BMW X6 review - Reliability and safety

Precise safety ratings for the latest X6 are not yet known, as EuroNCAP has not yet put the car through its crash test regime. It has tested the very similar X5 though, so you can infer from those tests that the X6 should be similarly safe.

Tested in 2018, the X5 received a full five-star rating, scoring 89% for adult occupant safety, a strong 86% for child occupant safety, 75% for vulnerable road users (often referred to as pedestrian safety) and 75% for its safety assistance systems - there’s a healthy suite of technology aimed at reducing the chances of an accident, including active emergency braking capable of detecting pedestrians, cyclists, other vehicles and static objects, plus speed and lane assistance functions and for pedestrian safety, an active bonnet. X6s feature the same level of technology as the X5.

Neither the X6 nor its X5 sibling were ranked in the most recent 2020 Driver Power Survey. The BMW 5-series was the highest-ranked model from the manufacturer’s range in 40th position out of 75, with two other X models, the X3 and X1, at 49th and 58th positions. BMW itself finished 27th out of 30 - not a great result, with high servicing and insurance costs and a higher-than-average number of technical faults.

11

Warranty

BMW offers a three-year unlimited mileage warranty on all its new vehicles, including BMW Emergency Service for what it calls “unforeseen events”. There’s also a two-year warranty on all genuine parts. This level of warranty cover is pretty standard among BMW’s rivals - Mercedes-Benz also offers three years, while Audi’s standard UK warranty is two years with unlimited mileage and a third year with a 60,000-mile cap.

Servicing

BMW offers monthly payment-based service plans for all its vehicles, fixed for the duration of your ownership, with X6s costing an estimated £30 per month over 36 months. The car will alert you to variable mileage intervals or typically every twelve months.