UK Drive: BMW’s X2 is a premium option in the compact SUV segment
The SUV market is hugely competitive at the moment, and BMW is the latest manufacturer to enter the fray with this – the X2. Can it fend off rivals? Jack Evans finds out
What is it?
Yes, it really is another compact SUV. Even BMW cannot shy away from the sheer popularity that the SUV is experiencing at the moment, and has prompted the German manufacturing giant to introduce its own lifestyle-orientated vehicle – the X2.
What’s new?
The X2 shames the same basic setup as that found in the Mini Countryman, however the BMW has been geared towards sportier driving. It’s available with either two- or four-wheel-drive depending on engine, allowing drivers to pick how much additional capability their X2 has. Make no mistake, however – this isn’t a car designed for flying through green lanes or fording rivers; the all-wheel-drive system here is for adding a little bit of security during poor driving conditions.
What’s under the bonnet?
The X2 is available with a series of compact diesel and petrol engines, however our test car came in 20d XDrive specification – likely to be one of the most popular drivetrains. It produces 187bhp, and is capable of pushing the X2 to 60mph in 7.3 seconds before hitting a top speed of 137mph.
Seeing as the Countryman is already available as a plug-in hybrid, it’s likely that a similarly-powered X2 could be a possibility – though BMW has yet to make any such announcement.
What’s it like to drive?
The X2 leans towards the sportier side of things, doing away with the soft-and-supple approach taken by many crossovers. This is pretty evident in the way it drives; it corners sharply enough, and feels surprisingly level through the corners, though not quite as sharp as an equivalently-priced 3 Series.
How does it look?
In our eyes at least, the X2 is a smart looking thing indeed. The BMW roundels on the rear posts may divide opinion, but at least it’s a point of conversation. Up front, the trademark kidney grilles are larger than ever while the larger alloy wheels fitted to our test car, though putting an edge on the ride, certainly gave it plenty of presence.
What’s it like inside?
The interior of the X2 is classic BMW, with plenty of high-quality materials used throughout and a decent driving position allowing you to get comfortable each and every time. Our car’s leather upholstery was a rather jazzy orange – or ‘Magma Red’, to use BMW’s lingo – which was a slight assault on the eyeballs to begin with, but soon became a really positive part of the car – and one we’d recommend specifying.
That said, this was contrasted by piano black finishers which gave the cabin a distinctly classy edge.
What’s the spec like?
As with any BMW, there’s a huge amount to choose from when it comes to optional extras. However, our M-Sport specification test car came brimmed with standard equipment, including full satellite navigation, cruise control and automatic air conditioning.
Verdict
The X2 is certainly well worth considering in what is a very populated crossover segment. As we’ve mentioned, going haywire with the options boxes can quickly drive up the price, but go easy with the optional extras and there’s no reason why the X2 can’t remain a relatively good-value purchase – albeit one considerably more expensive than rivals. With a good range of powertrains to choose from there should be something for all tastes, too, while its well-judged driving experience will find favour with most drivers.
