BMW X6 XDrive 50i

There’s a lot more substance under this X6 than its unusual looks would suggest. It shares its platform with the X5, which is not a bad place to start. It’s a more driver-focused version, one that looks sportier than a full-fledged SUV and it is in this blurring of lines that the X6’s appeal lies.

Imported into India directly from BMW’s Spartanburg plant in the US of A, the X6 shares a lot of its interiors, several of its dimensions and a few mechanical bits with the X5. The wheelbase at 2933mm is the same as the X5’s as is the front track. The rear track, however, is far wider than the X5’s partly because of the new rear differential and partly because of those humongous 315/35 R20 rear tyres.

Although it is only 55mm lower than the X5 at its highest point, the combination of the sloping roofline and shallower side glazing makes the X6 look incredibly imposing, even intimidating. The steeply raked window line further accentuates the car’s deep body sides and dramatically swollen wheel arches. It’s a design that turns heads, and here, it wins a very crucial victory. The Porsche Cayenne has certainly been toppled by the X6 for visual drama.