New BMW X2: also as an electric iX2 with a range of 450 kilometers

Highlights BMW X2

• More ‘coupé SUV’, bigger and more spacious than ever
• For the first time as an electric BMW iX2
• Not yet as a plug-in hybrid
• From March 2024 in the Netherlands and from €52,340

Almost exactly six years after BMW pulled the curtain on the first X2, there is now a completely new one. If you are familiar with the BMW The new BMW X2 has grown a size in every respect, is available for the first time as a fully electric iX2 and has a completely different body shape.

Dimensions

As a car manufacturer, you are currently doing good business with SUVs and crossovers. With a now enormous number of X models, BMW now has a huge range of long-legged models, but within the X family the X2 was always a somewhat strange bird. BMW X models with an even number are normally cars with a steeply sloping roofline. The X6 is the more dynamic alternative to the X5 and the X4 is comparable to the X3. However, the BMW X2 was not an ‘X1 with a more sloping roofline’, but more of a hatchback with cross elements and greater ground clearance. With the new X2, BMW is taking a completely different path. This does have a roofline that drops sharply from the B-pillar. According to BMW, it is not a ‘coupé-SUV’. The brand prefers to call it a SAC. A Sport wine activity coupé.

The BMW X2 is clearly a size larger than the previous one and has a completely different silhouette.

First the dimensions. The BMW X2 is growing considerably. The new X2 is 4.55 meters long, which means it exceeds its predecessor in length by more than 19 centimeters. In addition, it is almost 6.5 centimeters higher and a good 2 centimeters wider than the X2, which it will push out of the showroom from March 2024. Despite these significantly increased exterior dimensions, the wheelbase ‘only’ increases by 2.2 centimeters to 2.69 meters. The overhang at the rear of the new X2 is therefore considerably larger than that of the outgoing generation. Not surprisingly, the wheelbase of the X2 is identical to that of the X1 to which it is technically related.

The increased size obviously has a favorable effect on the interior space. While the luggage compartment of the previous X2, at 470 liters, was about 35 liters smaller than that of the (previous) X1, the new Yes, regardless of the engine version chosen. For example, the trunk of a petrol-fired new X2 can fit up to 560 liters and the electric iX2 can accommodate 525 liters. If you fold the rear seat flat, the X2 increases to 1,470 liters, the iX2 to 1,400 liters.

The BMW X2 M35i xDrive: with horizontal slats in its grille.

Design

BMW has apparently imposed few restrictions behind the drawing board for years, so the X2 is also visually interesting. It is more than just an X1 with just a different ‘rear half’ of the body. BMW not only gives the X2 its own headlights that dip slightly deeper towards the center than outside, but also a completely unique grille. The Unlike that of the X1, that grille is optional with the BMW Iconic Glow so-called contour lighting. Also striking: the X2 has a deeper part along the length of the hood in the middle that makes the front of the car slightly more aggressive. The fold that runs along the side of the carriage on the X1 slightly above the recessed handles is not present on the X2.

BMW iX2: with a unique spoiler under the rear window and many closed plastic panels.

The rear of the BMW X2 is perhaps its biggest attraction. The roofline flows very smoothly into a fairly flat rear window. In addition, the X2 has a roof spoiler, just like the X4 and X6, but it is a lot more subtle in shape on BMW’s latest The rear window visually flows into a striking second spoiler equipped with two elevations. It is in black and, because it is no wider than the rear window, it is reminiscent, with a little imagination, of the small wing on the back of the revised first generation Audi TT or of the ducktails that you may know from specific Porsche 911s. It is certainly striking. One floor lower on the X2 bottom we find rear lights like you have never seen before from BMW.

Not surprisingly, the electric iX2 and the X2 with combustion engines differ in detail. For example, the BMW iX2 has a closed grille with an i-characteristic pattern and a rear bumper full of large plastic panels that pass for openings. Striking: in contrast to the M35i performance version of the X1, the sporty top version of the BMW X2 does not have vertical, but horizontal slats in its grille. Indeed: just like the XM.

The outgoing BMW X2 has a more traditional hatchback shape.

Electric BMW iX2: up to 450 kilometers of range

In the field of powertrains, the BMW iX2 is the absolute attention grabber. As mentioned, this is the first time that an electric version of the X2 has been released. BMW is currently highlighting one electric motorcycle version. It is called xDrive30 and is made up of the same ingredients as the engine version of the iX1 of the same name. This means: two electric motors with a combined power of 313 hp and 494 Nm and a 64.8 kWh battery pack. This combination helps the iX2 xDrive30 reach a speed of 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h. More interesting is of course the electric range. This has been set at 449 kilometers. With the same technology, the BMW iX1 xDrive30 travels 11 kilometers less on a full charge. Fast charging is possible with a charging capacity of up to 130 kW. A 22 kW AC on-board charger is optional.

Just like the sporty M35i that we will discuss later, the BMW iX2 Drive30 has an adaptive M suspension as standard. Do you want the iX2 to appear more visually dynamic? No problem. Just like every other engine version, the iX2 can also be equipped with the M Sport package and the M Sports package Pro. The iX2 comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels.

BMW is already reporting the arrival of a second fully electric version. We expect this to be the powertrain that BMW recently added to the iX1 delivery range: the rear-wheel drive eDrive20. So also count on the arrival of a 204 hp and 247 Nm strong milder electric version, which also has the same 64.8 kWh battery. The iX2 eDrive20 therefore also has a greater range than the iX2 xDrive30. Count on a range of about 485 kilometers.

You have to look carefully, but the X2 also looks very different from the front than this (i)X1.

(Mild hybrid) petrol and diesel engines, but no plug-in

As mentioned, the BMW X2 is also available with combustion engines. The mildest of these is the X2 sDrive20i. The mild-hybrid petrol version has a 156 hp and 240 Nm strong 1.5 three-cylinder turbo engine, which is supported by a 19 hp integrated electric motor. According to BMW, the system power is 170 hp. With this machine always linked to a seven-speed automatic transmission, the X2 sDrive20i reaches a speed of 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. Its top speed: 213 km/h.

BMW also immediately conjures up a diesel version: the sDrive18d. The BMW X2 sDrive18d produces 150 hp and, like every other combustion engine in the car, is linked to a seven-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. In the summer of next year, BMW will expand the delivery range with a second diesel version. That is probably the xDrive23d with all-wheel drive. The mild-hybrid diesel has 211 hp and 400 Nm. For both the mild-hybrid sDrive20i and the mild-hybrid xDrive23d, the 48V battery is housed in the luggage compartment and therefore takes up some liters (45 liters) of storage space there. The sDrive20i and sDrive18d have 18-inch shoes as standard.

Striking: the previous BMW X2 was available as a plug-in hybrid and the new BMW X1 also has two plug-in hybrid versions on the menu. For the time being, BMW has not said anything about the arrival of plug-in hybrid powertrains for the new X2.

On the inside, the BMW X2 is very much an X1.

BMW X2 M35i xDrive

The ultimate highlight is of course the M Performance version called X2 M35i xDrive. The four-wheel drive sporty top version has a 300 hp and 400 Nm powerful 2.0 four-cylinder turbo engine. It is not a mild hybrid and that means that there is no 48V battery in the back. This makes the M35i xDrive, together with the sDrive20i, the most practical X2s; After all, they have the largest luggage space, but that’s probably not why you buy it. The only 5.4 seconds needed to accelerate the car from a standstill to a speed of 100 km/h are probably a more convincing feature. Naturally, the X2 M35i xDrive has an M chassis, although you will have to dig deeper into your pockets for extra potent M Compound braking. The M35i has 20-inch alloy wheels and – like a number of other motorcycle versions – is even optionally available with 21-inch (!) large footwear.

Prices BMW X2

BMW does not mince words and immediately releases the first prices of the new X2. The BMW X2 sDrive20i costs at least €52,340 as a special Launch Edition called introductory version. For the electric BMW iX2 xDrive30e you will spend at least €59,350.