2024 BMW X2 Review and Test Drive
In xDrive28i specification, the new X2 focuses less on driving dynamics and more on technology.
Christian Wardlaw
The new second-generation 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i is one of the only small entry-level luxury SUV coupes you can buy, and it's an improvement over the original-recipe first-generation model in several ways. For example, it is much larger than before, offering more interior room for people and cargo. In addition, it has plenty of BMW's latest infotainment and safety technologies.
Unfortunately, the new X2 xDrive28i doesn't quite capture the engaging driving character typical of a BMW, in my opinion. Drive it hard in Sport mode, and you can conjure faint wisps and whispers of the automaker's traditional Ultimate Driving Machine spirit, but I wouldn't describe it as exciting.
People seeking quicker acceleration and rewarding handling should check out the more powerful X2 M35i. Electric X2 competitors include the Genesis GV60, Tesla Model Y, or Volvo C40 Recharge. Gas-only alternatives with rakish rooflines include the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Genesis GV70, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Range Rover Evoque.
Christian Wardlaw
2024 BMW X2 Prices Reflect a Premium for Style
The 2024 BMW X2 comes in xDrive28i and M35i model designations, and base prices range from the mid-$40,000s to the mid-$50,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV from the Regensburg, Germany, factory that builds it to your local dealership.
For this X2 review, I test-drove the xDrive28i in Southern California. Highlights from the optional equipment list included the M Sport, Premium, and Driving Assistance Professional option packages. The manufacturer's suggested retail price of the test vehicle was $52,195, including the $995 destination charge. BMW provided the vehicle for this X2 review.
Christian Wardlaw
Bold Outside and Clean Inside
Love it or not, the new 2024 BMW X2's design is undeniably bold. People are likely to notice this SUV. When viewed from the front, I found it instantly recognizable as a BMW — especially when equipped with the available illuminated kidney grille surround.
You might think at first glance that the X2's redesign was little more than a styling exercise — until you open the driver's door to witness the tech-heavy, minimalist interior.
The test vehicle's provocative red-over-black interior was artfully arranged and detailed. Reduced to the barest necessities, the interior eliminates most traditional controls, which can cause problems while driving. Those controls that remain are sometimes dual purpose, touch sensing, or rethought in distracting ways, which sometimes left me confused, irritated, and frustrated. With time and experience, however, you will likely resolve some of these usability issues.
The X2's available two-tone interior treatments look upscale, and the SUV comes with gloss-black or aluminum trim paired with convincingly supple artificial leather upholstery. Ambient lighting adds a soothing glow after dark. In my experience, BMW groups desirable upgrades in expensive packages, and the test vehicle shows that X2 prices can climb well into the $50,000s.
Christian Wardlaw
A Bigger Back Seat and Excellent Front Seats Make the New X2 Comfortable
Part of the M Sport Package (and also available separately), the X2's available sports seats are worth the price, in my opinion. Exceptionally comfortable even after hours behind the thick-rimmed steering wheel, they feature prominent side bolsters and manually adjustable thigh support pads. You can also opt for heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and massage functions.
With the new 2024 X2, BMW swaps the previous model's cramped back seat for one with more legroom. The headroom is good, too. However, you must step over a high and wide sill to enter and exit the SUV. I found that any dirt on the doorsill transferred to my clothes or skin, even when simply stepping into and out of the front seats.
Christian Wardlaw
The 2024 X2 Has More Cargo Space, but Limitations Remain
Open the X2's rear hatch, and you'll find a high sill that impedes loading and unloading cargo. While the new X2 boasts improved cargo capacity, there is little room to stack luggage underneath the cargo cover. Fortunately, BMW provides a cargo light, grocery bag hooks, a netted compartment to the left, and a deep storage well to the right to use the available space best. The 40/20/40-split folding back seat drops to expand capacity from 25.3 cubic-feet to 51.7 cu-ft. Those measurements rival or beat the BMW X1.
Within the cabin, the X2 offers a wireless smartphone charger with a clip to hold your device securely. Each front door panel gets a generous storage pocket, and BMW locates a large tray underneath the floating center console. Unfortunately, it is hard to see and reach.
Under the center armrest is a shallow tray with just enough room for incidentals such as house keys or breath mints. Rear-seat passengers have fewer storage solutions, and items will slide off the floor-level tray if the driver accelerates hard.
Christian Wardlaw
The Infotainment System Offers a User-Friendly Interface
Every 2024 X2 has a BMW Curved Display, which marries a 10.3-inch BMW Live Cockpit instrumentation panel with a 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system using BMW Operating System 9 (or iDrive 9). Highlights include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a slate of connected services, and a cloud-based navigation system with a conversational Intelligent Personal Assistant.
Upgrades include a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium surround sound system and a video-based augmented-reality (AR) system for the navigation system. The test vehicle had both features, and I found the video AR helpful when searching for a destination. I found the Harman Kardon audio system to be satisfying, too.
When you pair a device, you can elect to launch Apple CarPlay or Android Auto automatically. Returning to the native iDrive 9 environment is effortless. Simply press the BMW icon, and the smartphone platform switches off in favor of BMW's embedded navigation, media, and apps.
Likewise, you can activate "BMW" or "Hey, BMW" as the wake phrase for the Intelligent Personal Assistant. It works well. The only test command I tried that it couldn't handle was a request to listen to reggae music.
Christian Wardlaw
From Video Games to a Selfie Camera, BMW Loads the New X2 With Tech
The BMW Curved Display technology is deep and complex. Similar to when you get a new smartphone, it takes some time to go through the menus and configure the SUV just how you want it. In addition, the display changes to reflect the mood of the Efficient, Personal, and Sport driving modes. You can also choose from several BMW Live Cockpit content panels and select from Standard, Assisted, and Sport head-up display themes.
Upgrade to the BMW Digital Premium services, and you can further customize the X2 through Relax, Expressive, and Digital Art themes. This all-in-one subscription service also lets you automate specific routines, such as powering down the window each time you enter the office parking garage to scan a key card. Through BMW Digital Premium, when the X2 is parked, you can also stream audio and video through Xperi TiVo and play video games via AirConsole using your smartphone as a controller.
Available tech also includes parking sensors with automatic braking, a semiautonomous automatic parking system, and a BMW Drive Recorder. Anti-theft systems include cameras that record inside and outside the X2, a potential help if someone tries to break into the SUV. Otherwise, you can use those cameras to see all around the SUV when parking, check the SUV remotely via a smartphone app, or even take selfies inside the cabin.
Christian Wardlaw
No Surprises From the Driving Assistance Professional Package
BMW also equips the new X2 with many safety technologies. Standard equipment includes automatic collision notification and a collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) called Active Driving Assistant.
You can upgrade the X2 with BMW's Driving Assistance Professional system, which installs hands-free traffic jam assist for use at speeds of less than 40 mph. The Professional package also equips the X2 with active lane-keeping assist with collision avoidance, lane-change assist, evasive steering assist, and emergency stop assist.
These technologies worked well during my evaluation, with a few exceptions. First, I found it unclear how to adjust the following distance when using the adaptive cruise control system. Second, the lane-centering assist struggled on a section of the freeway where an entrance ramp meets the right travel lane in the middle of a bend. Third, the X2 sometimes braked too hard when other vehicles cut into the gap ahead.
In crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the new X2 earns a Top Safety Pick rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not performed crash tests on the redesigned X2.
Christian Wardlaw
There's Broad Power From Two Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Engines
Every 2024 BMW X2 has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but that engine comes in two different states of tune. In the xDrive28i, it makes 241 horsepower between 4,500 and 6,500 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. In the M35i, it generates 312 horsepower between 5,750 rpm and 6,500 rpm and the same amount of torque at a slightly higher rev range of 2,000 to 4,500 rpm.
Both versions of the engine bolt to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), and BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system is standard. Efficient, Personal, and Sport driving modes give you some control over how the powertrain behaves. According to the paddle shifters in my test vehicle, a Boost mode is also available.
In addition, BMW equips the X2 with disc brakes with brake-fade compensation and standard 19-inch wheels. My xDrive28i test vehicle had M Sport trim, adding M Sport Brakes with blue calipers, an adaptive M Suspension, Sport steering, and different 19-inch wheels wrapped in P245/45R-19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.
Christian Wardlaw
The X2 Is Quick but Not Much Fun to Drive
Considering BMW's legacy as a brand that builds vehicles for driving enthusiasts and my test vehicle's M Sport specs, I expected a rousing good time. I did not get one.
Setting off on the evaluation loop in the Personal driving mode, the dual-clutch transmission played nice with the turbo four, snapping off quick, decisive shifts. The herky-jerky gear changes I observed on chilly mornings vanished in the warmth of a late spring afternoon. Acceleration is reasonably swift, but I think it's likely that the more powerful X2 M35i is more satisfying. In addition, the adaptive suspension effortlessly soaks up speed bumps and humps.
On the freeway, the X2 is the first BMW I've driven that doesn't encourage extra-legal travel speeds. Usually, the automaker's speed warning feature keeps me out of serious trouble. In the X2, it remained silent because I didn't feel my usual desire for rapid transit.
Christian Wardlaw
On undulating mountain roads, the BMW X2 displayed a bouncy and woozy ride in Personal mode, so I switched to Sport mode. That tightened things up, but the suspension still allowed too much body motion over sharper dips and bumps. In addition, the steering felt too light, and when driving with enthusiasm, the brake pedal displayed a delayed response to input, eroding my confidence.
During the evaluation drive, the X2 xDrive28i returned 25.3 mpg. The official EPA ratings are 24/33/28 mpg in city/highway/combined driving, so my real-world result missed the mark by 2.7 mpg.
Christian Wardlaw
BMW's New X2 Offers Competence for a Competitive Price
Bold design, a comfortable interior, advanced technology, and decent utility make the new BMW X2 appealing. But you could say the same about several of this SUV's rivals. I wish I had enjoyed driving it more.
Instead, I felt that the X2 drove like any other sporty compact crossover. To be fair, it can hustle, and at times, you can detect hints of traditional BMW dynamism, but it was not as engaging as I'd hoped.
Does that matter? Perhaps not to people who like the X2's new styling and want a sporty BMW SUV at a comparatively low price.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Christian WardlawMy first word was “car.” That’s what I’m told, anyway. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. I’m a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but I’m also most interested in the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. Anybody can tell you that a sports car is fast. What you need to know is whether or not you should buy that new SUV, and why. My life purpose is to help you make that decision.
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