BMW X2 review
A premium compact SUV that offers head-turning sporty looks, a high-quality interior, and an enjoyable driving experience.
Author: Charlie Harvey
17th Dec 2025 – 9 mins read
The BMW X2 is the stylish, sportier sibling of the practical X1. It’s a car for those who love the high driving position and chunky looks of an SUV but want something with a bit more flair and personality. Arriving in 2018, the X2 was designed to be a more desirable and aggressive-looking alternative in the crowded compact SUV market, and it certainly stands out from the crowd. It takes all the good bits from the X1 – like the excellent engines and high-quality interior – and wraps them in a sleeker, more coupe-like body. It’s a bit like swapping a sensible pair of shoes for some fashionable trainers. While it does sacrifice a little bit of practicality for its good looks, it's still a roomy and usable car for small families. If you want a premium small SUV that looks great and feels a bit special, the X2 is a fantastic choice.
Pros
- Sporty, head-turning looks
- Excellent range of powerful and efficient engines
- Superb interior build quality
Cons
- It's a bit more expensive than some key rivals
- The ride can be quite firm, especially on M Sport models
- Not quite as practical as the closely-related BMW X1
Interior
Dashboard & tech
Inside, the BMW X2 has a cabin that is both high-quality and driver-focused. The design is clean and logical, with a dashboard that’s angled towards the driver, making you feel nicely cocooned. The materials are all top-notch, with soft-touch plastics and smart trim finishers that give it a real premium feel.
Every X2 comes with BMW’s brilliant iDrive infotainment system, which is controlled by a rotary dial between the front seats. It’s much easier and safer to use on the move than a touchscreen. A crisp, clear screen sits on top of the dashboard and comes with satellite navigation, DAB radio, and Bluetooth as standard. It’s a system that looks great and works flawlessly.
Comfort
The X2 has a distinctly sporty character, which means the suspension is on the firm side. This is especially true of M Sport models, which have a lowered ride height. While this makes the car feel sharp and agile, it does mean you’ll feel more of the bumps and potholes on the road. It’s never harsh, but if a soft, cushioned ride is your top priority, you might find it a bit firm.
That said, the seats are fantastic – comfortable and very supportive, which is a real bonus on long journeys. The driving position is excellent, and it’s a quiet and refined car on the motorway, making it a great car for covering long distances.
Quality
This is an area where the X2, like most BMWs, really shines. The build quality is absolutely solid. Everything you see and touch in the cabin feels robust, well-engineered, and built to last. The switches click with a satisfying precision, and there are no squeaks or rattles to be heard.
The quality of the materials is a big part of what makes the X2 feel so much more special than mainstream rivals. It’s a cabin that helps to justify the premium price tag and makes every journey feel a little more luxurious.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
Despite its sleek, coupe-like roofline, the X2 is surprisingly spacious inside. There’s plenty of room up front, and passengers in the back are well catered for. There's enough legroom and headroom for two adults to sit comfortably in the rear, although very tall passengers might find their heads are a little closer to the roof than in the boxier X1.
For a family, it’s a perfectly practical car. The doors open wide, making it easy to fit a child seat, and there are plenty of useful storage areas dotted around the cabin for all the bits and pieces that come with family life.
Boot space
To achieve its sportier look, the X2 does sacrifice a little bit of boot space compared to the X1. It offers 470 litres of space, which is 35 litres less than its more practical sibling. However, 470 litres is still a very generous size for a car in this class and is more than enough for a big weekly shop, a pushchair, or luggage for a family holiday.
The rear seats can be folded down if you need to carry larger items. Many models also come with a powered tailgate, which is a really convenient feature when you’re trying to load the boot with your hands full.
Driving
Driving experience
The X2 feels sharper and more agile to drive than the X1, thanks to its lower body and sportier suspension setup. It feels keen to turn into corners and has plenty of grip, giving you lots of confidence on a twisty road. It’s an enjoyable and engaging car to drive.
The trade-off for this sporty handling is the firm ride we’ve mentioned, but it’s a compromise many will be happy to make for the fun driving experience. For those who want the ultimate in performance, the M35i model is a proper hot-hatch in SUV clothing, with incredible acceleration and even sharper handling.
Performance
There’s an excellent range of engines to choose from, all of which offer a great blend of performance and economy. The petrol range includes the 1.5-litre 18i with 138bhp and the 2.0-litre 20i with 189bhp. Both are smooth, responsive, and provide plenty of punch.
The diesel engines are a great choice for high-mileage drivers. The 2.0-litre 18d has 148bhp, while the 20d has 187bhp. Both are very strong and incredibly economical. At the top of the range sits the M35i, a high-performance model with a 302bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine that delivers incredible pace. You can choose between front-wheel drive (sDrive) and all-wheel drive (xDrive) on many models.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
The X2 offers impressive running costs for a premium SUV. The diesel engines are the stars for fuel economy. The front-wheel-drive 18d model, for example, can officially achieve over 55mpg, which is excellent.
Even the petrol engines are reasonably efficient, and the high-performance M35i can still return a claimed 34mpg, which is impressive for a car with its level of performance. A plug-in hybrid model, the xDrive25e, is also available, offering an electric-only range that’s perfect for zero-emission city driving.
Value for money
The X2 is a premium car and is priced higher than rivals like the Audi Q2. However, it feels like a high-quality product, and you get a lot of desirable standard equipment for your money. Because it sits in such a popular and sought-after part of the market, it holds its value reasonably well. This is good news as it means you won’t lose as much money over time as you would with some other cars.
Reliability & Warranty
Modern BMWs have a good reputation for reliability, and the X2 feels like a very solid and durable car. The engines and technology are well-proven across the BMW range. From new, all BMWs come with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, which is better than the 60,000-mile cap offered by many rivals and gives great peace of mind when buying a nearly-new model.
Safety
Safety features
The X2 is a very safe car. Its sister car, the BMW X1, was awarded the maximum five-star rating when crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, and you can expect the X2 to offer the same high level of protection for you and your family.
All models come with a good level of safety equipment as standard, including cruise control with a braking function and rear parking sensors. You can also find models with optional safety packs that add more advanced features like autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
There are several trim levels to choose from, each offering a different flavour.
SE: The entry-level model is well-equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, and rear parking sensors.
Sport: Adds sportier exterior styling details, sports seats, and ambient interior lighting.
M Sport: This hugely popular trim gives the X2 a much more aggressive look with an M Sport body kit, larger 19-inch wheels, and lowered M Sport suspension for sharper handling. It also gets heated leather seats.
M Sport X: This trim blends the sporty looks of M Sport with more rugged, off-road-inspired details, such as grey plastic wheel arches and side skirts.
M35i: The high-performance model gets a unique look with 20-inch wheels, a sporty rear spoiler, and an uprated M Sport braking system.
Engines
The X2 is available with a great choice of petrol and diesel engines.
sDrive18i: A 1.5-litre petrol engine with 138bhp and front-wheel drive.sDrive20i / xDrive20i: A 2.0-litre petrol engine with 189bhp, available with front- or all-wheel drive.sDrive18d / xDrive18d: A 2.0-litre diesel with 148bhp, available with front- or all-wheel drive.xDrive20d: A more powerful 2.0-litre diesel with 187bhp and standard all-wheel drive.M35i: The range-topping performance model with a 302bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine and all-wheel drive.xDrive25e: A plug-in hybrid that combines a petrol engine with an electric motor for great economy and performance.