The 2024 BMW X2 Wants to Carve Its Own Niche
Authors:
Jeff Glucker and
Sean Tucker.
Divisive. Polarizing. Love it or hate it. That seems to be the design direction for current BMW products. And this newly reworked BMW X2 is following right into that same world. Two versions will land here in the United States: the xDrive28i and the M35i, returning after a year away. What is this all-new 2024 BMW X2 all about? Related:
2024 BMW X2: Choosing the Right Trim
What Does the 2024 BMX X2 Look Like?
While its sister car, the X1, retains a scaled-down SUV-like look, the X2 leans into the SUV coupe styling world found throughout the BMW lineup and sprinkled across many auto lineups at the moment. This thing is a mix of sharp angles against puffed-out fenders and a curved roofline. So it makes more sense when you consider BMW calls it a “Sports Activity Coupe.” It is 7.6 inches longer than the 2023 version of the X2. The wheelbase stretches nearly an inch, and the width expands just under an inch. Its height rises 2.5 inches. BMW says the design goal was a vertical face flowing back into a coupe-like body. That seems to be precisely what we’ve got here — so congrats on that. However, this thing is deceptive, as it can be fitted with 21-inch wheels. This is the first compact BMW to get hoops that large.
The standard BMW design elements are here: the big kidneys in the grille and the quad headlights. For extra coin, you can opt to have those kidneys light up. BMW increased passenger and cargo space. Ahead of the driver is a curved display that integrates vehicle information to the left and the infotainment on the right. The standard-grade seats are vinyl, but Alcantara is available. You get Alcantara trim as standard on the M35i model. But an M-Sport package is also offered on the xDrive28i as well. This BMW allows you to subscribe to the BMW Digital Premium system to download music, videos, and games to play in your car. Using the AirConsole platform, your smartphone acts as a wireless controller. For safety’s sake, you must be parked to use this stuff, but it will be interesting to see if the games are any good and fun.
What Engines Are Available on the 2024 BMW X2?
As for actual fun behind the wheel, BMW is offering the X2 in two flavors here in the States. The xDrive 28i uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder to deliver 241 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. And that torque is available down at 1,500 rpm. Jump to the M35i, however, and that same engine gets M-upgrades like a stronger crank, revised cooling channels, and optimized oil delivery to easily handle the 312 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque on tap.
Both engines send power out to all four wheels, and both models utilize a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (DCT). Paddles on the steering wheel are standard on the M35i and optional on the 28i. The adaptive M suspension system is also standard on the M35 and an option on the 28i. The goal is a proper separation between comfort settings and sport, giving the vehicle divergent personalities. This system also includes the Sport Steering setup designed to provide more feedback through the rack.
Finally, the M Sport package also includes larger brakes and some exterior design flourishes, standard on the M35i model.
Is There an Electric Model in the 2024 BMW X2 Lineup?
There’s another model of X2, but we’re not slated to get it in the U.S. It’s the iX2, and it’s a fully electric version. It seems like that gaming system could get put to better use on the inside of that one while you’re charging somewhere. But maybe the price structure related to that specific version will cost too much once it lands in the States.
How Much Is the 2024 BMW X2?
As it sits, the 2024 BMW xDrive 28i starts at $42,000, and the M35i xDrive will start at $51,400. Customers can expect these to arrive on dealer lots in March 2024. And others on the road will then see an increased lack of directional usage to follow shortly after.
Will the BMW X2 Compete in the Rebelle Rally?
But, there IS one already out on the road — well, the trails. You see, BMW has built up an X2 to compete in the Rebelle Rally, which is going on right now. The talented Rebelle team of Rebecca Donaghe and Sedona Blinson is driving it. To prepare it for Rally duty, BMW fitted Falken Wildpeaks on a set of Rotiform wheels, added light pods front and rear, a collection of custom skid plates, a custom spare tire carrier, and a Thule roof platform. It’s great to see BMW get involved in Rebelle, and it’s cool to see an X2 setup like this.
5 Thoughts About the 2024 BMW X2
There’s an old debate among the automotive press and a question car critics get asked with some regularity: Is it better to buy the high-end version of an affordable car or one of the least expensive things on the luxury lot? The 2024 BMW X2 complicated my answer. I’ve told plenty of friends there’s limited difference between a particularly well-equipped Chevrolet and a low-end Cadillac. I’ve said you’re often better off with the model with the inexpensive parts. But the X2 is a small crossover using a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, a 7-speed automatic transmission, and an all-wheel drive system. That’s also a roughly accurate description of nearly every compact SUV, including the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V (give or take a gear). Prices for those push into the low $40Ks. BMW starts X2 pricing just above $42,000. A week in it convinced me that, if you’re going to spend that much anyway, you want this one.
It’s just a little more luxurious, just a little more sporty, and just a little more distinctive for just a little more money. Precise, light steering and grippy brakes give it an athletic character that most affordable cars lack. While it’s not quite the least expensive thing on the BMW lot, it’s close. The X2 shares most of its parts with the X1, which resembles a conventional SUV. The extra X sacrifices some cargo space for a sportier look.
My tester had a few frills that pushed it out of the affordable price range. It was the entry-level trim, the xDrive28i, with its 241-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, starting at $42,995 (including the $995 delivery fee). But it had the M Sport Package ($2,500), which adds a snappier 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and an adaptive M suspension. The Premium package ($4,000) added acoustic glass, parking assist, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Driving Assistance Pro package ($1,700) added traffic jam assist and similar proto-self-driving features. All told, the sticker read $52,195.
1. Small Choices Make a Decent Car Sporty
BMW’s current motto is “sheer driving pleasure.” What makes this more pleasurable than a particularly well-equipped mainstream model? A responsive engine and light, crisp steering help.
But more than that, it’s little things. Like a thick steering wheel with just a bit of squish to it. Or grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires instead of more generic rubber. Any automaker could make its small SUV sportier if it paid attention to choices like that. They generally don’t. BMW does.
2. Small Choices Make a Luxury Car Comfortable
That attention to detail carries over into small luxuries. I drive a lot of cars, so I experience a lot of different car features. One of my favorite small pleasures is an extendable knee bolster; it’s a little pad at the end of the seat that you can extend and retract to match the length of your thighs. High-end luxury cars usually have them, complete with electric motors. Mainstream cars usually don’t. This car straddles mainstream and luxury pricing. And what do you know—there’s a knee bolster. It must have been an inexpensive one for BMW to build. You extend it manually. But that kind of small, thoughtful touch sets a luxury car apart. The X2 is full of little design touches that prove interior designers didn’t skimp on the low-cost BMW. The wireless charging pad, for instance, includes a ratcheting restraint, similar to the lap bar on a roller coaster, to keep your phone snug.
3. The Boost Paddle Is Silly Fun
Like most luxury cars, the X2 has several drive modes. Sport mode tightens up the suspension and gooses throttle response. It’s fun. But you must push a button and page through a touchscreen menu to get to it. And every time you restart the car, it’s gone again. It restarts in a more efficient mode where you’ll probably do most of your driving. You don’t need the steroid hit of Sport mode on the way to the store, anyway. But sometimes, you need a few seconds of extra power to make a highway pass. For that, the X2 has a Boost paddle. Pull back on the paddle shifter for a full second, and the car enters Sport mode for 10 seconds. It counts them down for you in the instrument cluster. It’s perfect for a quick surge that won’t leave you in the least fuel-efficient mode for long.
4. The Back Window Is Almost Unacceptable
The X2 has love-it-or-hate-it styling with a sharply raked rear window. I like the sporty look — from the outside. From the driver’s seat? Not so much. That sharply angled rear window creates real visibility problems. Standard blind-spot monitors make up for it enough that it probably won’t matter. But looking in your rearview mirror is almost pointless. That tiny window mostly shows you the headliner and the rear seats.
5. Some of the Luxury Goodies Are Likely Unnecessary
My argument for buying an X2 over, say, a well-equipped Honda falls apart when you add those expensive packages. But you don’t need to add them. Much of what they offer is extraneous.
Parking Assistant Plus, for instance, can reverse-park the car in tight quarters. But it’s slow. It takes so long to do its magic that you’ll awkwardly lock eyes with other drivers blocked from moving as your car parks itself at a snail’s pace. It might be great for those with accessibility issues or anxiety about parking. The rest of us will take over for it every time to speed things up. So why pay for it? Likewise, the heated seats and steering wheel (a $550 option) are lukewarm at best. I’d skip them.
The Wrap
According to Autotrader parent company, Cox Automotive, the average new car buyer paid over $48,000 last month. If you have to spend that much to get a compact SUV, you might as well get one you’ll love driving. The BMW X2 is fun to drive. At 241 hp, it lacks the usual BMW speed. Starting at $42,000, it lacks the usual BMW price tag, too. That makes it a compelling alternative to well-equipped cars from more affordable automakers. I’d be less likely to spend nearly $60,000 for a fully-equipped X2 M35i with more engine power. But the base model xDrive 28i gives you thoughtful small luxuries and BMW’s legendary taut handling for a price only a little higher than many people are paying for cars from mainstream automakers these days. It’s arguably a typical small SUV that’s just a little more luxurious than a RAV4, with a chunky steering wheel and Pilot Sport tires. But do you know what makes a car more enjoyable? Those little things.
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