“Gimme something a little less practical.”
Not everyone would say these words when shopping for a tool we’ll use nearly every day, with a 5-figure price tag. But maybe more of us should. Maybe throwing two teaspoons of fashion and three shakes of fun into the everyday is the right move.
To make this argument, we welcome the 2024 BMW X2.
It’s a bit like the BMW X1 you may know. But it’s also unlike it in a few key ways.
The Littlest SUV Coupe
The X2 is what automakers call an “SUV coupe” and BMW calls a “Sports Activity Coupe.” It’s not a classic coupe if you’re a stickler (say, the sort of person who takes a job as an editor – the entire editorial staff had to get over this a few years back). But it puts the sportier roofline of a coupe over the high-riding stance and four doors of an SUV.
The X2 is derived from the X1 subcompact crossover, but a bit better looking and carries a little less. The X1 got a redesign two years ago, but the X2 is now catching up with its makeover for 2024.
BMW hasn’t revealed new prices. We estimate prices will start a little over $40,000. BMW says the model will reach dealerships next March.
But It Has Grown
The X2 took its time because it diverged more significantly from the X1 platform than most observers expected. The two still share a lot of mechanical parts. But park them next to each other, and you’ll see that the X2 has grown.
It’s 2.6 inches longer than the X1, sitting on a wheelbase almost an inch longer. Most of the added space has gone to cargo room to compensate for the shorter roof, but you’ll probably still want to opt for the more practical X1 if space is your biggest concern.
Big Grille, Sleek Elsewhere
In recent years, BMW designers have given the brand’s classic 2-kidney grille some growth serum. It’s big on many models. That choice hasn’t always gone over well, but BMW designers are pugnacious. When the faithful dislike something, BMW leans into it. So, the X2 gets the prominent grille outlined entirely in LEDs, so it’s hard to miss.
If you can look past the grille, the rest of the design is nicely balanced. The hood is all angles, but the body softens toward the rear, ending in a chunk interpretation of the fastback rear that works quite well – though we wonder if the thick final pillars don’t compromise rearward visibility.
Regardless, in a year where most SUV designers seem to be turning to outdoor gear and armored vehicles for inspiration, the new X2 looks light, sporty, and refined.
Improved Connectivity, Games While Parked
Inside, it’s more directly an X1 sibling. The two look much alike from the driver’s seat. It gets the now-ubiquitous two-screens-as-one treatment of other BMW and Kia models (ever notice they’re converging? Kia hired away a BMW interior designer, and now the two look related inside). But the classic wood interior trim of luxury cars is gone – the decor involves a lot of metallic shades and grids.
The standard upholstery is the vinyl-derived faux leather BMW calls “veganza,” and we cringe with you. Call it what you like. Grippy, hard-to-clean Alcantara is an option.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is the gaming platform AirConsole (usable when parked – and you’ll have to buy or subscribe to games).
Two 4-cylinder Choices, No EV for the US
Under the hood, you can choose from two turbocharged 4-cylinder options.
One comes from the X1 — the X2 xDrive 28i uses its 241-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The X2 M35i xDrive gets a 312-horsepower four, also 2.0 liters. Both come only in all-wheel drive (AWD) with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).
The suspension remains roughly the same design as the last X2 but with aluminum hydro mounts and a new steering axle that “has a positive effect on both steering feedback and straight-line stability,” according to BMW.
BMW announced two electric powertrains for overseas markets but says they’re not coming to the U.S. yet.
Still One of a Kind
The X2 has always been a fun choice – just a little less practical than the X1, but for the right reasons. The new model, growing a little, may appeal to even more buyers. Shoppers should compare it to the X1, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, and the Audi Q3.
But they should also note that competitors like Audi and Mercedes don’t build an SUV Coupe… excuse us… a Sports Activity Coupe at this size and price range. If you really want to say, “Gimme something a little less practical” in the subcompact classes, the X2 is your only option.
