A bigger, meaner Bimmer
2024 BMW X2 GETS AN AGGRESSIVE UPDATE THAT MAKES ITS PREDECESSOR LOOK PEDESTRIAN
The outgoing BMW X2 has been around mostly unchanged for five years, which is an eternity in car years. Well, the 2024 BMW X2 is here, and it’s all new. We got a chance to sample the higher-spec X2 M35i, which will accompany the new X2 xdrive28i in BMW showrooms this year.
The X2’s angrier face, swept-back windshield, and more streamlined silhouette make its predecessor look almost pedestrian in comparison. Most notably, the roofline slopes downward at the rear, giving the X2 more of a fastback profile (the Germans call it a coupe profile, but I reserve that for two-door cars). Out back you’ll find an equally angry-looking bumper, beneath which are two pairs of exhaust tips — that’s right, there are four tailpipes for this four-cylinder Bimmer. The optional matte green paint on my test car was a bold yet alluring colour, though it will set you back $6,000.
Not surprisingly, the X2 has grown in almost every direction: it is 64 millimetres taller, 194 mm longer and wheelbase is 22 mm longer, with wheels tracking 21 mm wider. The interior is a bit roomier, especially for rear passengers, who benefit from more leg, shoulder and elbow room.
With the driver’s seat adjusted for my six-foot frame, I found the rear seating just accommodating enough in legroom, and I wouldn’t squeeze a third person in that second row. Even though the roof has dropped in the rear, there’s more cargo space behind the rear seats: 560 litres with the rear seat backs up, 1,470 L with the seat backs down, up 90 and 115 L respectively. Despite its larger size, the new M35i has been trimmed of some weight, coming in at 1,695 kilograms, only 7 kilos more than before.
UPGRADED POWER UNDER THE HOOD
Under the hood is a revised version of the 2.0-L turbocharged in-line four that has been strengthened with upgraded main bearings, a stronger crankshaft and improved piston lubrication. The engine claims 312 horsepower and 295 poundfeet of torque, which is 11 hp more, but 37 lb.-ft less than the last X2 M35i available here in 2022. The reduction in torque is probably responsible for a slightly slower zero to 100 km/h time of 5.4 seconds, compared to 4.9 for the previous M35i. The engine mates to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that drives all four wheels.
A TIDIED-UP, UPDATED INTERIOR; TONS OF TECH
The cockpit has been tidied up and modernized considerably. The dashboard stretches straight across between the A pillars, the centrepiece of which is a wide, curved display screen. The screen utilizes a single pane of glass, but it contains two displays: a configurable 10.25-inch instrument screen, and to its right, a 10.7-inch infotainment touchscreen. The only buttons you’ll find on the dash are the front and rear defrost — that’s it. Even the shift lever, sadly, is gone, replaced by a small rocker switch.
The bulk of the interior functions are managed through the touchscreen or by voice commands via BMW’S Operating System 9, which pairs with Intelligent Personal Assistant. The screen is configurable in a multitude of ways, and myriad apps are included, while third-party apps can be downloaded, including gaming apps, and music and video streaming — for a subscription fee, of course.
Also available with the optional Premium Essential package is keyless entry using your Android phone, iphone, or Apple Watch.
There’s actually so much going on with BMW’S Operating System 9 that you’ll have to take some time to familiarize yourself with all of its features.
HANDLING NOT FOR EVERYONE
If you enjoy driving hard on twisty roads, you’re going to love the X2 M35i; if you want to take the spouse and kids out for a leisurely stroll through the country, not so much. While the M35i is not a full-blown M car, its M lineage comes through in its firm, tight, sporty ride. All suspension and steering components front and rear on the new X2 models have been redesigned for increased chassis rigidity and sharpened steering response. It turns sharply with very good steering feedback and can dive into corners with surprising speed.
The drawback of that engaging handling is a stiff, bumpy ride. The adaptive, adjustable M suspension (standard on my M35i test car, optional on the xdrive128i) was quite firm in Sport mode, most probably uncomfortably so if this were Canada — Portuguese roads are mostly smooth. Even when in the softer settings, the suspension is stiff and the ride harsh over sharp bumps. The optional M Sport seats, however, feature broad adjustability, and are very supportive and quite comfy.
After a slight lag when pushing aggressively on the gas pedal, the engine pulls progressively harder to redline and is powerful enough to prompt a grin.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s been a while coming, but the new BMW X2 is appealing to the eyes and a pleasure to the other senses from behind the wheel. The X M35i starts at $59,400, which can ramp up quickly if you start ticking package and options boxes. My tester, which included the custom paint, Premium Enhanced package, M Sport Pro package, and Advanced Driver Assistance package, topped out at $75,000, and that doesn’t include $2,480 dealer fees and taxes. The X2 xdrive128i might be a better choice, starting at $48,800, and a better daily driver if you don’t approach winding country roads with the fervour of a track-day outing. Both new X2 models will be in dealers by March.