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BMW’s X-models have been given an identity that differentiates them from others in the German car manufacturer’s stable.
This individual positioning of X-models by BMW has, in effect, created a sub-brand, and the X2, a premium compact SUV-cum-crossover that has just arrived in the country, is an excellent example of this new breed.
The sporty crossover’s unique, coupé-like personality is due to the fact that some of its siblings’ characteristics have been blended in.
Much of the platform suggests an X1. The low-slung seating and sporty drive hint at the BMW 1 series with a dash of Mini.
Then, too, the coupé-esque sloping roofline, rounded off with a rear spoiler, is reminiscent of the X4 and X6.
Perhaps a better description of the X2 is that it creates the impression of a sportier version of the X1.
Two variants are available locally; a front-wheel-drive (FWD) 2-litre turbo petrol variant or an all-wheel-drive (AWD) 2-litre turbo diesel, both available with an M Sport or M Sport X package.
Come May, the offering will be expanded to include an entry-level FWD 1.5-litre petrol variant.
finweek tested out the xDrive20d M Sport version of the new X2.
Unique exterior
The somewhat unconventional BMW X2 has retained many of the elements we saw in the concept phase.
Its low-slung and coupé-esque exterior gives this compact premium sports activity vehicle (BMW-speak for an SUV) a distinctive appearance.
Design lines that include coupé language and proportions give the impression of motion and athleticism.
Although the X2 looks robust, with large air intakes on the nose, black side skirts, rugged wheel-arch trim, 19-inch alloy wheels and dual exhausts, it still manages to signal, with its sloping side profile and dipping roofline, that it is much sleeker and sportier.
The characteristic six-eyed face of the X-family includes halogen headlights and fog lamps and LED daytime running lights.
BMW’s signature kidney grille, though, has a somewhat wider base on the X2.
And, in a first for an X-model, the C-pillars are adorned with a BMW badge.
Svelte yet muscular looking, the sporty five-door crossover also conveys urban charm, most notably when painted in the model’s funky new colour, Galvanic Gold.
All told, it’s a fresh look that makes this model a standout in the BMW stable.
Quality interior fit and finish
The interior is more conventional BMW, with the usual quality cabin offerings such as perforated leather seats, driver and passenger sport seats, door trim contour lighting and a sports steering wheel with optional gearshift paddles.
Renowned BMW offerings are intuitive switchgear and instrumentation as well as a host of connectivity options accessed via the rotary controller and standard 6.5-inch screen.
Optional offerings on this front include an 8.8-inch touch control display and voice control.
Added standard offerings on the X2 models include navigation and Apple CarPlay.
It may fall into the compact car bracket, but the BMW X2 is fairly roomy, even for adults in the rear despite its sloping rear roof.
Admittedly, the X2 boot has less capacity than that of its X1 sibling.
Nonetheless, as in the X1, the rear seats can be folded down to create additional carrying capacity.
Also standard is the automatic tailgate function that makes for easy loading.
Performance
The X2 xDrive20d M Sport does all it is supposed to do on the road.
The cabin is comfortable and quiet, the spirited engine is efficient, performance is smooth yet dynamic, steering precise, and the ride comfort and handling are excellent.
More a sporty urban five-door crossover than a full-blown SUV with off-road ability, the X2 offers an engaging and confident driving experience on tar.
A quick and responsive engine makes inclines effortless, overtaking stress-free, highway travelling relaxed and urban commuting fluid, while the car’s chassis and xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system produce a roll-free and compliant ride.
BMW’s usual three drive modes are on offer: Comfort mode, the fuel-efficient Eco Pro mode, and Sport, the last-mentioned offering dynamic steering and powertrain responses.
As its name suggests, the ride in Comfort on the standard 19-inch wheels is polished, easily soaking up road blemishes.
In Sports mode, while still polished, the car stiffens up – which is a confidence booster when navigating the tight switchbacks of the Franschhoek Pass at pace.
An added confidence booster when negotiating hairpin bends is the X2’s M Sport suspension, which has been lowered by 10mm for even sportier road holding.
This assigns the all-wheel-drive X2 a lower centre of gravity, which gives the car more grippiness in the turns.
Specially adapted anti-roll bar bearings and Dynamic Damper Control (shock absorption) – also a standard feature on the M Sport suspension – provide enhanced sportiness and dynamism.
If steep descents make you uncomfortable, fear not – another standard offering is the model’s Hill Descent Control, a feature that automatically maintains a desired speed and controls braking on steep descents.
Low-slung seating helps one feel more at one with the car and imparts a sportier feel.
But for better visuals and a more SUV-like experience, higher seating is a better fit, a feature that is easily adjusted, albeit manually.
Many camera-based semi-autonomous driving features that include active cruise control, lane departure and pedestrian warning are optional, as is the full colour head-up display.
As a fan of the torque that comes with a diesel mill, it came as somewhat of a surprise to me when I found myself favouring the X2 sDrive 20i petrol variant (also tested) over the diesel version.
Ironically, given the added torque of the 20d, the 20i felt more responsive on the straight.
Perhaps it had something to do with the spread of the 20i’s gears.
The 20i petrol model has an efficient seven-speed gearbox, which is more than enough for the mill’s requirements.
However, the 20d diesel variant has an eight-speed gearbox, the additional spread being required to convert the torque.
While the 20d’s gearbox comes with textbook shifting, perhaps the smidgen of turbo lag I thought I detected on an incline turn in the 20d had more to do with gear ratio spread than with turbo lag.
But in the X2 20d’s defence, time did not allow for a rigorous analysis of the petrol variant, nor was the 20i tested on the pass, which might have changed my view of the petrol version.
Crisp design, a quality build, premium interior, sporty performance, ample space, and excellent safety features all make for a good recipe. All that, though, does not come cheap.
But the X2’s biggest strength – aside from its refreshing looks, unconventional personality and spirited and agile performance – is the unity that it rekindles between driver and car.
The X2 is a vehicle I felt more at one with than any other in the X-range. That probably has much to do with its size, sporty personality and lower centre of gravity – all of which speak to more dynamism and driver engagement.
TESTED: BMW X2 xDrive20d M Sport
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power/Torque: 140kW/400Nm
0-100km/h: 7.8 seconds
Top speed: 221km/h
Fuel: 5 litres/100km (claimed, combined)
Fuel tank: Approx. 51 litres
Ground clearance: 182mm
Turning circle: 11.3 metres
Luggage capacity: 470-1 355 litres
CO2 emissions: 131g/km
Safety: Driver and front passenger airbags and side airbags, head airbags for front and rear seats, crash sensors, tyre defect indicator.
Service/maintenance plan: 5 years/100 000km motor plan
Price at launch (incl. 15% VAT but excluding CO2 emissions tax): R699 000 (M-Sport package)
This article originally appeared in the 26 April edition of finweek. Buy and download the magazine here. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
