When you search for the best mid-size luxury SUVs on the market, there is a high chance that you will come upon the BMW X5 and X6. Both of these cars are well-built, luxurious, and with top-notch features. Despite having a lot of similarities, these cars differ a lot. But which car is better?
If you’re looking for style and performance, the BMW X6 is the better car. But if you want practicality, power, and safety, the BMW X5 is the ideal car. These cars share the same platform but vary in design and usage. That’s why it is vital to find out which car best meets your needs and budget.
Which car is better – BMW X5 or BMW X6?
Appearance
If you love the traditional box design of an SUV, you will like the BMW X5. But if you want a more stylish and sportier look, the BMW X6 is the best car to consider. All in all, both SUVs look spectacular and will get the attention of onlookers as they cruise down the street.
Besides, both cars have a luxurious and advanced interior, even though the interior of the BMW X6 is slightly more upscale than that of the BMW X5. What’s more, both cars have packages that you can add to make them even better.
Performance
Since these cares share the same platform, they perform similarly. They have similar engines, suspension bits, and safety techs. Regardless, the BMW X5 and X6 differ in performance to some extent. For instance, the BMW X5 performs outstandingly off-road, while the X6 is not good for off-road driving.
Both cars have sDrive40i, xDrive40i, and M50i variants. These cars deliver the same horsepower, torque, and top speed. So, it’s a matter of taste and preference while choosing one over the other. Note that BMW X6 variants are pretty luxurious than BMW X6 trims. That’s why they are slightly costlier, despite being smaller.
Comfort and Cargo
Both cars are spacious and practical. However, the X5 is more practical than the X6 as it is somewhat more spacious. The X5’s exterior design allows it to have more cabin space than the X6’s exterior design. The sloping rear roofline of the X6 takes up some space, making it have less headroom than the BMW X5.
The BMW X5 has a wheelbase of 117.1-inches, a length of 194.3-inches, a width of 78.9-inches, and a height of 68.7-inches. The X6 also comes with a wheelbase of 117.1-inches, a length of 194.8-inches, a width of 78.9-inches, and a height of 66.3-inches. So, the X5 is quite bigger than the X6.
On top of the X5 being bigger than the X6, it can accommodate up to seven passengers, while the X6 is only limited to five passengers.
Price
Since the BMW X6 is reasonably more advanced than the BMW X6, it is slightly expensive. The base BMW X5 sDrive40i goes for $60,600, while the base BMW X6 sDrive40i goes for $67,300.
FAQ
Which car is more reliable – BMW X5 or X6?
Of course, it is the BMW X6. The BMW X6 is ranked slightly above average when it comes to reliability. On the other hand, the BMW X5 is ranked slightly below average. The X5 is less reliable as several users have reported a lot of issues than any other BMW model.
Which car is faster – BMW X5 or X6?
It depends on the variant that you want. Surprisingly, the performance trims of the BMW X5 (M50i) and BMW X6 (M50i) deliver the same top speed. These cars produce up to 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. They can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds and have a top speed of up to 155 mph.
But when it comes to overall performance, the BMW X6 has a slight edge because of its overall weight. The x6 is quite lighter than the X5 as it has 4,784 pounds, while the X5 has 4,824 pounds. Note that this is their curb weight.
Which car is costlier to maintain – BMW X6 or BMW X5?
The BMW X5 is costlier to maintain than the BMW X6. Overall, BMWs are costlier to maintain. Nonetheless, the BMW X5 is the least reliable BMW model. So, expect it to report more issues and require more attention than the BMW X6. This also means more visits to the mechanic, which translates to more costs.
Do BMW X5 and X6 have the same problems?
Yes and no. Even though BMW X5 and X6 share the same platform, they don’t have the same common issues. Nonetheless, there are some issues that both of these cars share such as engine overheating, oil leak, wear and tear on the door handles, loss of brake power, and faulty electronics.
However, some issues can only be found on each model. For instance, the BMW X5 experiences transmission issues, creaking noise, clunking noise, and extreme wind noise. On the contrary, BMW X6 experiences issues like rattling from doors, diesel engine issues, loose tailgate spoiler, and engine failure.
Which car is more fuel-efficient – BMW X5 or X6?
Astonishingly, BMW SUVs are some of the most fuel-efficient luxury SUVs on the market. The BMW X5 has an EPA rating of 21 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. Contrarily, the BMW X6 has an EPA rating of 21 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and a combined 23 mpg.
With this comparison, the BMW X5 is slightly more fuel-efficient than the BMW X6. So, it uses slightly lesser fuel.
Summary
BMW X5 and BMW X6 are two excellent mid-size SUVs. However, the BMW X5 is more practical and safer to ride than the BMW X6, while the BMW X6 is ideal for exceptional performance and style. When it comes to the initial price, the BMW X6 is slightly expensive, while the BMW X5 is costlier to maintain.
So, if you want a sporty ride for weekends or picnics, the BMW X6 is the best car. But if you want a spacious and powerful car that can also be driven off-road, the BMW X5 is the best choice.