Engaging the engine
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Think of the BMW X2 as a more rakish counterpart to the practical X1, just as an X4 is the sportier take on the X3. In other words, you’ll be trading a little practicality for a dash more style, but it’s a compromise some buyers are willing to make - plenty of buyers in fact, given the number of used X2s available for sale.
BMW launched an all-new and even more distinctive X2 in 2023, but the car we’re covering here is the original generation, which debuted in 2018 and was on sale until the later car replaced it. Read on to find out more about the X2’s engines, specifications, and other features.
Rear seat passengers might not thank you for it, but the X2’s lower and more raked-back roofline definitely gives it a very different look and feel to the otherwise similar BMW X1. Like all coupe-style SUVs, there’s a compromise to be made here between outright practicality, and having something that’s a little more stylish - and if you think you can get away with it, then the X2 is well worth a look.
It’s not like it’s unusable either - it’s just a little less spacious in the back, and in the boot, than the more strait-laced X1. The interior layout is otherwise very similar, with a logically laid out dash, excellent build quality, comfortable seats, and plenty of equipment - and because even the oldest X2s were launched in 2018, everything still feels pretty modern, and the car’s safety tech is up to date too.
As are its engines - a range of petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrids that all perform well and promise to be light on fuel. BMW even saw fit to create a performance model, the M35i, based on the similarly-badged BMW 1 Series. All X2s have a dynamic feel that, a little like the sporty roofline, trades a little ride comfort for more agile and controlled handling - but if you opt for models on smaller wheels, it really doesn’t ride badly either, and refinement is good too.
Other than competition from within - from the regular 1 Series hatchback, and from the more upright BMW X1 SUV - the X2 fits into the same class as cars like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Volvo XC40, and Jaguar E-Pace. The Cupra Formentor is another sporty option and isn’t too far behind the X2’s premium feel.
New buyers seem to have chosen petrol and diesel X2s in roughly equal measure, which means both are easy to find on the used market. As ever with cars like this, diesel is the choice if you’re covering high mileages or spend a lot of time on the motorway, where you’ll get the best economy and the engine is most at home, while for lower miles and town driving, the petrols make more sense - the 2-litre 20i versions are easier to find than the basic 18i, so it makes sense to concentrate on those. Spec-wise, we’d only note that M Sport models can feel quite firm on their 19-inch wheels, so bear this in mind if you live somewhere with poorly-surfaced roads…
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The BMW X2’s exterior dimensions are:
The BMW X2’s boot space is:
Towards the upper end of the X2 range, new pricing often strayed above the £40,000 mark, which means some X2s won’t just get the standard £190 annual VED charge (£180 for the hybrids), but also a surcharge that lifts your annual bill to £600 (or £590 for the hybrids). This surcharge disappears from the car’s seventh year on the road.
While a BMW X2 will likely cost more to insure than a similar model from a mainstream manufacturer, the group 22 rating for an X2 sDrive18i isn’t too high for a premium-badged SUV. M Sport models start from group 23, while if you’re interested in the xDrive25e plug-in hybrid, those are group 30 and up. The sporty M35i starts in group 40.
£26,490
£16,861
£43,999
£23,799
£21,000
£24,000
£24,000
£19,600
£36,795
£16,300
£49,995
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£39,999
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What is the most popular colour for BMW X2 ?
What is the most popular gearbox for BMW X2 ?
What is the most popular fuel type for BMW X2 ?
What is the most popular engine for BMW X2 ?
What is the average mileage for BMW X2 ?
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How many BMW X2 cars are available for sale?
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