BMW X6 boot space, practicality and safety

2019 onwards (change model)

Written by Tim Pollard Published: 14 June 2022 Updated: 19 April 2023

Roomier than you might think
Boot is a decent size for family luggage
Tailgate latch protrudes badly – head bang risk!

The BMW X6 often gets a bad press for being an impractical family SUV and it’s true that space for passengers and baggage is more compromised than in its X5 sibling. But the fact is this is a remarkably spacious car, considering its athletic wardrobe.

Most families will fit in just fine, but you might want to look more closely at the rear seating arrangement if you have more than two children. Also watch out for the exposed latch on the electronic tailgate; the catch sticks out several inches and taller people can easily bang their head on it when walking under the open bootlid. It’s a surprising glitch, considering the X5 has a flush-fitting latch.

Will my luggage fit?

The BMW X6 boot is a good, practical size and shape: it will swallow 580 litres of luggage with the rear seats up, but if you tumble the seatbacks forwards outright loadspace expands to 1,530 litres.

There are lashing points to tie down awkward loads and you can order optional equipment to keep Fido or pets safe when in transit. In fact, the accessories catalogue has reams of options to help you carry bikes, canoes and much more besides.

You can also expand the available space in the boot by flipping the seats down one-by-one, thanks to a 40:20:40 split rear backrest – handy if you need to lug awkward-shaped loads.

Will it fit in my garage?

The latest X6 is a big car, at a whisker under five metres in length. This SUV is 26mm – an inch – longer than its predecessor, but 6mm lower and 15mm wider. It’s clear that the designers have been stretching and flattening the car to give it that charismatic stance and swagger on the road

It can feel a big car when parking, but it’s no worse than most full-size SUVs. Be sure to check it fits in your garage first – we found it bulging out of many old-fashioned parking bays, which have struggled to keep up with the growth spurt of modern cars, especially luxury crossovers such. Thankfully, a parking camera is standard-fit and the rear-view image is crystal-clear when reversing.

How safe is it?

A safe family SUV
Plenty of life-saving tech
Decent crash protection

This is an inherently safe car that will do a great job of protecting you and your family in the event of an accident. Moreover, the BMW X6 is bristling with technology to prevent you having a crash in the first place and its powers of detection are staggering. There’s no Euro NCAP rating, but the BMW X5 scored the full five stars.

All models come with cruise control that’ll brake for you if traffic up ahead is slowing down, using banks of cameras and radar sensors. The latest version of this tech can even spot when cyclists or pedestrians are about to step out into the road in front – and will brake you to a standstill around town to prevent an impact.

If you get busy with the options list you can trade up to Driving Assistant Professional, which will steer and keep you in lane automatically, spot rear collision risks and even tell if you’re about to drive down a one-way street all by itself. One of its most unusual features is the ability to reverse out of a tight space all on its own – perfect if you’ve overcooked a tricky parking manoeuvre in a crowded multistorey car park.