Many years ago I drove the first BMW X2. I'll always remember that vehichle, BMW had offered me the new 2019 BMW X2 M35i, a mid-performance model for their latest sport activity vehicle. A few weeks after driving it I had travelled out to Toronto for the Oblivion 80s and 90s Car Show where I met up with a fellow enthusiast to film his mint condition 1994 Mercedes-Benz 500 E along with meeting up with a fellow auto journalist. At the time, the anonymous journalist had laughed at the X2 M35i saying they turned it down hard as it wasn't a car they were interested in wasting time with. 5 years later my X2 video has outperformed the 94 500 E, and is a reminder why I never turn away a car booking.
Fast foward to 2024, and BMW has launched their second generation X2 sport activity coupé. Unlike the previous model, this one is more of a SUV coupé than the previous lifted hatchback, following the rest of BMW's current SAV design language. Styled simiarly to the new-for-2023 X1, this X2 boasts some exterior differences over it's squared off brother, namely the front and rear ends having unique grilles, lower fascias, and taillights.
Our X2 xDrive28i is considered the entry-level model here in Canada, with the M35i mid-performance model returning at the top end. Our X2 came optioned with the M Sport Package, Premium Enhanced Package, Vegas Red Metallic paint, Driving Assisstant Plus, and the aluminium interior trim. Base MSRP is $48,800.00 CAD making it one of the most affordable new BMWs you can buy today. Our as-tested price was $60,150.00 CAD before delivery. For comparison a similarly equipped X2 M35i would be about $8,000 more.
What I had come to like about the first generation X2 remains true for this one, its a small, fun, sporty vehicle with a lot of personality. It's a great gateway into the brand for new buyers, and offers a decent amount of interior space for 4 adults. My only complaint with the interior were the side arm rests/grab handles which protrude into the legspace more than I'd have liked. In fact because the design of these handles is angular, they end up digging into my leg while driving, even my wife complained in the passenger seat. The rear seats are positioned better, allowing the sharp edge to sit below my leg making this one of the first vehicles I was more comfortable in the back than I was as a driver. My solution was to put a $3 terry cloth folded up between my leg and the handle.
While we expect a BMW to drive and perform a certain way, the fuel efficiency was what ultimately caught my attention. Completing our 100km test loop in Eco mode, the 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i completed it in 5.7L/100km, one of the most efficient non-hybrid vehicles we've driven to date. By comparison the 2024 BMW X1 M35i I'm driving as writing this completed the same test loop in 6.2L/100km. While a plug-in variant would be better suited for the inter-city commuting this X2 is designed for, we were very pleased with the overall fuel efficiency.
The overall driving dynamics were good as well, providing us a sporty feel without having to jump up to the M Performance model. The 2L 4 cylinder turbo engine produces 241 hosepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 13 hp and 37 lb-ft over the previous model. This model also uses a 7 Speed Steptronic transmission over the dual-clutch found in our prevous tester. The engine wasn't the only improvement, as the X2 has gotten longer, wider, and taller for this generation. While extra space is usually a plus, its important for consumers to know when a model expands in size, as some buy a vehicle specifically because of it's small dimensions.
On the road the 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i was fun to drive, with enough performance and sportiness to keep me happy, while not breaking the bank to make it happen. The xDrive system found on the X2 is front-wheel biased, with power being routed to the rear wheels when needed. That's one apsect of this size segment that has always bothered diehard BMW enthusiasts, however for a newer crowd of drivers, and those who aren't putting thier vehicles on the track, this X2 performs well and handles the daily driving needs you'll be throwing at it. The suspension is soft enough without feeling floaty, but not too hard that you'll feel all the bumps.
Overall, like the previous X2, I'm glad I had the chance to drive this one. The grab handle is a deal killer for me unfortunately, like it is on my X1 M35i tester this week, but I imagine it's an issue limited to a small set of people such as myself. If you want something that will stand out, then this is the way to go, as the X2 has a smaller sales volume over the X1 or X3, making your vehicle just a little more special.
As always our full review of the vehicles we feature here at PRN_TestDrive are available over on our YouTube Channel.
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