You know SUVs are a key market entry when just about every manufacturer makes one. From Lamborghini to Rolls-Royce, even Bentley and Aston Martin have an SUV in their lineup nowadays. BMW has been manufacturing SUVs for quite a while too, starting with the 1999 introduction of the terrific and well-received X5. The company calls these Sports Activity Vehicles, however, to emphasize that they're still BMW vehicles and still have a certain verve when it comes to performance driving. Today, BMW offers eight different SUV models, ranging from the subcompact X1 to the high-performance luxury hybrid XM.
BMW offered me the sportier version of the X1 - the 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i M-Sport - and I jumped at the chance; I'm a big fan of the company and was quite curious what a high-performance subcompact SUV would be like. Perhaps most surprising is that the BMW X2 has a base price of $42K, likely far less than you would expect from a luxurious little vehicle from the fabled Bayerische Motoren Werke. So what's a sporty and luxurious subcompact SUV look like? Here's the model they dropped off for me, in Storm Bay Metallic, with a Mocha Perforated Veganza interior:
It's compact, no question, but it still has a very sporty look to it and the signature two-part front grill is more than offset by the big lower grill area and side scoops. Unlike many BMW vehicles, notice that it's not lower in the front; there's a lot less of an aerodynamic flow than its sedans, perhaps appropriate for a vehicle in the SUV line.
The wheels are beautiful too and part of the quite featureful M Sports Package (an optional addition): 19" M Double-spoke bi-color wheels. The tires are Michelin Pilots and they did a great job of gripping the road on tight turns, as one would hope of a performance vehicle. Owners will want to switch them out for all-weather or snow tires as the weather produces winter driving conditions.
The dashboard and controls were nicely spread out with some duplication (for example, the entertainment system's volume controls) for ease during your high-performance drive to pick up the kids or get to the trailhead before all the good spots are gone. Notable is that the center of the dash has a wireless Qi charging spot for a smartphone that results in it facing the driver rather than tucked away. If you're utilizing wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, your phone will likely shut off, but if you're just charging it, being able to keep an eye on the notifications can be quite helpful.
What I didn't like so much were the climate vents. Quite slim to fit into the overall design, I found them hard to adjust so that the air was flowing in the desired direction and fiddled with them almost daily during the week I had the BMW X2. Eventually I expect a driver would adjust things perfectly, but most climate controls are easier to, well, control than this particular design.
The roller control is volume and mute, not quite a full-blown BMW iDrive control center, but still a really nice, intuitive way to be able to control the infotainment system while keeping your eyes on the road. The gear shift was a bit dorky with a forward/backward toggle, but with its 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, 99% of drivers are going to shift into Drive and never touch the control again until they're ready to park.
The vehicle is powered by a 2.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo Inline 4-cylinder, 16-valve engine with direct injection and offers a nimble drive experience that turns into a positively zippy driving adventure in Sport mode. As with most internal combustion engines, starting from a stop has a second or two of delay (particularly with the auto-engine-off fuel saving feature) but that vanishes when you shift to Sport mode, though that does you no favors if you're also trying to maximize fuel efficiency. But if you want the best possible mpg, why get the sportier version of the X1?
The steering wheel controls were surprisingly asymmetric, which made them a bit more confusing. The left controls are all about the cruise control, which features BMW's Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go. The right side was a bit more of a pastiche of phone, voice, and music controls, along with some ability to change what's displayed on the main gauge screen. Behind the controls you can see the paddle shifters peeking out for those who really want to drop into the maximal sport experience with the 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.
Wondering what a dual clutch automatic is? Here's the explanation: "While one clutch is engaged in the current gear, the other clutch pre-selects the next gear. This allows for faster and smoother shifts because there’s no need to disengage one gear before engaging another." This also means the vehicle doesn't have a torque converter, allowing for quicker shifts and a sportier drive experience.
There were a couple of different main gauge display options, but I settled on this design that I called the dual chevron pattern. The colors change based on drive mode (there are three with the X2 M-Sport; Sports, Comfort, and Personal) and the tachometer is shown for when you're paddle shifting, but it's sufficiently subtle that you can ignore it as desired. One thing that did surprise me was that the fuel efficiency bar graph's "AVG" line was perpetually under the actual displayed value, which you can see above. It ends up looking a bit clumsy. On the other hand, the EPA numbers for the X2 M-Sport are 24/33, and you can see I averaged 29.8 with my not-infrequent bursts of Sport driving. Props to BMW for a subcompact that offers a great driving experience and gets a lot of miles out of each gallon of fuel.
The infotainment system was bright and easy to read, though I found that it had a tendency to get confused about whether to transition to its own navigation and display (as shown above) or to allow Apple CarPlay to control the full screen (which it should have been displaying). By the time the average driver's put their first 1,000 miles on the car, they'll have figured this out, so it's definitely not a big deal.
There were a lot of controls on the ceiling of the cabin, including the curious camera pointing towards the back seats. It's not part of a built-in dashcam, however, it's the BMW Interior Camera setup that quite literally keeps an eye on the interior as part of the security system. I would be tempted to experiment with how this feature works if I owned a BMW with this feature, but that's just me. If you have the BMW Interior Camera on your vehicle, please drop a comment explaining how it works for you or if you even utilize it at all.
Keeping in mind that the BMW X2 is a subcompact, it's not a huge surprise that there wasn't very much legroom for the rear passengers. For adults or even teens, the driver's going to need their seat pulled forward a fair bit to offer any legroom at all. This is also a good photo to see how the Perforated Veganza seats look. They're quite comfortable and feel very luxurious.
Swinging around to the back, for a little vehicle, it had decent cargo space:
You can also see that BMW's done one better than a typical 60/40 seat split with a center portion that can be folded down separately to make space for skis and other, longer cargo. The rear hatch also has a "kick to open" feature which is quite handy when your hands are full; just kick underneath the center of the rear bumper and the hatch will open up, hands free.
I've become quite a fan of BMW vehicles as I have had the chance to drive quite a few of their best models, and the X2 continues the trend of small, nimble, luxurious and quite fun to drive. If you're looking for a peppy subcompact with all the traditional BMW luxury features, a great sound system, snappy curb appeal, and a price tag that won't actually break the bank, the X2 might just be one of your best options on the market.
2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i M-Sport Subcompact Luxury SUV. Powered by a 2.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo Inline 4-cylinder direct injection engine and 7-speed dual clutch transmission. BASE PRICE: $42,000. Options included: Driving Assistance Pro Package, M Sport Package, Premium Package, Heated Steering Wheel, Remote Engine Start. AS DRIVEN: $52,745.00.
Disclaimer: BMW loaned me the 2024 X2 for a week in return for this candid write up. This article originally appeared on PlanetDave.com with the title The Fun 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i M-Sport Crossover.
