BMW X6

Calling the BMW X6 “one of 2008′s most intriguing cars,” as Phil McNamara over at CAR has done, provides easy reason for an automotive traditionalist like me to ready my verbal capacity for launching the rotten tomatoes of editorial scorn.

It was not that long ago when the very idea of BMW bringing an SUV to market was considered by many to be as heretical as Lamborghini selling a minivan. And this corporate desire to fill every possible niche void has done plenty of harm to a certain other carmaker’s reputation.

But there’s just one thing: I kind of like the X6.

I appreciate the premise behind this, BMW’s latest effort to fill every conceivable void, because I know where and how it can be used to good effect. Better yet, it was my time in a Lexus RX300 that provides me with this understanding perspective.

Back in 1999, three friends and I spent days traversing the winding roads that snake through the Rockies in Alberta and British Columbia in Lexus’ then-new car platformed SUV. At first, I loathed the car – an overweight Lexus Camry that felt minivan-ish- especially since this RX was the replacement to the owner’s previous car – one spectacular 1994 BMW 740i.

Talk about heresy.

In previous summers, the great 7 carved the roads that led from Vancouver to Whistler for us; cosseting and thrilling us, in equal measure. I can still smell the leather…

But when it came time to drive the BMW sedan off the fresh asphalt of Route 99 and onto one-lane wide dirt roads that would lead us to the base points of various hiking trails, it seemed sacrilegious to subject so fine a car to such rough ‘n tumble use.

That’s where the Lexus made all the sense in the world. Here was an SUV that gave us the commanding view of the road – great for long highway trips – but enveloped us in a car-like cabin of buttery smooth luxury.

What’s better, you didn’t mind taking the RX on to those muddy lanes or packing the hiking gear in the luggage compartment. If it snowed (which it could and did in June), the RX’s all wheel drive would keep us on track.

But for all the benefits that that model Lexus and its replacement the RX350 offer drivers and passengers, these are not driver’s cars. The RX330 powers itself briskly, put not seriously up to speed and feels as much the (really comfortable) minivan as its predecessor.

Translation: dead steering feel and a mushy suspension that tortures those high profiled tyres into howling around the bends. The first RX even had a rear suspension that was actually pretty crude; thumping away over the mildest of road disturbances. The RX350′s isn’t much better.

Which all brings us neatly back to the BMW X6.

It’s an SUV that isn’t shaped in the traditional two-box format and was spared distasteful flaming exuberances. CAR claims the X6 will perform better than a Porsche Cayenne.

Which means that if the latter proves true, then what we’ve got is a sporting all-rounder that would pick up where the deficiencies of the (otherwise good) RX leaves us wanting. And maybe, just maybe, signal a return of some of that winning sparkle that blessed the old 7.

That would be one intriguing car worth buying.