The S in SUV is supposed to stand for “sport”, but a lot of vehicles in this category are not particularly sporty. To counter this, BMW’s X2 was meant to add a little more thrill to the small SUV segment, with a lower roof and dynamics closer to a regular car. With the latest generation, the X2 takes another dynamic step with an electric version, the iX2 . I got to put it through its paces at the
UK launch. While the previous X2 looked a bit like a lowered X1, the new design takes a more radical departure from BMW’s smallest SUV option. It incorporates some elements of the current “coupe” SUV trend, but thankfully still manages to maintain good rear passenger and cargo space. From the side, the slanted roof is accentuated because the doorline angles up slightly towards the back. The rear slope is not as pronounced as it looks. The BMW iX2 brings electrification to the sportier X2 SUV range. The front also follows current trends by having sharper angles, which almost looks like a splitter towards the bottom. However, the grille doesn’t match BMW’s latest all-electric models such as the iX and i4 by dominating the nose. This is arguably a blessing, as the grille expansion had gotten out of hand. The i5 is similarly more restrained, and all the better for it in appearance too. Overall, the new X2 design does achieve a sporty look, albeit with the “slightly too tall” uncanniness of all coupe SUVs. BMW iX2: Electric Drivetrains and Range Although the big news with the new model is the iX2 with an electric drivetrain, there will be two 48V mild hybrid versions as well. Those weren’t at the launch, showing BMW’s emphasis on its EVs. The two EV options are the eDrive20, which is rear-wheel drive with 204hp, and the xDrive30, which is all-wheel drive with 313hp. All versions of the X2 and iX2 coming to the UK market will be M Sport trim levels. However, both EV models use the same 64.8kWh (usable) battery, which is now looking a little low in this class. Now that even Peugeot is offering at least a 73kWh battery with its e-3008 , the iX2’s 64.8kWh pack seems miserly. This delivers up to 283 WLTP miles of range with the eDrive20 and 267 miles with the xDrive30. Volkswagen has also switched to a 79kWh battery for its latest ID.3 GTX , and an even larger 86kWh capacity for the ID.7 GTX Tourer, which gives it up to 428 miles. In this respect the BMW iX2 lags behind competitors. BMW’s iX, i4 and i5 all have much longer range, and the
Tesla Model Y is equal or better. The iX2 is being held back by its platform’s continued support for internal combustion engines. The DC charging is also decent but not outstanding, hitting a maximum of 130kW, which means the car can be replenished from 10 to 80% capacity in 29 minutes. AC charging is 11kW as standard, with a 22kW option. If you are lucky enough to have 11kW AC charging available, you can go from zero to 100% in 6.5 hours, and 22kW would reduce this to under four hours. Otherwise, on a 7kW wall box a full recharge will take over 10 hours. BMW iX2: Interior and Cargo BMW has arguably overtaken Mercedes in the competition for “best German interiors”. The iX2 isn’t quite up with the ultimate luxury of the i7 , and it falls a little short of the iX and i5 as well, although some elements have been borrowed. But this is still a fantastic cabin experience, with beautifully upholstered and comfortable front seats, plus trim and switchgear that exudes solidity and quality. The rear seats have more than enough space for two adults, although a third occupant will be a bit squeezed in the middle. There is plenty of headroom and kneeroom. Some coupe-style SUVs sacrifice headroom for style, but BMW hasn’t made this mistake with the iX2, catering well for people in the back. Rear passengers get their own air vents and USB C ports, but no direct operation of climate control. Rear cargo space is not compromised by the coupe-style sloping rear. Another area that hasn’t been obviously compromised by the slanting rear is cargo capacity. The capacity isn’t significantly different to the iX1, giving you 525 liters with the rear seats up and 1,400 liters with them down. The seats split into a 40-20-40 arrangement, so you can drop the middle section on its own to fit in a long object while still having two passengers in the back. The iX2 can also tow up to 1,200kg braked, which is enough for a decently sized
trailer but will limit your caravan size. BMW iX2: Better Infotainment and Technology BMW has put a lot of effort into improving its core technology in the latest generation of its cars. The iX2 includes the latest OS 9, running what looks like a wraparound panoramic display combining instrumentation and infotainment. In fact, this houses two separate screens – 10.25in for the driving information, and 10.7in for the media and satnav. This system is more streamlined and easier to use than predecessors and includes over-the-air updates. The satnav now calculates charge-optimized routing. My car also had the Tech Package Plus with BMW Live Cockpit Professional, which shows turnings on a camera view and places arrows over the road ahead via the HUD, so you can see exactly where your turning is. This saved me missing hidden side roads on a couple of occasions during my test driving. You can now pair your phone as a controller and play games on the infotainment screen. The headline feature, launched with the i5, is that you can now use your
smartphone (and, in the future, a wireless controller) to play games on the infotainment screen. It also supports video streaming. While this panel isn’t as big as the 15in unit on the Tesla
Model 3 and Y, it’s sufficient to keep you entertained while parked up charging or waiting for your kids to finish an activity. There’s a full range of safety and help functions for the driver, although if you want Level 2 autonomous driving you will need to add the optional Driving Assistant Plus. This includes steering and lane control alongside adaptive speed adjustment. The Driving Assistant Professional option adds support all the way up to 130mph and will even change lanes for you to make a junction turning. BMW iX2: Driving Experience, Price, and Verdict Aside from the brand quality and image, one of the main reasons people buy BMWs is because they are driver’s cars, even the SUVs. Reassuringly, the xDrive30 version of the iX2 I tested fits this tradition well. Although it sits quite high, it’s still involving on fast A-roads, providing plenty of confidence on fast bends. The iX2’s handling is assisted by M Adaptive Suspension, which handles road imperfections adeptly while keeping the vehicle flat around corners. The eDrive20 is relatively pedestrian in performance, taking 8.6 seconds to reach 62mph. However, the xDrive30 I drove is significantly quicker. This car takes just 5.6 seconds from 0-62mph. To feel the full benefit of this you need to pull the Boost paddle to receive a short burst of full power, but this is enough for a launch off the lights, or an A-road overtake. The xDrive30 achieves the main intention of the X2 since launch of adding a bit more driving pleasure to family SUV ownership. The iX2 handles like a BMW should, dispatching windy roads with enthusiasm. Like so many EV that have direct ICE alternatives, the iX2 shows the battery-electric premium. While the mild hybrid X2 starts at £40,515 ($52,000), the iX2 eDrive20 is over 25% more expensive at £51,615 ($66,000), and the iX2 xDrive30 is a princely £57,445 ($73,000). Any car in this class has to be compared to Tesla’s bestselling Model Y . The basic RWD version of the Y has the same range as the iX2 eDrive20, is faster, and quite a lot cheaper. The Model Y Long Range is a lot faster and with more range for only a little more money. It’s still faster than the pricier xDrive30. The BMW iX2 is a high-quality electric car, with a great interior and typical BMW driving characteristics. It has a practical amount of space for passengers and cargo. Although the mild hybrid X2 versions are much cheaper, the iX2 EV models aren’t hideously expensive considering the BMW quality and prestige. But there’s a lot of competition in this segment, and the iX2 could do with a bigger battery to be a major competitor now so many manufacturers are offering 70kWh or more.