2020 BMW X5M & X6M | First Drive | Driving ca
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 Published On Mar 3, 2020

In the beginning, there was dinosaur called the body-on-frame SUV. This monster keyed on giving drivers a degree of off-road ability and lots of cargo space. It was the ride of choice for schlepping stuff to the cottage and down gnarly access roads, but that’s where its attributes ended. Today, there’s the latest BMW X5 and X6 M; they have similar abilities, but with one massive twist — 600 horsepower. Well, that and the keen handling demanded of a proper M ride. As they say apt to say in Phoenix, there’s a new sheriff in town and she walks with a big stick.

Normally, one expects to do lots of hot laps whenever BMW launches a new M ride. In this instance, we spent a good proportion of the day in an off-road environment that included fording water. It was an interesting way of demonstrating these two new crossovers are more than one-trick ponies. In the simplest of terms, BMW slid the M5 drivetrain under the X5 and X6M, and it has been done to great effect. The only difference between the two boils down to cargo capacity — the X5M accommodates 2,553 litres of cargo with the seats folded; the X6M and its swoopy rear roofline caps things at 2,105. In all else, they’re clones.

The massive air openings up front speak to the need to keep the twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 cool when they are worked, and worked they were. This motor gives the driver access to 600 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,800 rpm. Now, if that isn’t quite enough, the Competition model puts another 17 stallions in the corral. Needless to say, either version delivers a thunderous ride. The result is a blistering run from rest to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, and 3.8 seconds for the Competition derivatives.

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