$60 000

The BMW X6 has always puzzled me, as have the rest of its even-numbered BMW SUV brethren. My tongue-in-cheek reasoning for their existence is that BMW wanted to make sure it covered all the numbers; that¿s why we get an X2, X4 and X6, which are all oddly shaped mutations of the original X1, X3 and X5 SUV triumvirate. But these days it seems the more SUVs a company can put out, the better ¿ ¿if you build it, they will come¿ and all that. For 2020, the X6 gets a full redesign that feels familiar. That¿s because its updates follow those of the 2019 X5, which was redesigned a year prior. These two SUVs have a lot in common, including the same powertrains, wheelbase and technology ¿ just with different bodies on top. The X5 is a more traditional SUV, with high sides and big windows all around, while the X6 has more of a fastback, coupe-esque shape to it, with a roofline that peaks right above the steering wheel and quickly tapers back. The X6 competes against other powerful five-seat, coupe-shaped SUVs, like the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63, Jaguar F-Pace and Porsche Cayenne Coupe (and eventually the Audi SQ8, which is still to come). There are three X6 variants: 40i, M50i and X6 M. The 40i comes with the smallest engine: a 335-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder that makes 330 pounds-feet of torque. It¿s available with rear- or all-wheel drive. The M50i is a big jump up in power, with a 523-hp, turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 that makes 553 pounds-feet of torque. The M50i also adds standard AWD. The X6 M is the most bonkers of the three, with a high-performance version of the M50i¿s engine that bumps output up to 600 hp. All come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. I tested the middle child, the M50i, though it¿s closer in nature to the X6 M than the 40i (200 more hp leaves quite a gap between those two models). What I found was that it¿s not necessary to understand the X6 to enjoy the hell out of it.