2011 BMW X6 Overview

BMW isn't the first manufacturer to call a non-coupe a coupe. That honor (which some might consider dubious) belongs to Mercedes-Benz, which applies the term to the slinky CLS luxury sedan. Not to be outdone, Volkswagen recently unveiled a nomenclatural oxymoron of its own with the four-door Passat coupe. But were there an award for Least-Coupelike Coupe, the prize would undoubtedly go to the BMW X6, a luxury performance SUV the manufacturer has dubbed a "Sports Activity Coupe."

Perhaps "fastback SUV" would be a more appropriate description. The midsizer, which is based on the BMW X5, has a dramatically downward-sloping roof line, evoking the timeless profiles of classic fastback coupes (or, less charitably, the Pontiac Aztek). As such, style trumps utility. Rear passenger space and cargo volume are reduced, and the X6 only has two rear seats instead of a three-passenger bench.