KansasCity.com's view

Four-door sedans with coupe profiles are all the rage, but BMW’s X6 is the first SUV with a coupe shape.

BMW calls it a sports activity coupe, and there is nothing else quite like it on the market. It is a tall, sleekly aerodynamic hatchback with massive tires and ample ground clearance. I’m not sure just what role it fills, yet I enjoyed driving it.

The styling is arresting. Bulging fenders, fat tires and the windswept profile give it an almost cartoonish presence. From a distance, the X6 looks smaller than it actually is. Up close, it is quite large, and the tall ride height is noticeable when you step out of the cabin.

A key reason SUVs are popular is their ability to go anywhere and carry lots of stuff. The X6’s sloping roofline impinges on its cargo capacity and makes it difficult to get into the back seat without bumping your noggin. Once inside, the back seat is comfortable and has plenty of legroom. Because the back seat has cup holders in the center, there is room for only two people.

Of course, the back seat folds down to open up a relatively long cargo area, but the sloping hatch limits the height.

There are two models: the xDrive35i and the xDrive50i. The 35i comes with a twin-turbo, 300-horsepower six-cylinder engine, and the 50i has a twin-turbo, 400-horsepower V-8. Base prices start at $53,275 for the 35i and $63,775 for the 50i. I drove an xDrive35i.

The X6 is the first vehicle to use BMW’s 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8. BMW indicated that this engine delivers its peak torque, or pulling power, from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm, an unusually large range.

Although the V-8 cranks out huge chunks of horsepower, the test vehicle’s six-cylinder 35i is a much better choice not only because its base price is $10,000 less but also because it has impressive performance in its own right.

The twin-turbo six is a delight to drive because its throttle response is immediate. The use of two turbochargers enables the engine to produce the bulk of its torque at low speed without sacrificing high-speed performance. With 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque on tap, this engine has more than enough power in spite of the X6’s curb weight of 4,894 pounds.

The six-cylinder’s fuel economy rating is 15 miles per gallon in the city and 20 on the highway.

Like all BMWs, the X6 exhibits exceptional agility, especially for such a tall vehicle. The 20-inch wheels and huge tires provide excellent grip, but they’re only part of the equation. The xDrive system’s technology uses electronic controls to vary the distribution of drive power between the front and rear axles instantaneously, depending on driving conditions.

However, BMW points out that the X6 also has an innovative rear differential that is able to multiply the drive torque to each individual rear wheel. By directing torque to an individual wheel, this computer-controlled unit actually helps steer the vehicle, and it works while accelerating or decelerating. The unit also aids traction in slippery conditions.

While I didn’t flog the X6 like a sports car, it felt tight, solid and securely in touch with the road regardless of conditions. That sense of being directly connected to the pavement is typical for a BMW, and the X6 drives more like a sports sedan than an SUV.

The cabin is cozy and comfortable. The interior is designed for driving, and all of the controls feel ideally placed. The steering wheel is thick, but not overly so. Paddle shifters on the steering wheel give the driver instant control over the automatic transmission.

The iDrive system that uses a mouselike controller on the console to operate the vehicle’s various functions, such as audio and navigation, is still a negative because its operation is not nearly as simple as it should be in spite of simplified controls.

In addition to dynamic stability control, the X6 also has anti-lock brakes, trailer stability control, cornering brake control and dynamic brake control that maximizes brake pressure for the shortest stopping distance.

Price

The base price of the test car was $53,225. Options included the head-up display, navigation system with rearview camera, sport seats, 20-inch wheels and the keyless ignition. The sticker price was $59,525.

Warranty

Four years or 50,000 miles with free maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles.