Whodathunk there'd be a hot market in SUVs with coupe-like rooflines? The trend didn't get off to such a hot start---remember the 2013 Honda Crosstour? The Acura ZDX? Massive flops.
But then the Germans got in the act---Audi, Mercedes and especially BMW, which has taken its X5, X3 and X1 SUVs, given them fastbacks and released them into the wild as the X6, X4 and X2.
And guess what? It works.
The X2 enters its second generation for 2024 with new, more muscular styling, a more pronounced fastback, and a roomier interior compared to the previous X2 (which I last drove in M35i trim five years ago).
The 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i is the car you're seeing here, and the upgrades include the engine, a revised turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that now makes 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque (up from 228 hp and 295 lb-ft).
That shaves a tenth of a second off the old X2's 0-60 sprints, to 6.2 seconds--which is mighty fast for a base engine in this class. Shifting duties are handled by a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and power goes to all four wheels (that's the xDrive).
Other standard mechanical and performance bits include performance control, dynamic stability control with dynamic traction control, hill descent control and four-wheel ventilated anti-lock disc brakes with dynamic brake control and cornering brake control.
What it is is a small coupe-like SUV that drives like a BMW. If you had a 330i sedan and this, you wouldn't say "eh---I gotta drive the SUV today". Acceleration, handling, braking---it's all really, really good.
There's 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Fold those down and it's 51.7.
Rear legroom is fine, but the sloping roofline does cut into headroom in the back seat.
The new-gen X2's interior is all-new, as well, with newly-developed seats with improved support and comfort. The upholstery is Veganza--an animal-free material. Screens are set low and the driver and front passenger sit high, with a clear and commanding view of the road ahead.
The base price of the 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i is $42,000 ($42,995 with destination). Included in that price are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, real-time traffic information and BMW remote services, a one-year subscription to SiriusXM with 360L (which includes streaming content not found on Sirius XM Satellite Radio), a leather-wrapped steering wheel, driving modes, power front seats with driver lumbar, multi-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and a few active safety features (frontal collision warning, active blind spot detection, lane departure warning, parking assistant and back-up assistant)
Our tester also had extra cost options. The Storm Bay Metallic paint is $1,200, the Driving Assistance Pro Package (Active Driving Assistant Pro, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, active lane assist with side collision avoidance and traffic jam assistant) is $1,700.
The M Sport Package (19-inch M double-spoke bi-color wheels, adaptive M suspension, aluminum hexa trim with ambient lighting, M steering wheel, shadowline exterior trim, M Sport interior and exterior element) adds $2,500.
The Premium Package (power-folding mirrors, keyeless entry, acoustic glass, a panoramic sunroof, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, interior camera, parking assistant plus, a Harman/Kardon premium audio system, wireless device charging, Live Cockpit Pro and digital key) is $4,000.
There's also heated front seats and steering wheel for $500 and remote engine start for $300, as well as $500 taken off the tab because our vehicle was built without M Sport brakes.
Bottom line on the window sticker, $52,745.
There's stuff I could quibble about (just make all the active safety features standard already), but that bottom line price actually represents good value. I'm still not the customer for coupe-like SUVs (I'd buy the X1 instead), but if that is your thing, this may be your car.
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