You might be thinking to yourself: Why is BMW coming out with another SUV? Well, the South Carolina-built X5 has been a solid seller for BMW, giving the brand a foothold in the SUV segment, but the X6, which is built alongside the X5, seems to better align with BMW's Ultimate Driving Machine motto. From its looks to its performance, the X6 holds to the idea of a driver's car more closely than the X5, but it does so without losing traditional SUV characteristics, like a taller seating position and cargo versatility.

The X6 goes up against an established competitor in the FX, which Infiniti has refined for 2009. The driving experience in the FX is much the same as the X6, but what's sure to appeal to many people looking for a performance SUV is the all-wheel-drive FX's significantly lower starting price, which is about $10,000 less than the X6's $52,500 base price. That's a big difference, even in this part of the market.