BMW X2 Review & Prices

The BMW X2 marks a dramatic departure from the previous model. The old X2 looks relatively plain and almost hatchback-like, but this new X2 gets sharper styling with a fastback rear and chunky sides, plus a big grille which optionally lights up at night. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s certainly more striking. 

Underneath, it’s using the same mechanical bits and pieces as the taller, more practical X1, so swapping to an X2 is a bit like kicking off your wedges and strapping on some stilettos — you can walk in both, but one is much more stylish than the other. 

There are several other sharply-styled SUVs you could consider, too. There’s the Audi Q3 Sportback, the Volvo EC40, the Lexus LBX, and the incoming Renault Rafale. 

The X2’s cabin is, of course, largely shared with the X1 and that means you get the impressive-looking curved screens atop the dashboard, which includes a big central infotainment screen and a digital instrument panel. A head-up display is also optional. For the most part, the cabin looks and feels quality, but there are some unpleasantly cheaper materials if you go looking. 

You do have to get used to operating almost everything through the touchscreen - including the climate controls and even some of the headlight controls, which is really annoying. But that’s a criticism that can be laid at the door of many of the X2’s alternatives.

Surprisingly, the X2 doesn’t compromise its practicality too much compared to the X1. Yes, the sloping roof does mean that you can’t pack in big boxes like you can in the X1, but the actual boot volume below the luggage cover is slightly better. Space in the back seats is also fine, although you will notice that there’s less headroom and less light coming in than in the X1.

You can choose from two petrol-engined options for the X2. There’s an entry level X2 20i, which uses a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels through a seven-speed automatic gearbox. There’s also the X2 M35i, which also gets a four-cylinder turbo 2.0-litre engine, but which is amped-up to 300hp and has four-wheel drive and lower, firmer suspension. 

There’s also the all-electric BMW iX2, with a choice of two power outputs - we’ve reviewed this separately here.

If you’re interested in finding out more, you can check out the latest BMW X2 deals on Carwow. You can also find used X2 models, or search for other used BMWs from our network of trusted dealers. And I can also sell your car online through Carwow.

The X2 kicks off at just over £40,000 for an SDrive20i in M Sport trim. That’s only about £1,000 more than the equivalent X1, though that car does have two additional, cheaper trim levels to choose from, bringing its entry price down. You can have an X1 for around £5,000 less than an X2.

With the Mercedes GLA, Audi Q3 Sportback and Volvo XC40 all starting closer to £35,000 the X2 does look a little expensive. Just bear in mind that the M Sport trim is a closer equivalent to Audi’s S Line or Mercedes’ AMG Line, so that price gap isn’t quite so drastic. And the M35i version of the X2 is cheaper than a Mercedes-AMG GLA 35.

The cheapest X2 you can buy still comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, Alcantara upholstery, adaptive suspension, full LED lights, and a suite of driver assistance tech. The M35i model gets additional driving modes plus a sporting makeover, with 20-inch wheels, an M-specific bodykit, and sports seats.

Good performance and easy to drive, but M35i isn’t as much fun as you might hope

In town

Driving the X2 in town is pretty easy. We’ve only driven the sporty M35i so far, but slip it into its comfort or eco driving mode and the engine and gearbox become unobtrusive and don’t feel jerky or uncomfortable in typical sluggish town traffic.

Visibility is good out of the front, but rear visibility is very compromised - there’s a big blindspot over your shoulder, and the rear window is narrow. It’s a good thing BMW’s clever parking tech comes as standard - it’s capable of parking the car for you, while the steering has a memory function that allows you to retrace your steps automatically, which is great if you meet another car coming towards you on a narrow road and have to reverse.

The M35i in particular has quite a firm suspension setup, and this does feel rather compromised in town where you really notice speed bumps or poor road surfaces. But the same criticism can be said of the M35i’s sporty competitors from Mercedes or Audi - we’ll try the regular 20i model soon to see if it’s more forgiving.

On the motorway

Performance from the M35i’s engine is ample, as you might expect. There’s loads of power in reserve if you want to get up to speed on a short sliproad, or to make decisive overtaking easy. 

The slinky silhouette of the X2 also means that wind noise is reduced, making for quite good refinement - though the M35i’s wide tyres and shouty exhaust do spoil the serenity a little bit. Again, once we’ve tested the 20i model we’ll update this review with our thoughts.

Standard cruise control is included, but if you’d like adaptive cruise control it’s available as part of a driving assistance pack. This also includes active lane-keeping aids and speed limit warnings, which annoyingly switch back on every time you start the car, and there’s a torturous on-screen sequence to work through to turn them off. 

On a twisty road

The X2, like the X1 on which it’s based, is pretty good fun to fling down a twisting road. The steering is nicely weighted and accurate, with more feedback about what the front wheels are doing than you get in most small SUVs. The M35i’s 300hp makes it a tenacious performer, and the eight-speed gearbox can go between slushing changes together nicely or rifle-quick manual shifts in an instant. There’s also some exhaust popping and banging in Sport mode, which is either annoying or entertaining depending on your taste.

However, the M35i doesn’t have the sense of playfulness that you’d hope for in a hot SUV of this size. A Mini Countryman feels more fun, and an Audi RS Q3 has bags of character emanating from its five-cylinder engine. The BMW is better in the bends than the Audi, though, as well as the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35, so it’s not all bad news - but you’d have more fun driving the BMW M135i or a similar hot hatchback.

The M35i will go from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, which is pretty quick - but in the days of electric cars, you can get something that will go much quicker for much less money. The MG 4 XPower, for example, manages it in just 3.8 seconds.

A decent boot and reasonable space in the back seats, but the sloping roof limits overall roominess

The X2’s front seats are sporty and sculpted, and keep you in place pretty effectively during hard cornering. They’re very adjustable, too - not only do you get the usual fore/aft, backrest and height adjustment, but there’s an extendable seat base to better support people with longer legs.

There’s plenty of movement in the steering wheel too, so drivers of all sizes should be able to get pretty comfortable. 

Storage up front is average, with decent-sized door bins, a glovebox, two cupholders and a space under the central armrest. Ahead of the cupholders, there’s a wireless charging pad with a retaining bar to keep your phone in place, which is useful, but what’s lacking is a sort of catch cubby for keys, wallets or other pocket contents. There’s an open storage tray under the armrest, but it’s difficult to access if you’re actually sitting in the seat while the lid on the armrest is — irritatingly — hinged the wrong way for right-hand drive. 

Space in the back seats

Despite the X2’s sporty shape there’s a surprising amount of space in the back seats. Legroom for adults is good, and there’s room for a six-foot adult to sit behind a driver of a similar size. 

Headroom is a little more compromised. It’s still good, but taller passengers will find their heads brushing the roof. The centre passenger is much worse off, too - while there’s not too large a hump in the floor and the centre seat is wide enough, there’s a curious lump in the roof that severely limits space for anyone sitting in the middle. Those travelling with three in the rear would be much better served by the more conventionally-shaped X1.

Loading child seats is a bit more awkward than it would be in the X1 too, thanks to the lower roofline and smaller rear doors. You get ISOFIX child seat mounts in both outer rear seats, behind removable plastic covers.

Boot space

Boot space depends on which model you go for - the M35i has a 560-litre boot, but on the 20i this is reduced to 515 litres thanks to the presence of a mild hybrid system under the floor. That’s about on par with the Audi Q3 Sportback, which has 530 litres, and easily beats the 395-litre Mercedes GLA.

The space lost in the mild hybrid model is entirely under the floor, so the regular boot space is unaffected. There is a nice square floor, and there’s room behind the wheel arches to keep smaller items. A 12V socket sits to one side.

Lift the boot floor and, on M35i models, there’s quite a bit of extra storage - and you can lock the boot floor against the rear seats to make proper use of the additional height on offer. Useful, as the X2’s sloping rear window does mean that you don’t have as much upright space for bulkier items. However, there’s nowhere to stash the big luggage cover when you don’t need it. 

The seats fold in a useful 40:20:40 split, so you can have two people sitting in the back and still have enough of a gap between them for longer loads. When they’re folded, they sit almost totally flat, with no lip between the boot and the seatbacks.

Typically high-quality BMW interior, but it doesn’t feel particularly special

The X2’s interior is very familiar from other BMW models, and is similar to the X1, 1 Series and 2 Series. The main standout on the dashboard is a huge swathe of glass under which sits a pair of displays - a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a 10.7-inch digital instrument panel. Other than a few controls in the centre for volume and drive modes, these screens are what you’ll use for almost all the car’s functions - including climate control.

The good news is that the central touchscreen is bright, clear and very responsive, and the interface has been largely designed with chubby fingers in mind so it’s not too difficult to operate. However, there are a lot of functions, so sometimes you do have to scroll quite a lot to reach the one you’re after.

Interior quality is as high as you’d hope for from a BMW but if you poke around, you will find some cheap bits and pieces, which aren’t terrible but which start to grate if you’re looking at more expensive versions of the X2. Happily, unlike the Mercedes GLA, there are almost no dubious creaks, and every part of the interior that you touch feels expensive and well-built. 

An optional Technology Pack brings an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, adaptive LED lights, the aforementioned wireless charging pad and keyless entry. For a bit extra you can get the Technology Plus pack, which has a head-up display, BMW’s augmented-reality navigation system, and the ‘Iconic Glow’ illuminated grille. A Harman Kardon audio system is also available as an option, and sounds awesome.

The X2 is a tale of two halves when it comes to running costs. By far the more cost-effective option is the sDrive 20i mild hybrid petrol - it’ll officially return up to 48.7mpg, and CO2 emissions go as low as 131g/km. It’s the pick of the two models if you’re looking for low company car Benefit-in-Kind rates, though alternatives do offer plug-in hybrid powertrains with lower emissions still and correspondingly lower company car tax.

On the other side of the coin, the M35i xDrive version will do an official 36.7mpg - and during our time with it, that figure was under 30mpg. Expect it to stay there if you regularly make use of the car’s performance.

Those are pretty good figures, though - both models are significantly more fuel-efficient than the closest comparable Audi Q3 Sportback, Mercedes GLA or Cupra Formentor. There are no diesel engines for really low running costs, though, or a plug-in hybrid option. If you’d like a model that’s cheaper for company car use, then the all-electric BMW iX2 is the one for you.

The BMW X2 hasn’t been individually tested by Euro NCAP, but the previous model inherited its rating from the BMW X1 and it’s likely the organisation will do the same with this generation. It’d be good news if it did, because the X1 scored a full five stars when it was tested in 2022 - with an exceptionally high score in the Safety Assist category. 

Safety equipment for the X2 is good, with the latest version of its autonomous emergency braking system even able to warn the driver of pedestrians or cyclists travelling parallel to the car that might be in the way when turning. The same system can warn you if you’re parked up and about to open your door into a passing bike.

Optionally available, the Driving Assistant Plus package includes adaptive cruise control and advanced lane-keeping aids, plus automatic speed limit assistance.

The old BMW X2 was quite problematic, as was the X1 it was based on. However, the latest X1 has proved quite dependable, with only one small recall since launch - this will of course be rectified on the X2 from the start. 

BMW’s standard warranty is just three years but unlimited mileage, making it useful for those who do lots of long journeys. It’s about on par with the warranties from Mercedes or Audi, but some Korean and Japanese brands do offer much longer coverage.