BMW X2 (2018-2023) Review

The BMW X2 won’t meet the needs of a lot of small SUV buyers but that’s kind of its appeal. It’s a niche model compared to the X1 and X3, selling in much smaller numbers than both of them when new. While it’s compromised in terms of practicality thanks to its low roofline and cramped rear seats, it’s got a superb cabin with high-quality materials and plenty of feel-good factor - even pipping the Audi Q3 Sportback and Volvo XC40 inside.

The BMW X2 handles like a hot hatch and, if you find one with one of the more powerful engines, is quick enough to amuse most enthusiastic drivers, too. It’s flawed but, if you rarely carry passengers, want a premium cabin and appreciate a car that’s fun to drive (and don’t mind the compromise of a firm ride), the X2 is actually a very desirable choice.

The Audi Q3 Sportback takes the same approach as the X2 - combining a drop in practicality with stylish looks and a stronger price tag. The Jaguar E-Pace is another small SUV that’s good to drive, although it’s flawed in other areas. There’s also the latest Range Rover Evoque which is a fashionable yet pricey choice, with an impressive tech-packed interior.

If it was our money, we’d look for a Volvo XC40. It’s not as sporty as the BMW X2 but it’s much more comfortable and we love its quirky looks.

It’s the quality of the BMW X2’s interior and cabin which really makes it feel special. Everything you touch feels superbly made. From the thick-rimmed leather steering wheel to the tactile radio controls, this is a car that feels every bit worth the premium price tag.

Even if you go hunting for harsh plastics, all you’ll find is squishy materials and fabrics which feel like they’ll last a lifetime. While the X2 is still too new for us to say for sure how baggy the interior will feel in 10 years’ time, BMWs tend to wear very well - there’s a reason they’re popular with UK police forces.

M Sport models get quite a few interior highlights which manage to make it feel that bit more special - things like aluminium trim, Anthracite headlining, contrast stitching on the centre console and dash as well as ambient lighting are all nice little touches.

As standard, the BMW X2 comes with an 8.8-inch media system, which is smaller than the 10.1-inch display used across the Q3 Sportback range. It’s a decent system to use, though, with things like navigation, Bluetooth and DAB radio as standard. The graphics are clear with crisp responses, while the menus are logically laid out meaning it won’t take you long to access anything you could possibly want. It’s also easy to operate on the move thanks to an intuitive rotary iDrive dial positioned between the front seats.

If you’re of the opinion that bigger is better, look for an X2 with the Tech Pack - a £1260 option when new. This adds the BMW Navigation Plus system with a 10.25-inch touchscreen display - controllable via touchscreen or the iDrive controller. It also includes a head-up display, projecting information such as the current speed and navigation directions onto the windscreen, as well as wireless phone charging.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both offered on the X2. These are useful as they mirror apps from your phone onto the car’s infotainment screen.

While there are more spacious and practical small SUVs on the market (the cheaper BMW X1 for a start), the BMW X2 isn’t as impractical as you might expect for a car that appears to put style above substance.

Indeed, up front there’s just as much space as the X1. It feels more like a hatchback than an SUV thanks to its low seating position but there’s still plenty of headroom for the tallest of adults. There are various useful storage cubbies around the cabin including a generous glovebox, bulky door bins and some useful extra storage in the centre armrest.

The rear of the BMW X2 feels a little claustrophobic thanks to the lowered roofline and small rear windows, but a pair of adults ought to be able to squeeze in without too many complaints. That’s as long as you don’t buy one with the panoramic sunroof which further eats into headroom. Middle-seat passengers won’t thank you, either - a lump in the floor gets in the way of feet, and the X2’s really narrow dimensions means they’ll be fighting for shoulder room.

Kids will be happier back there, and there are ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats - helping you out when it comes to fitting child seats.

The BMW X2's 470-litre boot capacity is 35 litres smaller than the X1’s, but it’s still bigger than conventional family cars like the BMW 1 Series or Volkswagen Golf. There’s a bit of a lip for lifting heavy items over, but the boot is usefully square and an electric tailgate is fitted as standard across the range. There’s also a useful extra bit of room under the boot floor which can accommodate a space-saver spare wheel.

The exterior dimensions of the BMW X2 are similar to the X1. It measures 4360mm long, 2098mm wide (including door mirrors) and 1512mm high.

The majority of used BMW X2s on the market are sDrive20i models, and that’s a good thing. This is the best combination - with 192PS, it’s got a bit more power than the entry-level 18i (making it more relaxing for day-to-day use), without the higher running costs of the xDrive model (no one really needs four-wheel drive, anyway).

The sporty M35i packs 306PS from its 2.0-litre petrol engine, covering 0-62mph in less than five seconds. But, while it’s fun, it’s also a little pointless - if you want this kind of pace, we’d recommend a ‘proper’ hot hatch. It’s also expensive to run.

Diesel drivers can opt for a 150PS 2.0-litre available with manual or automatic transmissions, and two- or four-wheel drive. The gearbox comes down to personal preference, really (although the auto’s good and suits the car well, so we’d recommend that) - and again, avoid xDrive unless you really need it.

For the ultimate long-distance mile muncher, we’d recommend the more powerful xDrive20d. Coming with four-wheel-drive and an automatic transmission as standard, this isn’t quite as economical as the 18d, yet it should return mid-40s mpg and offers plenty of performance, with torque available low down making it a relaxed cruiser.

Coming soon is a plug-in hybrid model which combines the three-cylinder petrol engine from the 18i with an electric motor. This makes a lot of sense if you mainly cover short journeys and are able to charge a car at home, although it’ll be a while before it starts trickling down onto the used car market.

While it’s very spec dependent, the BMW X2 might not be as refined as you’d expect from a premium small SUV.

The harsh ride from the M Sport suspension doesn’t help refinement and comfort levels - you’ll jiggle about in your seat on harsh roads, and even minor road imperfections can be felt through your rear-end. That’s not good.

The run-flat tyres fitted as standard to M Sport models (and on smaller wheels available as an option on lesser trim levels) create quite a distinctive rumble which will make you want to change them for conventional tyres as soon as possible. There’s also a considerable amount of wind noise at speed - surprising for a small SUV that’s more ‘car’ than ‘SUV’.

Fortunately, the engines are fairly hushed. The petrols make a bit of noise when you rev them, although this is characterful and easily avoided by being light with the accelerator pedal. In standard diesel fashion, the diesel engines create a bit of a rumble on startup but soon settle down on the move.

Although Euro NCAP hasn’t crash tested the BMW X2, it has given it a five-star safety rating. How does that work..? Well, it has tested the X1, and it says the two models are so similar the X2 can leech off the X1’s top-drawer result.

That means it’s been awarded a 90% rating for adult occupants, 87% for children, 74% for pedestrians and 77% for safety assist features - all impressive results that should put your mind at rest when transporting your family in the X2.

If you’re after driver assist features, we’d recommend looking for an BMW X2 with the £790 driver pack fitted. No, this doesn’t come with your own chauffeur driver, but it’s not far off. Highlights include a city collision mitigation system which can automatically apply the brakes if it detects a potential low-speed collision. There’s also a lane departure warning, which’ll notify you if you’re straying from your lane, and high-beam assistant, which’ll control your high-beam lights for you when driving in the dark. All this is pretty clever stuff, admittedly, but it’s also increasingly widespread even on cheaper cars - and other manufacturers don’t charge extra for it.

The optional vision pack should also be on your radar, particularly if you’re nervous about reversing. While all X2s come with rear parking sensors at the very least, this adds a rear-view camera making reversing much safer, particularly as rear visibility isn’t the X2’s forte.

As you'd expect from a premium brand like BMW, there are no reliability concerns of note with the X2. The biggest issue we've heard of was a blocked windscreen washer (something BMW blamed on the type of screenwash used).

As a brand, BMW scored highly in the 2020 HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index. It was given an average score of 9.13 out of 10 for reliability.

Insurance groups range from 22 to 42, with the M35i - unsurprisingly - being the costliest to insure. The cheapest sDrive18i models in SE trim are the cheapest to insure, although the X2’s premium badge and sporty credentials means it might cost a bit more to insure than comfort-focused rivals.

It’s worth bearing in mind that M Sport and M Sport models are in higher insurance groups than the equivalent SE and Sport models, and it’s worth shopping around for quotes if you’re concerned about insurance prices. Insurance for the BMW X2 shouldn’t be extortionate but it could well be pricier than a more conventional Volkswagen Golf, for example.

All BMW X2s have been registered since the latest VED rules were introduced in April 2017, meaning it’ll cost you a flat rate of £150 a year to tax. The first year is dependent on CO2 emissions - but that’ll have been picked up by the initial owner.

It’s surprisingly easy to spec up an X2 to more than £40,000 when new. Be wary of this as it’d mean it’ll be subject to a premium tax for the first five years, costing an extra £325 a year. Even as the second owner you’ll have to pick up the tab for this - ignorance is no excuse, as they say.

The plug-in hybrid xDrive25e will be classed as an alternative fuel vehicle, so you’ll save a tenner a year in tax - with an annual VED rate of £140.

The range starts with the BMW X2 SE which comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, an 8.8-inch infotainment system (with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and DAB radio), cruise control LED headlights, rear parking sensors and a three-spoke leather-covered steering wheel.

The BMW X2 Sport adds 18-inch alloy wheels, ambient interior LED lighting, contrast stitching on the dashboard, front sports seats and race cloth upholstery (which, apparently, makes the X2 accelerate faster).

Popular BMW X2 M Sport models come with 19-inch alloy wheels, Dakota leather upholstery, aluminium interior trim, an M rear spoiler, M Sport aerodynamic body-styling, an M Sport multi-function leather steering wheel, M Sport suspension and front heated seats.

X2 M Sport X trim adds unique 19-inch alloy wheels, aluminium exterior trim, unique aerodynamic body-styling and aluminium roof rails.

The top-spec BMW X2 M35i comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, a 5.7-inch colour display within the instrument cluster, various M Sport styling upgrades and front heated sports seats. It also comes with bespoke M Sport suspension with an M Performance setup and an M Sport braking system.