The 2020 X6 M is the high-performing version of BMW’s crossover vehicle, the X6. With the M Division behind it, the X6 is transformed into a powerhouse of performance and design. But for one of the most powerful BMW vehicles ever made, it’ll cost you.

The 2020 BMW X6 M: a crossover with the engine of a sports car

When BMW’s M Division took over the X6, it turned the crossover into a hair-raising performance vehicle. According to BMW, the X6 M is a “Sports Activity Vehicle,” that in its purest form, is designed to push the limits.

Not only does the 2020 BMW X6 M have one of the most powerful engines ever seen in a crossover or SUV, but according to Kelley Blue Book, it’s “one of the most powerful engines on the market in any class.”

Upgraded from the base X6’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder, the X6 M variant gets a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8. This twin-turbo engine makes a super-powerful 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

Upgrade the X6 M even further to the M Competition and the horsepower jumps up to an even more impressive 617 hp, leaving the X6 M with “crazy performance potential.”

Kelley Blue Book experts claim that the X6 M’s powerful engine can push it to 60 miles per hour in just 3.9 seconds, or 3.8 seconds with the M Competition, with a top speed of 180 miles per hour.

The turbocharged engine is paired to an eight-speed shiftable automatic transmission that has three different shifting modes that allow you to shift manually via paddles.

The high-performance “M” name also means “steering, suspension, throttle, braking and other pieces of the X6 M’s dynamic pie are all adjustable.” The 2020 BMW X6 M also comes with a racetrack-ready cooling system, 

The cost of excellence

If you’re looking for a “basic” BMW X6, there are three main variants to choose from. According to BMW, the X6 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, and M50i have starting prices ranging from $64,300 to $85,650, with engines offering between 335 and 575 hp. As if these variants aren’t costly enough, you’ll have to reach even deeper into your wallet for a chance to drive the unique, performance 2020 BMW X6 M.

The 2020 X6 M has a base price of $109,595 (including destination charges), but the X6 M Competition variant adds an extra $9,000 to the bill for a total base price of $118,595.

There are even additional packages that can add thousands to the price of the X6 M, like the Executive Package ($3,600), which adds things like soft-closing doors and ventilated/massaging seats, and the M Driver’s Package ($2,500), which gives owners a session at BMW’s Performance Driving School.

Is the BMW X6 M really worth the cost?

Stepping up to the BMW X6 M doesn’t just earn you a higher-performing engine. The base M comes with upgraded, 21-inch wheels, rear-biased all-wheel-drive, and multi-functional seats.

Owners can also expect all interiors to feature BMW’s iconic “M” details. According to BMW, the interior of the X6 M looks much like a cockpit, offering a standard 12.3-inch instrument cluster, M-specific head-up display, and an easy-to-use infotainment system.

Upgrading to the M Competition variant adds a special exhaust system, 21-inch front/22-inch rear tires, a recalibrated suspension, and specially-designed “M” seatbelts.

But even though you’ll get one of the most powerful engines on the market with the 2020 X6 M, there are a few things to consider before spending more than $100,000. Though the X6 M is certainly a “Sports Activity Vehicle,” spaciousness isn’t the reason people are buying it. Its sloping roof cuts down on headroom and visibility, while its powerful engine makes it one of the “thirstiest” for fuel in the segment.