CASCAIS, Portugal — BMW’s even-numbered X-series line of slope-back crossovers is proof that not every vehicle has to make perfect sense. The German brand mainly invented the genre when it significantly reduced the usability of its otherwise luxurious and practical X5 by redesigning its roofline to scale back its capability to carry humans and cargo while concurrently making it costlier. The X6, back in 2008 or today, doesn’t make sense. Except it kind of does when you realize and accept that it was all done within the name of favor. Either way, the world was introduced to a brand new category of vehicles that BMW termed the Sports Activity Coupe.
The following-generation 2024 BMW X2 follows the identical path because the X4 and the aforementioned X6. That makes it a departure from the first-generation X2, which was more like a giant hatchback with some avant garde styling cues. Like its predecessor, though, the brand new X2 continues to be based atop the heart of essentially the most recent X1 that we generally like. In the identical way that the most recent X1 is so thoroughly improved over its predecessor, the X2 is a vastly higher vehicle than the old X2, with more room inside, higher in-car technology, improved dynamics and a more refined powertrain with the addition of a quick-shifting dual-clutch gearbox.
Perhaps most significantly, considering its mission, it also looks more aggressive and, though the unique X2 definitely had a singular look, will more clearly stand out in a crowd. The angular twin grilles are large, but not comically so. While their shape doesn’t appear to be any naturally occurring kidney we’ve ever laid eyes on, BMW still calls them such. And when you’re going to purchase a current BMW with over-flared nostrils, adding the optional illumination surround looks like an inexpensive selection. From that brachycephalic face, the remaining of the X2 flows well with a roofline that’s fashionably low before trailing back at a fast angle directly aft of the box-shaped cabin. Mildly beefed-up flares across the wheel arches provide some visual muscle.
The 2024 BMW X2 is sort of a bit larger than the model it replaces. It’s 2.5 inches taller, and shut to eight(!) inches longer on a wheelbase and track which might be pushed out a little bit lower than an inch each. That overall length is particularly noteworthy because it’s 2.6 inches longer than even the X1 that’s designed to satisfy the more practical side of the small-SUV ledger. All within the name of favor, after all.
It comes as no surprise that interior spaciousness and cargo capability are also higher than before. BMW hasn’t listed full interior specs just yet, but notes “noticeable increases in shoulder and elbow room.” Rear-seat legroom is claimed to be up by a full inch, and indeed, none of my limbs were too pinched while folding myself into the back and getting cozy behind a virtual 6-foot driver. It’s not entirely cave-like within the back, either, though an X1 can be more friendly for family duty. There’s 25.3 cubic feet behind the 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, or as much as 51.7 cubic feet with it folded. That’s up by greater than 3 and 4 cubic feet, respectively. That total can be virtually similar to the X1’s cargo capability behind its back seat, but we’ll must test it to see if that comparison shakes out in real life.
The remaining of the inside appointments and technology mimic those of the X1 we reviewed a yr ago. There’s enough matte-finish brightwork contained in the X2 M25i we tested to disrupt what would otherwise be a monotony of black plastic, Alcantara, animal-free faux leather and textiles. Surrounding the motive force is BMW’s big, curved digital panel that stretches along the dash to encapsulate the touchscreen infotainment with crisp graphics, quick responses and quite a bit less menu digging. That’s necessary, since BMW’s old knob-based iDrive setup is gone in favor of a touch-only-based iDrive 9 system initially implemented within the X1 (note that the BMW i5 and presumably future upper-end BMWs keep the knob as a redundant luxury). Like other recent BMWs, the gear selector is now operated via a small toggle that appears strange at first but is definitely refreshingly easy to operate.
All of the models BMW made available for us to drive had a solid black interior with seats clothed in cool patterns of the marque’s traditional red and blue M motif shining discretely through. BMW’s online configurator shows there are other shades offered, including one in dual-tone grayish earth tones, a light-weight “Oyster” color, deep Mocha brown and a sporty-looking Red and Black motif. Note that the Frozen Tampa Bay green you see in our images will not be (currently) listed within the automaker’s U.S.-market color palette. Shame.
As we dissect what it’s wish to drive the BMW X2 M35i, which is the one spec we’ve tested, it’s key to acknowledge this automotive sits in a distinct segment inside a distinct segment inside a well-liked segment. The X2 on the whole, made up of the $42,995 (including destination) xDrive28i with 241 horsepower and the $52,395 X2 M35i with 312 hp, is meant as a classy alternative to the more mainstream X1. There’s area of interest one. Each share the identical chassis and interior layout, however the X2 is meant because the squished-down sporty option, and inside that slice, the M35i is the one which is definitely expected to, well, be the sporty option. So then, area of interest two.
With that out of the way in which, yes, the 2024 X2 M35i is indeed tuned on the aggressive side. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine spins out 312 horsepower between 5,750 and 6,500 rpm, and its torque peak of 295 pound-feet plateaus between 2,000 and 4,500 rpm. BMW says the three,840-pound X2 M35i can hit 60 in 5.2 seconds while the X2 xDrive28i adds one full second to the timed run. No matter which engine is chosen, all 4 wheels are driven.
In the actual world, there’s a transient lag right off idle before the ability comes on, however it feels nice and meaty in the course of its rev range. The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox has a built-in mechanical limited slip differential and shifts quickly, whether responding to pulls of the wheel-mounted paddles or acting by itself. There’s a Sport mode for the transmission, and a pull of the left paddle can engage a Boost mode that puts all functions into their most aggressive settings for a period of 10 seconds — perfect to execute quick passing maneuvers.
We wouldn’t call its suspension tuning uncomfortable, per se, however it’s definitely stiff and lies awfully near that realm. The shocks are electronically controlled by a digital brain, but most of what it does happens without driver intervention and is dependent upon the chosen drive mode. As standard, those include Personal Mode, a Sport Mode that firms up the steering and increases the “engine” sounds which might be pumped through the speakers, and Efficient Mode, which relaxes the engine and ekes out additional efficiency wherever possible. Customers who opt to enroll in BMW Digital Premium also get Expressive Mode, Loosen up Mode and Digital Art Mode, which permit for greater personalization of auto systems that goes beyond mechanical/drive elements.
While the front strut and rear three-link suspension designs look much like the old X1 and X2, they’re completely redesigned and have recalculated geometry to be more rigid, thereby improving overall vehicle responsiveness. Having recently driven a rather older BMW in Europe that’s similarly based on a front-drive chassis, I’m joyful to report that BMW’s latest X2 looks like it’s picked up greater overall rigidity, which helps the speed-sensitive steering feel solid and direct. Similarly direct are the brakes, with an M-compound package that brings four-piston, fixed-calipers on 15.2-inch drilled discs on the front and single-piston, floating-calipers on 13.0-inch discs on the rear. Initial bite is amazingly strong, a lot so we had to regulate our braking foot throughout the primary half of the day to account for his or her forcefulness. The 20-inch alloy wheels wear Pirelli P Zero tires in 245/40 size. And yes, those small sidewalls are one reason for the sometimes-harsh ride over rough pavement.
On the positive side, the prolonged wheelbase of the brand new X2 means it’s less hypersensitive front-to-rear over bumps. The greater width offers strong cornering grip, and the stiffened structure means it settles more quickly, helped by recent frequency-selective dampers with a further sleeve designed to scale back unwanted suspension lift, and rebound valving that helps smooth small bumps. The test automotive’s optional sport seats are well bolstered, but still fit my husky-sized frame comfortably, and their grippy surface held me in place when pushing the X2 through the twisty Portuguese roads outside Lisbon.
BMW’s Driving Assistant Skilled is optional on the X2 and includes Steering Assistant in addition to Distance Control, which keeps the vehicle in its lane and a protected distance from the vehicle ahead. Traffic Jam Assistant allows hands-free driving at accelerates to 40 mph on some highways while an interior camera makes sure the motive force continues to be being attentive. Forward Collision Mitigation, Collision Warning and Lively Blind Spot Detection are standard.
When checked out through the narrow niche-within-a-niche lens, the X2 M35i makes not less than some amount of sense. Just like the Mini Countryman that we also recently tested — and which can be based on the identical chassis because the X1 and X2, further narrowing the scope of every vehicle’s target market — this hi-po X2 is tuned quite aggressively. It’s arguably an excessive amount of for buyers who live in areas with bad asphalt or without access to distant, twisty roads with suitably high speed limits. Nevertheless it’s clearly not targeted at those buyers. That’s what the X1 (even when BMW has already announced a similarly aggressive X1 M35i) is presupposed to be for.
The 2024 BMW X2 is superior in every meaningful approach to the X2 it replaces. It’s still not for everybody, particularly in M35i trim, but considering how much carving BMW has done to the subcompact SUV segment, it’s a worthwhile addition to the lineup for buyers willing to present up some practicality within the name of favor.
This Article First Appeared At www.autoblog.com
