X2 be or not X2 be, that is the question…
Imagine a young executive who needs a set of wheels suited to their high-powered job status. Or parents looking to purchase a car for their university-going child who needs to commute frequently and look cool while doing so.
Sure, there’s the BMW X1, which is more practical, but for the cool-factor and style-points, one needs to take a serious look at the X2.
First Impressions…
For a vehicle of its calibre, the M Sport package is de riguer, for it sets the X2 apart as something that’s more special. Cape York Green is an interesting colour choice indeed, but it works well.
The chunky and angular front end blends well into the smooth swoops and sleek lines of this SUV SAV-coupe a.k.a SAC, and BMW has executed this brilliantly.
Adaptive LED headlights with high beam assist add to this chunky front-end which then morphs into the clam-shell bonnet smoothly.
Even though the sides are naturally going to be slab-sided, the tapering roofline and well-defined shoulders fore and aft make this an attractive and stylish prospect.
The X2’s chunky design carries on into its 20-inch M Sport rims which wear 245/40 R20 Pirelli P Zero tyres. They’re nice and quiet on the move, offer good grip, and the ride, despite being on 20-inch rims and tyres, is still pretty pliant.
The rear end features a sloping boot which merges nicely with the tapered roofline, ends in a spoiler, and makes the whole SAC design language cohesively complete. Gloss black trim underlines brackets the bumper-bottom, which brings the chunky design elements to the rear also.
As usual, looks are subjective, so we invite you to decide for yourself. Me? I like it a lot!
…Matter…
To open the boot, depress the BMW roundel at the top, and then pull on its now-extended bottom like a handle. The boot lid swings up electrically to reveal 560 litres of carrying capacity, which is lots. Drop the rear seatbacks to liberate up to 1,470 litres if more room is needed.
Despite its tapering roofline, rear-seat headroom is plentiful, even for 1.82-metre tall yours truly, and I didn’t have to perform any ducking manoeuvres to get into the back either.
Rear legroom is adequate, and just about enough for this longer-of-limbs and shorter-of-torso writer to sit behind his own driving position, but I’d only do this for shorter journeys. Folks of average height shouldn’t have an issue. Foot space is also plentiful.
Rear occupants can look forward to a couple of aircon vents to keep them cool in boiling-hot Singapore, while two USB Type-C ports will keep their mobile gadgets juiced up and ready to go for that next power meeting or final-year project discussion.
The front seats are electrically operated and easy to get into one’s preferred driving position.
Then adjust the chunky steering wheel for reach and rake, and you’re ready to move off. The instrument cluster comprises a 10.25-inch screen which can be configured in a few different layouts and to show various information such as navigation, audio track and speed readout.
Beside that sits the 10.7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto of the wireless variety.
The included BMW apps may appear daunting at first, but spend some time getting to know them and they become pretty easy to use.
Ambient lighting that can be configured in different colours lifts the interior space and makes it feel more upmarket. So does the wireless charging tray with its striped design elements, which secures one’s smartphone in an almost vertical configuration.
The centre console appears to ‘float’ in mid-air and features an under-tray for wallets, keys, wet-wipes and a tin of mints. I was able to fit a small carton of alkaline water down there.
There’s a tiny and shallow storage compartment under the centre armrest, good for pens and USB sticks.
…Most.
Despite being chunky, the steering wheel is a pleasure to behold. Combined with its electric steering rack, the X2 can be pointed and placed where desired with ease.
It can also be happily chucked into a corner, and the rear end will rotate to aid the nose to point in its intended direction of travel. Use the steering-mounted paddles to manually select gears, and the whole experience can be very satisfying as it should in a BMW.
Outward visibility is pretty good, also thanks in no small part to those large wing mirrors. There’s no 360-degree camera setup, but the wing mirrors combined with the reverse camera will help newer drivers stay current on their recently-learned parking skills.
The engine is no powerhouse with just 122hp to make it COE Category A compliant, but what it does have is oodles of torque.
The X2 is fitted with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and the DCT is programmed to keep the engine in its 230Nm torque-band as much as possible. This lets the X2 ride that wave of torque and pick up speed quite briskly.
Naturally, being a DCT, the transmission is never going to be as smooth as a traditional torque-converter automatic, but thankfully, low-speed jerkiness is kept to a minimum.
What the X2 also has is a ‘Boost’ function. While on the move, hold down that left shift paddle and the instrument display, engine, gearbox and throttle mapping reconfigure themselves into a more sporty setting. A countdown timer also starts from 10.
This then lets the driver accelerate more without having to kick down the accelerator pedal. I found myself using this function when merging onto and overtaking on the highway; a very pleasant function to use.
It’s also pretty good on fuel. BMW quotes a combined WLTP consumption of 6.8 litres/100km or 14.7km/litre, and the X2 bettered this at a weighted and normalised average of 5.67 litres/100km or 17.6km/litre over both the street and highway routes.
Weirdly and inexplicably, this is just shy of the recently-reviewed BMW 520i’s efficiency.
The X2 was also put through the mixed-drive Tour de Singapour route where it clocked 5.43-litres/100km or 18.4km/litre.
Just for fun, I decided to do a hypermiling-type eco-challenge, and the X2 returned an impressive 2.77-litres/100km or 36.1km/litre. This makes the X2 the current eco-challenge champion (see what I did there haha!) of non full-hybrid vehicles in my current list.
Apart from standard cruise control, where adaptive cruise would have been nice at its price-point, and a lack of panoramic sunroof, which would add to the cost, there is very little to dislike about this X2.
It looks stylish. It drives well and is easy to drive. It rides well. It’s good on fuel. It’s got the necessary gizmos to accompany one’s mobile phone. And most of all, it’s a BMW.
There are very few cars that, upon return, I’ve walked away from, only to stop and look back at longingly. The BMW X2 sDrive16i M Sport is one of them.
Gawd, I miss it. A lot.
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
Technical Specifications
BMW X2 sDrive16i
Engine Capacity: 1,499cc inline three-cylinder turbocharged
Power: 122hp @ 3,900-6,500rpm
Torque: 230Nm @ 1,500-3,600rpm
Drive: front wheels
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
0-100km/h: 10.5 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 197km/h (claimed)
Kerb Weight: 1,570kg
Fuel Capacity: 45-litres
Fuel Economy: 14.7-litres/100km or 6.8km/litre (claimed)
Price: S$257,888 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: BMW Singapore
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