Is the BMW X6 a good car for a new driver?
As one of BMW’s most luxurious products, the X6 is probably not on a new driver’s list of first cars to consider, however, there are exceedingly wealthy people among us who may have the budget to start their automotive journey in a big Bavarian SUV. The question is, should they?
As the coupe version of the popular X5, BMW’s X6 offers those that want a commanding presence on the road with a premium driving experience. There are a host of models, powertrains, technological features and design options that allow you to personalise your X6 to suit your taste.
It's going to cost you…
The BMW X6 is not what we would call cheap, with the most affordable variant, the xDrive 30d, retailing for R1 518 872 without options, however, those who want the flagship X6 M Competition First Edition will be in for R3 100 120, also without options.
There are, of course, pre-owned options, some of which are just over R200 000, however, maintenance costs on these high mileage older BMW products can be prohibitive. If you can stomach the potential bills, there are many used BMW X6 models listed on AutoTrader.
Do you need all that space and power?
The X6 is a massive vehicle, measuring nearly 5.0-metres long, 2.2-metres wide, 1,69-metres tall and with a wheelbase of nearly 3.0-metres. This translates into a boot space of 580-litres and a kerb weight of more than 2 200kg. Even the least powerful 30d model produces a healthy 195kW and 620Nm of torque, while the flagship M Competition produces a mammoth 460kW and 750Nm of torque, offering a supercar-like 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds. As a first-time driver, a car this big and powerful is unnecessary and will be difficult for a new driver to adjust to, while also leaving extraordinarily little room for a future upgrade. Where does one go from an X6?
Smaller budget? Why not opt for a BMW X4?
The X4 provides similar looks and a premium drive in what is a smaller and more manageable package that is also considerably cheaper and less powerful, making it a better first car for those looking for a premium BMW crossover SUV. There were over 100 pre-owned examples of the X4 on AutoTrader at the time of writing, which may offer better value.
