Exterior If car-based SUVs blur the lines between traditional hatchbacks and taller utility vehicles, the X2 lands squarely on the hatchback side. About 3 inches lower than the X1, the X2 looks more like a muscular hatchback than an SUV — all the more so with its upright tail, which eschews the more dramatic rake of the X4 and X6.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and Infiniti QX30 go a similar route, so BMW isn’t alone in this. But the styling in both rivals lays waste to cabin room and visibility.
The X2 has tall, prominent bumper openings with triangular outer portals that sit below the foglights — some of that from BMW’s M Sport X package, which gets unique bumpers. The automaker’s trademark kidney grille gets wider near the bottom instead of the top, while the fenders and lower doors sport cladding. The C-pillar has BMW’s blue-and-white logo at its base. Like it or not, it moves the design needle.
Interior The interior follows that of the X1, with a low, layered dashboard and tablet-like multimedia screen above the center air vents. A 6.5-inch display is standard, with a 6.5- or 8.8-inch touchscreen optional; you can also control the action through BMW’s familiar iDrive controller below. Cord-free Apple CarPlay is optional, but Android Auto is unavailable.
Many areas have decorative stitching, with a vinyl wrap on portions of the center console. The backseat folds in a 40/20/40 split to reveal 50.1 cubic feet of maximum cargo room — just 15 percent less than the X1’s maximum, which BMW claims is an apples-to-apples comparison. (Between different cars, we’ve found it often isn’t.) Vinyl upholstery is standard. Among the options are leather and a panoramic moonroof.
Under the Hood The X2 shares its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (228 horsepower and 258 pounds-feet of torque) with the X1. The engine works with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which BMW claims can get the X2 to 60 mph in the same 6.3 seconds as the X1. Selectable driving modes can alter various systems to suit sport, comfort or efficiency-oriented situations.
Adaptive shock absorbers are optional. The M Sport X package adds a sport-tuned suspension and faster shifting from the automatic transmission; it also gets steering-wheel paddle shifters.
Safety Safety options include lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.
