It seems as if all the odd number cars are the clinical and typical German looking cars whereas the even numbers incorporate late Friday night ideas and I for one love it. The X2 is a funky looking thing, like a bulldog wearing some rapper’s gold garnish if you will. The X2 has recently been given some M treatment and I got behind the wheel to see what it is like.
Exterior looks
The BMW X2 is a youthful-looking car, it’s noticeable and aggressive in terms of styling and will warrant a second look. The test car, the M35i, featured an aggressive front bumper and the double kidney grille finished in Cerium Grey as were the newly designed side air intakes. These elements, although stylish, provide for best possible cooling of both the brakes and engine. My test unit featured the optional 20-inch M Sport light-alloy wheels completing the sporty look rather well.
Sporty interior
The interior is neat and uncluttered and for me, one of the stand out elements is undoubtedly the slim-line sports seats. My test car featured black and red interior trim which, in my opinion, was incredibly tasteful and suited the character of the car. Atop the facia is a large infotainment screen which features the brand’s seventh-generation iDrive software and touch-sensitive functionality although I found that using the rotary iDrive dial located on the lower centre console to be more intuitive. The facia is driver-focused and looks good, however, when compared to newer BMW products it does come across as aged and hope it receives an update when the facelift arrives, hopefully soon. The X2 is spacious, rear passenger space is better than expected, as is the luggage space, which is rated at 470-litres.
Performance machine
Under the bonnet, despite the M35i badge on the back, this particular M car features a 2.0-litre turbocharged motor which develops 225 kW and 450 N.m of torque. Sending power to all four-wheels (rears get propulsion only when needed) is an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the only gearbox option available. The X2 M35i is quite fast for what is essentially a crossover hatchback concoction. While it delivers on the must-have pops and bangs from the twin tailpipes I would have liked a bit more drama although the M Sport differential at the front helps with traction, especially when accelerating out of a corner.
Verdict
The X2 M35i is a nice car, it is fun to drive, looks good and despite the ageing interior is a nice place to be. The performance is noteworthy however I would much rather opt for the 2.0-diesel model, in fact, for the R825 072 premium you can choose a variety of BMW models, including an X3 20d xLine or my personal favourite, the BMW 330d, all worth considerin
