I KNOW it's a contradiction, but BMW's startling SUV newcomer actually looks like a coupe - a coupe on steroids that is.
The car is simply enormous, but displays the kind of chic styling that could have graced an Alfa Romeo.
The styling is controversial but it will do for me, it just grew on me the more time I spent with the car.
The squarish front end follows a dramatic roofline, swooping down to an equally stylish rear end. In profile, looking the wrong way through a pair of binoculars, you could mistake it for a sporty coupe, despite the huge 19-inch alloy wheels.
Everything about it seems to contradict the fact that it is a big 4x4, particularly the fact that it is, puzzlingly, a four seater. What would have been the fifth seat becomes a bit of a mish mash of cup holders and oddment trays.
The interior is the usual BMW luxury. Four high quality leather seats keep everyone in comfort, providing of course you can clamber in to the enormous cabin.
Grab handles, missing on the test model, would certainly be a benefit here, for the driver at least.
There is plenty of headroom for driver and front passenger and high quality instrumentation, including the still controversial i-drive, is all logically placed.
There are plenty of goodies as standard, but like all BMWs the other optional extras can make the price rocket.
Just like the rest of the car, boot space is huge as well, although the handle on the tailgate nearly reached my chin.
Once the boot lid is up, some will need stepladders to reach the handle and close it again.
The newcomer also comes with new state-of-the-art technology including dynamic performance control, which as well controlling drive to both axles, also allows power to be diverted to the individual rear wheels with the most grip.
The car also has permanent four wheel drive with stability control which gives surefooted handling and stability when cornerning, unusual for such a big vehicle and nearer to a sports coupe.
The test model featured a three-litre V6 turbocharged engine that pumps out 306bhp.
Mated to a super slick six-speed automatic gearbox, the car has blistering acceleration and pull throughout the rev range.
It completes the 0-62mph dash in only 6.7 seconds with the gear changes almost seamless and on to a top speed of 149mph.
The car always feels nicely balanced on good roads but becomes slightly unsettled on rougher surfaces, but steering is responsive and nicely weighted.
Economy should average around 26mpg, but the temptation to floor the accelerator became overwhelming on more than one occasion, so economy naturally suffered.
The car, just like the sibling X5, is sure to be more than capable offroad, but my guess is that this is the kind of car that will rarely set tyre on the rough stuff.
Stylish, elegant, controversial. You have to hand it to BMW, they keep us all guessing.
FAST FACTS
BMW X6 XDrive 35i
Price: £42,730
Mechanical: 306bhp, 2,979cc, 6cyl petrol engine driving four wheels via 6spd automatic gearbox
Max speed: 149mph
0-62mph: 6.7 secs
Combined mpg: 25.9
Insurance group: 19
CO2 emissions: 262g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust