By: Peter Gregorian
June 28, 2024
Those in the market for a compact luxury SUV will find it hard to ignore the compelling offerings from BMW. While the BMW X1 has been around for three generations, its sibling, which shares the same chassis and drivetrain, has now entered its second generation. The 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i, which we had the pleasure of testing for a week courtesy of BMW Canada, is what BMW calls a “Sports Activity Coupe” or “SAC.” Beyond the more prominent stylistic changes, there are numerous enhancements to the technology, performance, and driving experience compared to its predecessor.
At first glance, the new X2 showcases a pronounced coupe silhouette, dynamically stretched lines, and a stronger visual presence due to its expanded width and increased height compared to its predecessor. While the swooping roofline and hatchback design, along with the flush door handles common across this new generation of BMWs, enhance the vehicle’s overall sportiness, unfortunately, form trumps function with rearward visibility suffering from large C-pillars and the lack of a rear window wiper. Thankfully, the Parking Assistant Plus includes a Surround View camera with autonomous parking capabilities.
Wearing a stunning Vegas Red Metallic paint certainly increased the allure of this vehicle, and combined with the polarizing redesigned exterior, it was no surprise to see heads turn from people of all ages and demographics. The particular model on test was also outfitted with 20” 873M Wheels finished in Midnight Grey, which offered a nice contrast to the fully painted exterior as part of the M Sport Package, further elevating its appearance.
Moving inside, the cabin offers a breath of fresh air, partly due to the fixed glass roof, which lets in abundant natural light, but also as a result of a complete redesign. Whether behind the wheel or seated as a passenger, the cabin is genuinely nice with a modern, minimalistic aura. Featuring a blend of textures, patterns, and soft-touch appointments, it is apparent that a lot of focus was placed on revamping the interior.
The two-tone Atlas Grey Smoke White Perforated Veganza seats are ergonomic, comfortable, supportive, and elegantly trimmed with red stitching. Further complementing the interior is a thick-rimmed steering wheel with industrial metal-looking accents, which offers a striking balance to the rest of the aluminum trim throughout.
From a cargo capacity perspective, despite the sloping roofline, headroom in the rear remains acceptable, with cargo space increased over the 2024 X2’s predecessor to an adequate 560 liters (19.7 cubic feet).
The lack of physical buttons throughout the cabin adds to the interior’s minimalism, with only the essentials predominantly located on the center console, including the gear selector, volume wheel, and drive mode selection buttons, complemented by the ignition button and hazard light switch. Beneath the center console also lies a large, exposed cubby with a shallow storage compartment directly under the armrest, allowing for the stowage of small, non-valuable items.
The cabin experience is elevated thanks to additional sound deadening and double-paned windows, which BMW calls “Acoustic Glass,” reducing wind, road, and engine noise. Subsequently, the 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system benefits greatly from this, with deep bass and clear vocals filling the cabin to create an enjoyable music listening experience.
Representing the centerpiece of the interior is a curved display featuring a 10.7” touchscreen and 10.25” instrument cluster. The display itself is crisp, fluid, and viewable in practically all lighting conditions. With such a clinical interior, however, there are some drawbacks, including a number of functions operated from within the touchscreen display. Despite its fluidity, there is a steep learning curve involved with navigating the various menus and functions that lie hidden within the new iDrive 9 Operating System.
Notably, climate control functions for increasing fan speed or turning on the heated seats and steering wheel remain fixed on-screen but still require extra taps to achieve the desired result. Thankfully, BMW’s built-in voice assistant proved incredibly helpful for keeping eyes on the road by offering instantaneous responses to the command of “OK BMW.” Through this command, vehicle functions like the heated steering wheel, climate control, or drive mode changes were activated seamlessly via voice.
Under the hood of the 2024 X2 xDrive28i lies a slightly upgraded version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four B48-motor found in the previous generation. For 2024, this powerplant now makes 241 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, representing an upgrade of 13 horsepower and 37 lb-ft of torque, respectively.
More notably, the powertrain is now paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which offers smoother shifts during daily driving and faster shifts in spirited driving situations. Altogether, this pairing worked well at delivering a smooth and responsive driving experience as long as the Auto Start-Stop system was deactivated. Combined with xDrive all-wheel drive, this system works to deliver brisk acceleration from a standstill.
For situations that required an extra spurt of power, holding the left paddle shifter activated a “Boost Mode,” which put all settings into their sportiest mode for 10 seconds. Of the three modes – Personal, Sport, and Efficient – Personal mode was often preferred for its linear power delivery, well-balanced steering feel, and digital display options.
The chassis of the 2024 BMW X2 remains well-balanced. Complemented by the Adaptive M Suspension, the ride quality over broken pavement is stiff but well-damped, reducing ride harshness. Where the driving engagement falls short is in the actual steering feel, which feels muted and uncommunicative across tighter corners or longer sweeping bends. Despite this, the quick steering ratio was pleasantly surprising in tight parking situations.
From a fuel economy perspective, this powertrain is surprisingly efficient, with a Natural Resources Canada estimate of 9.9 L/100km in the city and 7.6 L/100km on the highway. Across mixed driving, our real-world test produced an 8.3 L/100km result.
Pricing for the 2024 BMW X2 starts at $48,800 but quickly increases as more options and packages are added. The price of the particular vehicle tested is $60,150, which includes $11,350 worth of options such as the Premium Enhanced Package ($6,000), M Sport Package ($2,500), 20” Wheels ($500), Vegas Red Metallic Paint ($900), Aluminum Trim with Graphic Accents ($250), and Driving Assistant Plus ($1,200). For those looking for an increase in power, the BMW X2 M35i represents the range-topping model, starting at $62,654.70.
Overall, the 2024 BMW X2 represents a compelling choice for those who value style and a well-appointed interior more than practicality. Despite this, it carries on the tradition of making a statement through its unique design and delivery of a smooth driving experience.
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