BMW X5, X6

BMW X5, X6 sits in the luxury SUV space for drivers who want a high riding car with a proper road-car feel rather than a soft off-roader. By our assessment, its strongest point is the balance of strong engines, a calm cabin and the kind of handling that makes a large SUV feel less clumsy than it ought to. The cost of that polish is size, weight and running expenses; in town it still asks for space, and the rear shape can make it less generous than some boxier rivals. In practice it feels like a fast, hushed family car with a high driving position and plenty of electronics. It sits above mainstream SUVs and against rivals such as the Mercedes GLE and Porsche Cayenne. The BMW X5, X6 is for people who want comfort and pace in one package, and it is less convincing if all that matters is simple space.