The BMW X2 didn’t really conform to the design ethos of its generation. Sure it had the kidney grille but it didn’t have the coupe-SUV styling of the X4 or X6 and it didn’t have the traditional SUV styling of the X1, X3 or X5. Things are different for the 2nd generation 2024 BMW X2 with the car receiving the same coupe-SUV design of its bigger, even numbered siblings.
Performance
Engine – The 2024 BMW X2 28i rides on the platform as the BMW X1. As such, it receives the same standard engine. A 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder which develops 241 hp & 295 lb-ft of torque (180 kW & 400 Nm). From a standstill to 100 km/h takes just over 6 seconds which is respectable for one of the less expensive BMW models on sale. This little engine provides plenty of torque from the get-go which makes the car feel a bit faster than it is. The turbocharger spools up very quickly, much like many other modern turbos, and it pulls to around 6,000 rpms. All-in-all, this is a good engine that gives the car a peppy & eager driving demeanor.
Fuel Economy – As a bonus, the 2.0L turbo engine in this 2024 X2 is quite economical if you drive mostly on highways. In a city, it’s not so good at 9.7 L/100km (24.2 MPG) but on a highway, it’s rated for up to 7.1 L/100km (33.1 MPG). Unfortunately as a result of not driving too often on highways, I only managed to average 9.1 L/100km (25.8 MPG) during my time with the car.
Transmission – Now we get to my least favorite part of this new BMW X2. The engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. First, the good. When the car is moving, the shifts between gears are extremely smooth. Also in Sport mode, the paddle shifters are enjoyable to use. The shifts are a tad slow by DCT standards but they’re acceptable for a car like this.
Now the not so good. In normal driving situations, it takes a moment before the transmission downshifts a few gears whenever the driver plants their foot on the throttle pedal. But worse than that is the delay from the time that you apply a bit of throttle to the time the car gets going from a stop. Apply too much throttle from a standstill and it will make the car jerk off the line and ruin the comfort.
This characteristic is highlighted more so by the auto start/stop system. It quickly shuts off the engine the moment the speedometer is near 0 km/h. But if you arrive at a stop and then immediately need to set off again, the delay I mentioned earlier is even more exaggerated by the start/stop system. Additionally, there is no quick way to shut off the system. The X2 does not have a dedicated off button for the system. You have to dig through the infotainment system to shut it off. The auto start/stop also resets itself back on after each ignition cycle.
In all honesty, the 8-speed automatic that was found in the JCW Mini Countryman, of which this X2 shares a version of this engine, is a better transmission than this 7-speed DCT.
Braking – The 2024 BMW X2 28i has strong brakes with a smooth operating brake pedal. Stopping the car takes little effort and the pedal is consistent and firm. Automatic emergency braking is a standard feature on the 2024 BMW X2.
Handling – Although this BMW X2 does not have the rear-biased AWD system of its X4 and X6 bigger brothers, it is a fun and engaging compact crossover. The car never felt as though it didn’t have enough grip with speeds slowly increasing as you gently apply throttle as the car exits a corner. Of course, if you carry too much speed into a corner, it will safely understeer. The X2 feels agile and stable through turns with mid-corner bumps not disturbing the balance too much. You can option the X2 with adaptive M suspension for more body control in Sport mode but a smoother ride in normal mode.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The ride of the 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i is a bit firmer than some of its competitors like the GLA 250. The suspension can handle one or two bumps on a relatively smooth road but once the tires drive over a cobbled or a heavily potholed road, the ride becomes choppy.
But counteracting that are the seats which I found to be very comfortable for my body size. I didn’t get any numbness or back pain on longer commutes.
Interior Space – The 2024 BMW X2 is larger than its predecessor in every dimension. The larger size equates to more passenger space across both rows of seats. The front occupants are treated to a lot of space with plenty of headroom and plenty of legroom, even for taller individuals.
Behind the front seats, things are not as commodious for someone that is as tall as me at 6’4”. Granted, this is one of the smaller BMW crossover vehicles that is available from the brand. My knees feel squished behind my tall driving position and unfortunately, the back of the front seats are made out of hard plastic instead of soft leather. Over a longer period, my knees would probably have some bruises. Headroom in the back seats is tight as well with my head being right up against the headliner. The backrests can recline or be moved to be more upright.
Further behind the seats, the 2024 BMW X2 has 716 L (25.3 cu-ft) of cargo space which further increases to 1,447 L (51.1 cu-ft) with the 40/20/40 rear seats folded. Due to the stylish sloping roofline, you won’t be able to fit taller items in the trunk unless you lie them down. Under the trunk floor, you’ll find a pretty sizable compartment that can easily fit a few backpacks.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The cabin of the 2024 BMW X2 is well isolated from the outside environment. Engine noise is minimal under normal driving conditions. In Sport mode, there are “enhanced” engine noises being played through the stereo system. Wind noise is negligible on highways. And road noise is very well subdued at higher speeds.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i starts at $48,800 CAD ($42,000 USD) which is $3,000 CAD ($1,500 USD) more expensive than the starting price of the BMW X1. This demo vehicle was not fully loaded but it still had almost $10,000 CAD in options which raised the price to $58,700 CAD ($47,700 USD).
Gadgets – Some of the options that this BMW X2 had equipped included sustainable mocha coloured upholstery, heated front seats along with a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, a large moonroof, a power liftgate, a wireless charging pad, surround view cameras, Harmon Kardon sound system, a head up display, built-in dashcam, and for some reason a wide angle camera mounted in the car.
The X2 receives BMW OS9 for the infotainment system. On the surface, it has a simple design with the home screen displaying the navigation system along with a few widgets such as weather, phone, or music. However, once you dive deeper into all of the available apps, it can be a bit overwhelming for some. This also requires multiple steps to change a setting such as disabling the auto start/stop function that I mentioned earlier. But you can set some settings as your favorites for quick access. Additionally, this system allows for wireless CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.
The BMW X2 can also be equipped with the Parking Assistant plus. This will not only display a 3D view of the car by using the surround view cameras, but it can also record the last few maneuvers of any forward movement and then perfectly replicate it in reverse. All you have to do is control the speed of the car while reversing. This is great when you find yourself down a tight street with no way to make a 3-point turn.
Interior Design – Being based on the X1, this BMW X2 shares an almost identical interior design. As such, it has the minimalist design trend which means almost no physical buttons on the dashboard. Climate controls, favorites buttons, heated seat controls, and so on are all integrated into the touchscreen. Also, the iDrive controller on the center console is gone. All that is left on the center console are the drive selector, drive mode button, auto hold button, vehicle settings, radio volume, track select, and surround view cameras if equipped. These are not individual buttons but rather touch sensitive controls. Personally, I’d like to see a set of climate control buttons under the touchscreen.
The rest of the interior looks really nice. I particularly like the floating console design. However, from the passenger side, it doesn’t appear to be floating due to the pillar on the front. The materials are typical for this class of vehicle. Mostly soft plastics across the dash and harder plastic on the lower portions of the doors. All in all, it looks pretty good and feels ok to the touch.
Exterior Design – The 2024 BMW X2 has a much more striking design than its X1 sibling. It has similar headlights but the trademark kidney grill is much more pronounced. Of course the big highlight is the sloping rear roofline. It has a similar silhouette to the X4 and X6 but with very different taillights. There’s a small lip spoiler and this xDrive28i has hidden exhaust pipes.
Safety – The 2024 BMW X2 is equipped with almost every safety feature that can be added onto this little car as standard. The only option is the $2,000 Advanced Driver Assistance package which adds features such as lane change assist along with lane keep, traffic jam assist, and front cross traffic alert to name a few.
Warranty – All BMW vehicles are covered by a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty in Canada. In the United States, it’s 4 years or 50,000 miles. For more information on Canadian BMW warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – Overall, the 2024 BMW X2 is like the X1 that I reviewed last year. It’s a fun to drive crossover at a reasonable price with lots of features but my biggest complaint is the 7-speed DCT. If it had a traditional automatic transmission, it would greatly improve the day-to-day drivability of this car, not to mention reliability & maintenance.
Thank you to BMW Canada for providing the vehicle. www.BMW.ca
2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i Gallery
