gets - particularly from envious X5 owners who can see one in their future - the big coupe will win a lot of people.

But you cannot avoid the compromises in the cabin. The front seats are great, but even getting into the back can be a chore and there are only two seats there in a vehicle which is attractive to a lot of families.

The boot is not easy to use, vision out the back is plain awful, and even with the rear-view camera I had to be extremely careful when parking.

I know BMW Australia was booking delivery dates even before the first X6 landed, but wonder about the long-term future of a vehicle which is so big and in-your-face.

When people question or criticise the X6, BMW likes to point at the Mercedes CLS. It's an E-Class sedan with a coupe body and less space, just like the X6, but has sold well despite looks which some people say are far too much like the unloved AU Falcon.

It's also important to rate it against its rivals, which means the Range Rover Sport is closest - as a drive, if not for its boxy body. And the Audi Q7, which is good drive, does not have the style of the X6 while the Lexus version of the Toyota LandCruiser is more about hulking and towing than style or performance.

My view of the X6 is not personal. It's not vindictive.

It is formed after taking a look at the car, then a drive in the car, then a test in the car, and comparing BMW's claims with the reality.

BMW says it is a benchmark car which will be another best-seller and will create a new class of car. I don't agree.

So this time we'll just have to agree to disagree.

Snapshot

BMW X6 xDrive35i

Price: $114,705

Engine: Twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline six

Power: 225kW/5800-6250revs

Torque: 400Nm at 1300-5000revs

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive

Economy: Average on test 14.1 litres/100km