Comapro: BMW X6 vs Infiniti FX50 vs Porsche Cayenne S

Story and photos by John LeBLanc Marketed as the ultimate combination of the oxymoronic attributes of SUV practicality and sports sedan driving dynamics, this trio of mid-sized, sporty SUVs was judged solely on the driver's needs. For those who shy away from the bold statement about conspicuous consumption an SUV makes, we also offer sports wagon alternatives: THIRD PLACE: Porsche Cayenne S On the market for five years, Porsche's five-passenger Cayenne is starting to show some wrinkles. Its 4.8-litre V8 is only five horsepower short of the FX50's 390 horses. Torque is eerily the same as well at 396 lb.-ft. and both tromp the X6's measly 300 hp six. Cayenne's downfall is its heft: Frankly, this Porsche is a pig. The Cayenne's 2,245 kg weight (200 more than the FX50) nearly kills any performance advantage over the weaker X6, turning in a 0-to-100 km/h time of 6.6 seconds. Fuel economy also gets whacked: it burns 50 per cent more than the other two – at 21.3 L/100 km in the city, 15 on the highway. At least the Porsche has the best highway ride here. Plus with Porsche Active Suspension Management working hard, the Cayenne S's handling is composed for such a weighty vehicle. And its steering, although not as clear as the X6's, is more informative than the light-feeling FX50's. Like an aging athlete, though, the Porsche is creaky when pushed and not nearly as sharp or agile as its lighter rivals. Finally, our Cayenne S tester's $76,390 price was nearly 25 per cent more than the least-expensive-yet-better-equipped FX50. Nail, meet coffin. WHY BUY: Exemplary steering; highway ride. WHY NOT: Pricy; thirsty; heavy; feeling dated. SPORTS WAGON ALTERNATIVE: Audi A6 Avant 3.2 $62,800 SECOND PLACE: Infiniti FX50 The FX50 loads up on the standard kit (like an 11-speaker audio/satellite radio and Infiniti-exclusive Around View Monitor) that the German brands charge extra for. At $58,900, the only FX50 extra drivers will want is the $2,500 sport package that adds, among other items, adjustable dampers, 21-inch performance rubber, more supportive seats and the rear active-steer system. With the largest engine here (5.0 L V8), the most horsepower and torque and the lightest curb weight – guess what? – the FX50 smokes the others with an under-six-second 0-to-100 km/h run. Yet with the help of one extra gear over the BMW or Porsche six-speeders, the Infiniti sucks the same amount of gas as the X6: around 15 L/100 km in the city, 10 on the highway. Where the Porsche leans into corners, the Infiniti's crisp body control keeps it parallel with the pavement, even at speed. The only negatives that kept the FX50 from ousting the X6 from first place was steering that was too light, a brittle ride when punching the Sport button and brakes that were too sensitive and difficult to modulate. If this was a comparison of sporty five-seater SUVs, though, the FX50 wins. Hands down. WHY BUY: Bang-for-the-buck; flat cornering; you need to seat five. WHY NOT: Harsh ride; feathery steering. SPORTS WAGON ALTERNATIVE: Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Wagon $41,795 FIRST PLACE: BMW X6 xDrive 35i With a $2,000 premium over the X5 that it's based upon, add $3,700 worth of Active Steering and Sport Package and the six-cylinder X6 rings up to $67,600. Now subtract one seat. That's right, the X6 is a four-seat SUV. If your life can handle that, then let's move on to the key ingredient to the BMW's superior driving dynamics: its exclusive (for now) Dynamic Performance Control, which maximizes grip, minimizes dreaded understeer and keeps stability-control at bay. SUV or not, the results on the road are amazing. Meaty, accurate and linear, there's not an iota of looseness in the BMW's steering, unlike the Infiniti or Porsche. Then there's the way the X6 goes around a corner: taut, balanced and controlled. At speeds the FX50 skitters or the Cayenne teeters, but the X6 simply digs out of fast corners, well, like a tall BMW sports sedan. And despite its lack of straight-line grunt, you'll never drive an SUV faster from point A to point B. Trust me. The X6 really is that good. The Sport package's 20-inch tires are a bit stiff around town, but on the highway, they are as comfortable as the Porsche's. The only other driving negatives – lack of performance from the 300 hp/300 lb.-ft. 3.0 L twin-turbo – can be rectified this fall when the 407 hp V8 twin-turbo X6. Admittedly, the X6 isn't for everybody. However, as a sexy alternative to the run-of-the-mill X5, there's never been a better driving SUV. Yet. WHY BUY: Drives like a tall (tall) sports sedan. Seriously. WHY NOT: Straight-line performance; you need more than four seats; seriously firm ride SPORTS WAGON ALTERNATIVE: BMW 535xi Touring $73,600

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