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Pros: high-quality cabin, smooth manners, strong performance
Cons: looks not to all tastes, not the most impressive driving range
BMW iX2 Design
This is the second-generation X2 but whereas the first looked a lot like a chunkier hatchback, this time around, BMW has gone all-out on the coupe styling, which won’t please some people – many don’t like the appearance of the larger X4 and X6 models which the latest X2 now so clearly mimics. That said, we don’t think it’s the worst-looking vehicle of its type in the world and because it has grown considerably to accommodate that sweeping roofline, the benefits can be felt in the cabin. The all-electric iX2 (denoted by that small ‘i’ in its model name) looks almost identical to the X2 models with combustion engines fitted – about the only clear detail change is that the kidney ‘grilles’ up front are blanked-off panels on the electric one, as they don’t need to allow any cooling airflow into a hot engine behind.
BMW iX2 Interior
Like many a modern car, BMW has placed the emphasis for the interface squarely on digital screens. This even means the climate controls have become part of the central infotainment, which forms half of the widescreen ‘Curved Display’ atop the dashboard. BMW is pretty good at its in-car control systems so this works OK, although many will lament the lack of physical buttons to control things like heated seats and where the airflow in the cabin is going. Otherwise, though, material quality is generally very high, visibility out of the vehicle is good in all directions, and that roofline does indeed result in lots more rear passenger space than in the old X2 – headroom is decent as well, thanks to a shaping of the roof lining. Sadly, though, the iX2 has a smaller boot (525 litres) than the petrol models (560 litres), due to the placement of the battery pack for the electric model. Despite this, a 525-litre boot is still big for this class of crossover.
BMW iX2 Performance & Drive
BMW has launched the iX2 in two easy-to-understand formats. There’s a single-motor, front-wheel-drive variant called the eDrive20, which has 204hp and an official maximum range of approaching 500km. Then there’s this more potent twin-motor model, which uses the same 64.8kWh battery pack, but up to 313hp. The overall range is reduced to around 450km (officially), with the pay-off being the iX2 xDrive30 can run 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds; that’s almost as fast as the performance flagship of the X2 range, the M35i.
The iX2 xDrive30, as you’d expect of a powerful electric vehicle these days, therefore does feel plenty fast enough on the road, thanks to that instant-access torque it has. Yet the bigger appeal of this car is its refinement. It handles OK, although it’s not as sharp as a petrol X2, so the fact that it’s supremely comfortable and very quiet onboard – even when you’re travelling at higher speeds – is the selling point of the BMW. Around town or on the motorway, you’ll love the comfortable way the iX2 goes about its business.
There is the option in the drive modes to change the sound the car’s powertrain makes to one of five distinctive electronic noises dreamt up by cinematic soundtrack guru Hans Zimmer. These vary from a light, chiming ‘singing’ a little like a heavenly choir in the Relax setting, to a deep, resonant booming in Expressive. What you’ll make of these will entirely come down to personal preference, although we should say we like the fact BMW hasn’t once tried to make the iX2 imitate the noises an internal-combustion car would emit, and if they do bother you then simply put the electric coupe-SUV into Efficient mode. In this setting, it whirrs about near-soundlessly like most other EVs.
BMW iX2 Pricing
Benefitting from our CO2-based VRT, the iX2 represents good value when compared to petrol-powered X2s. A basic X2 costs €56,345, while the considerably more powerful iX2 eDrive20 is only a little more expensive at €59,162 – and it should prove much cheaper to run, provided you regularly charge it at home on a domestic wallbox, rather than pricier DC rapid-charging public points. If you want the extra performance of this twin-motor xDrive30, then the asking price does increase significantly to €70,599 – but, again, that compares well to the similarly potent X2 M35i, which is the far side of 80 grand before you add any options to it.
Carzone Verdict
BMW’s more coupe-like new X2 range is a good one, with strong choices on both the internal combustion and electric vehicle sides of the fence. For our money, though, the twin-motor iX2 xDrive30 is the clear pick of the line-up. It’s incredibly comfortable and relaxing to travel in, and while it’s not the sharpest-handling BMW in history, it certainly drives well enough in the main to merit that blue-and-white badge on its nose. We could do with a slightly larger battery to extend its modest (for this size of EV) 450km range, mind, but otherwise this is a very impressive electric crossover-SUV.