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The family car has shed its old uniform. Saloons gave way to hatchbacks, hatchbacks gave way to SUVs, and now a fresh breed sits somewhere between all three. The BMW X2 is the sharpest example of the type, a raked, high-riding coupé-SUV aimed squarely at buyers who refuse to drive something anonymous. Its challenger here is the DS No4, the freshly renamed and facelifted French alternative. Both run mild-hybrid three-cylinder petrol engines and drive the front wheels only.
On paper the DS looks tempting. Its 1.2-litre unit makes 143bhp and returns 44.7mpg in real-world running. The BMW counters with a 1.5-litre triple producing 168bhp, an eight-tenths quicker sprint to 62mph and 46.6mpg on the same route. That is a strong return for a car tipping the scales at 1,645kg. The DS carries a fuller standard kit list, including a head-up display, blind-spot warning and adaptive cruise control, all of which sit on the BMW’s options sheet.
The two cars part company as soon as the road opens up. DS chased suppleness, and the No4 does swallow a savage pothole with genuine grace. The trouble arrives on ordinary tarmac, where constant small movements set the dashboard rattling and blunt the appeal. The X2 is firmer in intent yet calmer in practice, riding well across most surfaces while giving the driver far more to work with through a corner. It also feels the more solidly assembled of the pair.
Neither car is faultless inside. BMW’s decision to bury the climate controls in the touchscreen remains hard to defend, and the fat, spongy steering wheel is no more likeable in 2026 than it was five years ago. Credit where it is due, though, because the physical wheel buttons are excellent. The DS suffers restricted forward vision, thanks to chunky A-pillars, a slab of dashboard and a rear-view mirror that forces taller drivers to duck at junctions. Its hybrid system also lurches the car forward when the engine restarts.
Boot space settles the argument. The X2 offers 515 litres with the rear seats up and 1,400 with them folded, against 430 and 1,240 for the No4. Add more rear knee room and a five-star Euro NCAP rating to the four earned by the DS, and the BMW takes it. The No4 remains the smarter buy for anyone chasing equipment and rarity. Everyone else should note that BMW’s own X1 does most of this without the sloping roofline.
