Auto Zeitung comparison test: BMW X6/Mercedes ML/Porsche Cayenne/Range Rover


I guess BMW USA made a small mistake with the metric conversions.

570 Liters = 20.13 cubic feet
1450 Liters = 51.21 cubic feet

25.6 cubic feet = 725 Liters
59.7 cubic feet = 1690 Liters

Hopefully they'll correct this, it's misleading information.

Lol, yeah they should fix it. And I guess R&T did a copy paste.

That has to be the maximum load capacity with rear seats folded, right?


Nope, it is 51.21 cu ft with the seats folded (or 59 according to BMW USA's wrong math).
 
I guess BMW USA made a small mistake with the metric conversions.

570 Liters = 20.13 cubic feet
1450 Liters = 51.21 cubic feet

Hopefully they'll correct this, it's a misleading information.

In this light my guess was rather off the scale...

Seem strange that they get it that wrong. Just checked the German site and the 5-series sedan has a loading capacity of 520 litres (as per VDA standard) which is about 18 cubic feet. The number in America seems to be 14 cubic feet for the 5-series sedan. Different measurement standards and very inconsistent...

Edit: Can't find any consistency = error. Great spotting Alwing!
 
GTA, with all those "arguments" you provided and telling us to be real and stay on topic (:rolleyes:), you still didn't convince me (for all it's worth, MT didn't to ;)) about that tough competition you and they have been talking about. You really think one old (yeah, compared to X6 it's old) Infiniti could outclass a brand new vehicle from BMW like X6? Do you really think so? In fact, does one Infiniti exsists that handles better or has better suspension or overall has better chassis than BMW? I don't think so, prove me wrong please...

Please, do not try to say anything about ext and int styling 'cause that has nothing to do with REAL qualities of the car, it's subjective and in fact, what you've said so far, screams only your aversion towards certain BMW cars and obsession that whatever MB makes is best or at least, "better than BMW in any case". ;) I understand you like MB more, but i won't be quiet while you're having your "period". :D;)

PS: I won't have a chance to drive Infiniti soon, but i will try new X6 35d very soon and i'll be glad to tell you if these guys from Top Gear and many other respectable 'zines are just talking crap or that X6 really handles almost like (benchmark) 3 series...or my car...5 series.;)

:t-cheers:





You get wraped up in your feelings way too much as a BMW fan. No where did I ever say the Infiniti was a superior car. It just happens to be the best value as an all around package. Not just driving dynamics as you pointed out here.

Read the article then make your judgements. A good judge looks at both sides
of talents and what the entire package offers as a whole. Not just one talant and calling that talent a victory. :jpshakehe

Heres a small portion of the article MT points out about the FX vs the X6. I suggest you read the whole article though.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Function apparently doesn't follow the X6's sexy form. Though it runs two-tenths quicker to 60 mph and nearly a second faster around our figure eight, Reynolds was ultimately displeased by this driving machine: "The X6 wobbles, shudders, plows at the limit-and does so much damage to BMW's reputation for building fine driving automobiles, it's almost obscene.

"They've missed the target with the X6," he continues. "It's ungainly and awkward to drive." Despite being a whopping 694-pounds heavier, the X6 is dynamically superior to the Infiniti by significant margins, a disparity due in no small part to the tires. Our X6 came equipped with optional 20-inch, super-wide summer tires, while the FX showed up with stock 18-inch 265 all-seasons.

The FX35 has many of the X6's strengths, none of its weaknesses, and a few great advantages of its own-for a lot less money."


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

-->>>2009 BMW X6 xDrive35i vs. 2009 Infiniti FX35 AWD - Results - Comparison - Motor Trend



The Infiniti is the best balanced entire package, as a whole according the journalists at Motor Trend and is the reason why it got first place.

The ML500 is also the most balanced package here as a whole and is the reason it got first place according to Auto Zeitung magazine.

Give credit where credit is due.... The ML500 was honored and got the victory.


(OT::Oh btw, don`t think I hate all BMWs as JM pointed out. while I don`t like the X6 as he also does`t like the CLS I don`t accuse him of hating all MBs.)

I absolutly love the design work of the new 7er so far..)
 
You get wraped up in your feelings way too much as a BMW fan. No where did I ever say the Infiniti was a superior car. It just happens to be the best value as an all around package. Not just driving dynamics as you pointed out here.

That could be due to the fact that many (err.. that should might be "some") feel that driving dynamics is one of the absolute most important parts of the package, making other things secondary. Not many journalists/magazines, apart from the likes of those on Top Gear and EVO have those thaugts about what is important in a car.

Some might feel a bit frustrated when not all feel the same way about what is important about a car and giving the victory to some car that has "great comfort", "amazing loading capacity" or somehting else that is, to some, very unimportant.
 
Interesting last couple of days in this thread.

It would seem to me that if a magazine is going to compare a Porsche Cayenne GTS, X6, and RR Sport that sport/driving dynamics would be the focus. In that light then either the X6 or Cayenne GTS are the winner by a big margin.

The ML500 doesn't belong IMO, and it surely shouldn't the winner considering the other vehicles and their primary focus. Kinda of a silly test and/or outcome IMO. An all arounder isn't what people are looking for with the Cayenne GTS otherwise they'd buy the less extreme S model and they'd buy an X5 over and X6.

M
 
You get wraped up in your feelings way too much as a BMW fan.

Maybe, but look who's talking? Aren't you doing exactly the same? Yes, you do.

No where did I ever say the Infiniti was a superior car. It just happens to be the best value as an all around package. Not just driving dynamics as you pointed out here.

You quoted MT where they were praising Infiniti's driving dynamics and that's what i was referring to; i don't believe them that Infiniti drives, brakes and corners better than X6 and i still don't.


Read the article then make your judgements. A good judge looks at both sides of talents and what the entire package offers as a whole. Not just one talant and calling that talent a victory.

I've read it several times fyi and made my judgment.


Function apparently doesn't follow the X6's sexy form. Though it runs two-tenths quicker to 60 mph and nearly a second faster around our figure eight, Reynolds was ultimately displeased by this driving machine: "The X6 wobbles, shudders, plows at the limit-and does so much damage to BMW's reputation for building fine driving automobiles, it's almost obscene.

"They've missed the target with the X6," he continues. "It's ungainly and awkward to drive." Despite being a whopping 694-pounds heavier, the X6 is dynamically superior to the Infiniti by significant margins, a disparity due in no small part to the tires. Our X6 came equipped with optional 20-inch, super-wide summer tires, while the FX showed up with stock 18-inch 265 all-seasons.

The FX35 has many of the X6's strengths, none of its weaknesses, and a few great advantages of its own-for a lot less money."

...and does so much damage to BMW's reputation for building fine driving automobiles, it's almost obscene.


:rofl: What a load of BS, BS! And what should i think of it? One test out of at least 10 i've read so far says that it drives awkward and that X6 is doing damage to BMWs reputation (:t-crazy2:), while all others praise this car and i should think only about what MT said about it? Give me a break please!

I did not say Infiniti is a bad car, not at all, but i just don't happen to agree with them. I'd like you to read TG article and then voice your opinion for example. We might not value TG's opinion about design of car 'cause they're crazy and funny when it comes to that, but when they praise other things that are far more important than design, i happen to believe them, no matter what car they've been talking about.


Give credit where credit is due...

I always do that, always if you didn't notice, but i couldn't care less if you didn't.

(OT::Oh btw, don`t think I hate all BMWs as JM pointed out. while I don`t like the X6 as he also does`t like the CLS I don`t accuse him of hating all MBs.)

That's why i've said your aversion towards certain BMW cars, i know you like some of them, very few in fact.;)

But here, you stucked with one single article that doesn't like X6 (MT that is) and one silly test from AZ. Sure, kudos to ML for winning this one, but it should be X5 vs. ML vs. RR vs. regular Cayenne, S maybe, not GTS.

:t-cheers:
 
C'mon friends...

We all know that this test is typical of the "spectrum" tests that magazines use to benchmark a ground-breaker (the X6) against more familiar protagonists. The X6 sits at one end of the spectrum, followed by the GTS, then the RR Sport and, at the complete other end of the spectrum the traditional SUV - the ML 500.

This is not a toe-to-toe comparison of direct competitors.

It's also one where the magazine could've turned it around from a semantic point of view and stated:
"Most people never use their expensive SUV's for anything other than luxurious urban transport - most luxury SUV's never even see a country lane - let alone an offroad track. Moreover, this burgeoning segment has drivers demanding more on-road dynamics and sportier looks to go with their preference for a raised driving position and sense of SUV impunity. Two box load capacity and ground clearance are ever decreasing as important decision criteria. Therefore, it is in this respect that the X6 outshines all of its competitors presently - it simply is the best car on the road here."

But they didn't - primarily, I suspect, because the X6 doesn't have any direct rivals - instead opting to go with a broader evaluation of the measurable criteria that are traditionally associated with modern, urban SUVs.

From my point of view this is as rational an outcome as can be expected from such an irrational comparison.

Auto Zeitung says the ML500 is a better SUV than an X6. No shit Sherlock?!?

No surprise here...
 
Interesting last couple of days in this thread.

It would seem to me that if a magazine is going to compare a Porsche Cayenne GTS, X6, and RR Sport that sport/driving dynamics would be the focus. In that light then either the X6 or Cayenne GTS are the winner by a big margin.

The ML500 doesn't belong IMO, and it surely shouldn't the winner considering the other vehicles and their primary focus. Kinda of a silly test and/or outcome IMO. An all arounder isn't what people are looking for with the Cayenne GTS otherwise they'd buy the less extreme S model and they'd buy an X5 over and X6.

M




Perhaps we should look at it from a journalists point of view instead of a consumers view, that was my point. If driving dynamics is the main focus the journalists is going to pick the vehicle with the best compromise as a totall package. This includes it`s ride, braking and steering control and how the vehicle handles in certain situations.

This "best-compromise" between those dimensions is whats going to win the journalists hearts and this is what thay, and I mean by an all-around best performer.

This has nothing to do with less extreme choice of vehicle that you believe would not handle as well. Infact if a "less extreme" vehicle has the best comproise
it`s going to win the test.

The one that cuts the cookie courners faster than the others might not have the best comproise between those dimensions..
 
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