Ford Explorer is the bestselling American car brand, while BMW is among the top-selling luxury car brands on the market. With the SUV frenzy that’s going on, picking the right SUV is crucial regardless of its origin. That’s why we’re pitting the BMW X6 and Ford Explorer to identify which SUV is better.
The BMW X6 is the better car for those who desire an advanced, comfortable, luxurious, high-performance, and safe compact SUV. While the Ford Explorer is perfect for individuals who desire a spacious, fuel-efficient, practical, and affordable SUV.
Ford is famous for developing the “assembly line,” while BMW is popular for selling luxury vehicles and motorcycles. The Ford Explorer is among the bestselling American SUVs, while the BMW X6 is among the bestselling luxury compact SUVs.
Which car is better – BMW X6 or Ford Explorer?
Exterior and interior appearance
BMW X6 and Ford Explorer are not as eye-catching as their competitors, such as the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q8, and Mercedes GLC Coupe. Nonetheless, these two cars are beautifully designed and look lovely. The BMW X6 looks slightly more appealing than the Ford Explorer, but it’s subjective.
The BMW X6 comes with an agile exterior with top-notch features. It has a large kidney grille, panoramic sunroof, 20-inch wheels as standard, adaptive LED headlights, LED fog lights, and a slopy roof that is complemented by meaty fenders.
Contrarily, the Ford Explorer comes with a traditional SUV-styled body. On top of that, Ford Explorer has a muscular design, that features an energetic-looking grille, adaptive LED headlamps, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. It may not be the best of designs, but it is still eye-catching.
The BMW X6 still has a better interior as it’s more upscale than the Ford Explorer. It boasts high-end features that also ooze comfort and luxury, which is lacking in Ford. Its infotainment is also a notch higher than the Ford Explorer.
However, the Ford Explorer comes with a more spacious and comfortable interior as it’s larger than the compact BMW X6. This car has third-row seats, meaning it can seat up to 7 passengers. Nevertheless, the third-row seat should only be reserved for kids as it’s not very comfortable for adults. Also, the Ford Explorer has more cargo space, making it more practical.
The Ford Explorer is longer and taller than the BMW X6. It has a wheelbase of 119.1-inches, a length of 198.8-inches, a width of 78.9-inches, and a height of 70.2-inches. While the BMW X6 has 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.
Performance
The Ford Explorer has multiple trim levels, while the BMW X6 has only three trim levels. The base Ford Explorer trim level is the Ford Explorer Base RWD, while the most advanced trim level is the Ford Explorer ST-Line 4WD. On the other hand, the BMW X6 has the sDrive40i, xDrive40i, and M50i.
The Ford Explorer Base RWD trim comes with a 2.3-liter inter-cooled turbo premium unleaded inline-4 engine with 10 automatic transmissions. It delivers a maximum of 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It also has a top speed of 143 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds.
Even though the base Ford Explorer model is not powerful, it performs reasonably well compared to its competitors. While the Ford Explorer ST-Line 4WD comes with a 3.3-liter V-6 engine with an electric motor. It delivers a maximum of 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 143 mph.
On the other hand, BMW X6’s base trim is more powerful than Ford Explorer’s base trim. It is fitted with a 3.0-liter turbo inline-6 engine with 8-speed automatic transmission. It produces up to 335 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. This trim can also accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds and has a top speed of 151mph.
The BMW X6 M50i trim is the most powerful and it comes with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 gas engine with 8-speed automatic transmission. The engine delivers up to 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. It has a top speed of 155 mph and can move from 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds.
Overall, the BMW X6 performs way better than the Ford Explorer. So, if you’re ready to spend to get a high-performance car, the Ford Explorer is the best option.
Price
It is not a coincidence that the BMW X6 is much costlier than the Ford Explorer. The exceptional performance, high-tech features, upscale materials, and great driving experience come at a cost. The base BMW X6 goes for $67,300, while the base Ford Explorer goes for $34,500.
FAQ
Which car is faster – BMW X6 or Ford Explorer?
BMW X6 is faster than the Ford Explorer. The fastest BMW X6 takes 4.1 seconds to move from 0 to 60 mph and has a top speed of 155mph. While the fastest Ford Explorer takes 5.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 with a top speed of 151 mph.
Which car is more reliable – BMW X6 or Ford Explorer?
Like most mainstream cars, Ford Explorer is more reliable than BMW X6. Not only does the BMW X6 break down more often than the Ford Explorer, but its parts and services are also costlier than those of Ford Explorer.
Which car is more fuel-efficient – BMW X6 or Ford Explorer?
If you want to save cost on fuel and have a lesser carbon footprint on the environment, the Ford Explorer is the best choice. This is because Ford Explorer comes with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. BMW X6 has a rating of 21 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined.
Final thoughts
The BMW X6 is slightly more advanced than the Ford Explorer. It comes with a more luxurious interior, a stylish exterior, top-notch safety features, great power, and outstanding performance. While the Ford Explorer is more spacious, practical, fuel-efficient, and affordable than the BMW X6.