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Bold looks, big attitude. The BMW X2 has always been the rebel of BMW’s compact SUV family, and a fresh review shows it still struts with plenty of swagger. A gaping grille and a sloping, coupe-like roofline set it well apart from the more sensible X1. Yet style always comes at a cost. So does the X2 justify the trade-off?
Under the bonnet, the sDrive20i does the sensible work. Its 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo gets mild-hybrid help and delivers 168bhp, enough for 62mph in 8.3 seconds. It feels punchy, and it sipped fuel at 46.6mpg on test. The range-topping M35i packs a 296bhp four-cylinder and all-wheel drive, storming to 62mph in 5.3 seconds. Rapid, yes, but its soundtrack lacks real character.
Find a twisting B-road and the X2 hunkers down and grips hard. Body control stays tight, so it feels planted and composed when you push on. The steering lacks feedback, but it reacts keenly enough to keep you involved. Around town, the story shifts. Small bumps thump through the cabin, and the gearbox can lurch clumsily when you crawl through car parks.
Inside, the X2 feels every inch a premium machine. Build quality impresses, with no rattles or creaks, and the leather and suede front seats are superbly comfortable. A 10.7-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver display handle the tech, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto fitted as standard. The menus respond quickly and logically. Still, a few more physical buttons would make life easier on the move.
That swooping roof bites hardest in the back. Rear headroom shrinks, and a high loading lip makes heaving heavy bags into the boot a chore. The X1 remains the more practical pick, with a wider spread of engines to choose from. But the X2 still earns a solid four stars for drivers who prize style and polish. Compromised, certainly, but brilliantly built.
