Launched: The All New BMW X2. Plush and Sporty

First looks are lasting. This can be said of the all new BMW X2. It sits with a distinctive stance and is even sportier and more forward-looking. The exterior has a ‘fastback’ design but unmistakably BMW. Looking at the X2 from the, you see that ‘shark-nose’ front. Stepping inside and into the driver’s seat is like stepping into another world. My eyes were fixated at the sheer artistry of the interior. Absolute BMW detailing in every aspect, enough to take your breath away. Start it up and you hear that “purr” from the engine. Select Drive and you glide away ever so smoothly. Better still, it is very responsive when you take it on the national highways. It just feels right. The progressive character of the new model is also evident in the large spread of systems enabling automated driving and parking, and in the innovative digital services laid on by the new BMW iDrive with QuickSelect and BMW Operating System 9.

BMW X2 3

Image: Rob Till Photography

Exterior design

Its authentic Sports Activity Coupé with dynamic lines and a confident presence. The new BMW X2 has a distinctive, visually expressive design, instantly identifiable as a pure-bred Sports Activity Coupé (SAC). Also characteristic of the new model are its dynamically stretched lines. The model-specific, upright front end of the new BMW X2 exudes confidence and presence. Its defining elements are striking LED headlights and an almost hexagonal BMW kidney grille, which – in a first for the premium compact segment – can be specified as an option with BMW Iconic Glow contour lighting. Also on the options list are Adaptive LED Headlights with non-dazzling matrix high beam.

The roofline, which flows along an unbroken path into the rear end, creates a slim, coupé-shaped silhouette and proportions in the signature style of an SAC from BMW. At the rear, the prominently flared wheel arches and muscular shoulders come to the fore.

M-specific design features such as the two pairs of exhaust tailpipes integrated into the rear apron give the BMW X2 M35i xDrive a particularly dynamic aura. An M Sport package will be standard on the 18i variant. Also on the options list is the M Sport Package Pro, which adds extended M High-gloss Shadowline exterior trim, M lights Shadowline, an M rear spoiler and an M Sport braking system with red-painted callipers, which is a real stand-out, among other features.

BMW X2 4

Image: Rob Till Photography

Interior: Premium ambience and impressive functionality.

Plush. The interior of the new BMW X2 has a modern premium ambience with sporting touches. The slender instrument panel, housing the BMW Curved Display, is joined in the cabin by a “floating” armrest with integral control panel. In the front section of the centre console are two cup holders and a smartphone tray with indirect illumination and wireless charging.

Expanded standard equipment, targeted individualisation.

Two-zone automatic climate control, the navigation system BMW Maps and a Sport leather steering wheel all come as standard in the new BMW X2, as do automatic tailgate operation, four USB-C ports and a 12V power socket in both the centre console and the boot. The number of driver assistance systems and digital services available has also increased significantly over the predecessor model.

Newly structured equipment packages enable targeted individualisation of the car. Among the options available to enhance its premium character are a mirror package, steering wheel heating and the Harman Kardon Sound System. A highlight of the options list is the panoramic glass sunroof, whose dark-tinted glass surface extends right up to the windscreen and the roof frame on either side, and a long way back in a single section into the rear part of the roof.

X2 M35i

The new BMW X2 M35i xDrive, with its hallmark M design and handling characteristics, is an alluring proposition. Its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine produces maximum output 233 kW. The new BMW X2 M35i xDrive sprints to 100 km/h from rest in 5.4 seconds. M-specific chassis tuning teams up with BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive to deliver sublime performance characteristics. Its standard adaptive M suspension enhances both agility and long-distance comfort. M Compound brakes are offered as an option.

State-of-the-art driver assistance

Comfort and safety well represented. The standard and optional assistance systems for automated driving and parking available in the new BMW X2 increase comfort and safety both in everyday driving and on longer journeys. Standard features include the latest version of the front collision warning system, Cruise Control with brake function, Speed Limit Info and Lane Departure Warning with lane return. The Parking Assistant including Reversing Assist Camera and Reversing Assistant also forms part of the standard equipment roster. The line-up of optional features, meanwhile, includes the Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Active Navigation and then some.

BMW X2 5