Spain’s Capoeira: The BMW X-series of slope-back crossovers with even numbers shows that not all cars have to make perfect sense. When the German company changed the top of its otherwise luxurious and useful X5, making it less able to carry people and things and more expensive, it pretty much created the genre. The X6 needs to make more sense, not in 2008 and not now. It does until you understand and accept that everything was done to look good. Anyway, BMW showed off a brand-new type of car to the public. It’s called the Sports Activity Coupe.
Like the planned 2024 BMW X2, the X4 and the X6 that were already talked about are in the same style. This makes it different from the first X2, which had some very modern design elements and looked like a big hatchback. The new X2 does, however, use the same body as the current X1, which is a good phone all around. For example, the latest X1 is much better than the previous model, and the X2 is a much better car. It has more space inside, more technology, better handling, and a more complicated drivetrain with a quick-shifting dual-clutch gearbox.
Given its purpose, the fact that it looks stronger and will stand out more may be the most important thing. This is true, even though the first X2 looked great. The two big, angled grilles are pretty small. The company BMW calls them kidneys, even though they don’t look like real kidneys. Additionally, if you want to buy a new BMW with noses that stick out too far, it seems smart to include the extra lighting surround. From that brachycephalic front end, the rest of the X2 flows easily. The roofline is tastefully low and runs back at a sharp angle right behind the box-shaped cabin. The slightly thicker curves that go around the wheel arches make the car look stronger.
The BMW X2 of 2024 is a lot bigger than the one that came before it. Because the wheelbase and track have grown by just less than an inch each, it is 2.5 inches bigger and almost 8 (!) inches longer. Its overall length is especially impressive because it’s 2.6 inches longer than the X1, which is aimed at the more useful end of the small SUV market. Of course, it was all for style.
It’s not a surprise that there is more room inside and more weight that can be carried. BMW says there are “noticeable increases in shoulder and elbow room,” but they haven’t said much else about the inside yet. There’s an extra inch of space in the back, and when I folded into the back and sat down behind a driver who was almost six feet tall, none of my legs felt squished. There are some cave-like parts in the back, but an X1 will be better for family use. The 40/20/40 split back seat can be folded down to make 25.3 cubic feet of storage space behind it or 51.7 cubic feet when folded up. Both of these amounts are up by about 3 and 4 cubic feet. In addition, that number is very close to the X1’s load capacity behind the rear seat. We’ll have to try it to see if the comparison works in real life.
The rest of the technologies and internal features are similar to those in the X1, which we looked at earlier this year. It was a pleasure to test the X2 M25i. The matte-finish brightwork inside broke up the black plastic, Alcantara, fake leather made without testing on animals, and fabrics. BMW has a wide, curved digital panel that goes around the dashboard and wraps around the touchscreen interface. The pictures are clear, the response time is fast, and there is little menu sifting to do. This is important because BMW has ditched its old iDrive system with knobs in favor of the touch-only iDrive nine system, which was first seen in the X1. The BMW i5 and possibly future high-end BMW cars will probably keep the knob as an extra. Like other new BMWs, the gear selection is now managed by a tiny toggle that looks strange at first but is actually very easy to use.
Every BMW we drove had firm black leather seats with nice patterns on them. The red and blue M logo, which is typical of the brand, can be seen through the seats. According to BMW’s online selection, you can choose from more colors. There is a light “Oyster” color, a deep Mocha brown color, a Red and Black pattern that looks sporty, and a two-tone grayish earth tone. People in the United States don’t usually buy things that are this green (Frozen Tampa Bay). But BMW Individual will make one just for you for $3,000 if you want.
As we talk about how it drives, it’s important to keep in mind that the BMW X2 M35i, which is the only type we’ve tried, is in a popular market segment. This means that the X2 will be a cool alternative to the more famous X1. Both the $42,995 (destination fee) xDrive28i with 241 horsepower and the $52,395 X2 M35i with 312 horsepower are offered. There is one area. The M35i is supposed to be the sportier option in that segment, while the X2 is supposed to be the cheaper choice. Both have the same chassis and interior design. Now for the second area.
Let’s get one thing straight: the 2024 X2 M35i is definitely fast. When cranked all the way up, the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine makes 312 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Its peak torque is between 2,000 and 4,500 rpm. The 3,840-pound BMW X2 M35i can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, but the X2 xDrive28i needs an extra second to finish the timed run. All four wheels are driven by each engine that was chosen.
There is some lag at idle before the power comes on, but it feels heavy in the middle of the rpm range. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission can be controlled by pressing buttons on the steering wheel or by itself. It changes speeds quickly and has a mechanical limited-slip differential built in. The transmission goes into Sport mode when you pull the left paddle. For 10 seconds, all features are turned on at their most intense levels in Boost mode, which makes it great for quick passing moves.
The way the suspension is set up isn’t too bad, but it is definitely stiff and almost unbearably so. The shocks are controlled electronically by a digital brain, but most of its functions rely on the drive mode chosen and don’t require the driver to do anything. These come set up with Personal Mode, Sport Mode (which makes the steering tighter and the speakers make more “engine” noises), and Efficient Mode (which makes the engine quieter and gets as much energy as possible out of it). People who pay for BMW Digital Premium can also pick from Digital Art Mode, Expressive Mode, and Relax Mode. In addition to the mechanical and motor parts, these modes let you change other parts of the vehicle’s features as well.
The whole suspension system has been redesigned. The rear three-link and front strut designs are similar to those in the earlier X1 and X2, but the geometry has been changed to make the system more rigid, which makes the car more responsive overall. It’s great to say that after driving a slightly older BMW in Europe that is also built on a front-drive frame, BMW’s newest X2 has become more rigid overall, which helps the speed-sensitive steering feel firm and direct. The brakes are also very easy. They use an M-compound system with 13.0-inch discs that have a single-piston floating brake and 15.2-inch drilled discs that have four-piston fixed brakes. We had to switch our stop foot for the first half of the day because the first bite was so strong. The 20-inch metal wheels have Pirelli P Zero tires in the size 245/40. That’s right; the small tires make the ride rough on uneven ground.
Given its longer length, the new X2 is less able to handle bumps that go from the front to the back. The wider width gives it a good grip in corners, but the stiffer frame lets it settle more quickly. This can be done with the help of new frequency-selective dampers that have an extra tube to lower unwanted suspension lift and rebound valves that smooth out small bumps. The optional sports seats in the test car are very supportive and fit my big frame well. They also had a surface that gripped the road well, which helped me stay in place as I drove the X2 on the twisting roads outside of Lisbon, Portugal.
You can choose to add Distance Control and Steering Assistant to your BMW X2 with the Driving Assistant Professional. On some roads, Traffic Jam Assistant lets drivers go up to 40 mph without using their hands. An internal camera makes sure the driver is still paying attention. Active Blind Spot Detection, Forward Collision Mitigation, and Collision Warning are all standard functions.
The X2 M35i makes sense from this narrow niche-within-a-niche point of view. Like the Mini Countryman we tried before, this high-performance X2 has been tuned a lot. Because the Mini Countryman, X1, and X2 all use the same frame, there are only so many people who can buy each one. It might be too much for people who live in places with bad dirt or who need help getting to winding, remote roads with safe speed limits. But it’s not meant for those people. BMW has already announced the X1 M35i, which is faster, but the X1 is still made for that reason.
In every important way, the 2024 BMW X2 is better than the X2 it replaces. It’s still not for everyone, especially in M35i gear, but given how much BMW has changed the subcompact SUV market, it’s a welcome addition for people who are willing to give up some usefulness for style.
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