BMW X2 and iX2 2024 Review

The 2024 BMW X2 comes as a double shot, also bringing a pair of iX2 all-electric models along for the ride.

It’s the petrol model that is the cheapest, but the push to keep both iX2 EV models below the luxury car tax (LCT) threshold means they can both leverage generous tax advantages when packaging them into a novated lease.

Pricing for the entry-level 2024 BMW X2 xDrive20i starts at $75,900 plus on-road costs.

Then it’s a step to the single-motor iX2 eDrive20, at $82,900 plus ORCs. It’s the only front-wheel drive variant of the X2, with all others powering all four wheels.

It’s a very modest jump to the iX2 xDrive30 at $85,900 plus ORCs. Indeed, it’s the closest pricing between those two models anywhere in the world because BMW Australia pushed hard to keep it below that LCT threshold.

Topping out the range is the X2 M35i at $92,900 plus ORCs.

The 2024 BMW X2 mostly mimics its X1 cousin on equipment, except the X2 misses out on the rear windscreen wiper and roof rails that come standard on the X1.

First box ticked for Aussie X2 and iX2 variants is the M Sport pack that brings alloy wheels of at least 19 inches in diameter as well as a sports body kit and sports seats.

There’s also Veganza fake leather trim, adaptive dampers, smart key entry, a powered tailgate, 360-degree camera, parking sensors front and rear and dual-zone ventilation.

All but the iX2 eDrive20 – which is due mid-2024 – get powered and heated front seats, blind spot warning and lane keep assistance.

iX2 variants also get two charging cables – a 230V one for a standard power point and a Type 2 to Type 2 – as well as tyre pressure sensors and low-speed pedestrian warning sound system. There’s also a 12-month subscription to Chargefox.

Step up to the M35i and there are 21-inch wheels, real leather trim, lumbar support, massaging driver’s seat, bigger brakes, panoramic sunroof and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

As well as a choice of wheels, colours and trims there are various option packs, including an Enhancement Pack ($3615) that adds a panoramic sunroof, Harman Kardon audio, heated steering wheel, massaging front seats and metallic paint.

There’s also a $4900 M Sport Pro pack that includes 20-inch wheels, shadow line M lights, M Sport brakes with red callipers and M Sport seat belts with red and blue pinstriping.

The BMW X2 and iX2 are covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. The high-voltage battery pack on an iX2 is covered by a separate eight-year/160,000km warranty.

Pre-paid service packs are available. Five years and 80,000km of servicing for the petrol-powered X2 models costs $2500 while the iX2 EVs have a six-year service pack with no limit on kilometres for $2200.

The 2024 BMW X2 and iX2 get seven airbags: dual front, front side, side curtain and a centre front airbag.

There’s also autonomous emergency braking (AEB), rear auto braking, lane departure warning and speed sign recognition.

All but the eDrive20 get blind spot warning, lane keep assistance and rear cross traffic alert.

The X2 and iX2 haven’t yet been independently crash tested by ANCAP. However, the closely related X1 and iX1 both carry maximum five-star safety ratings based on testing conducted in 2022.

Central to the 2024 BMW X2 and iX2’s infotainment system is a new operating system controlled by tech giant Google.

It starts with a 10.3-inch curved instrument cluster feeding into a 10.7-inch central touch-screen.

The screens incorporate BMW’s latest OS9 operating system that is powered by Android Automotive, the widespread software system that is different to Android Auto (which the X2/iX2 also has). That gives access to the Android app store to download third-party programs, including games, weather and music.

While the operation doesn’t look much different to recent BMW models, the additional apps show there’s more going on behind the scenes.

The apps appear as a mass on a detailed screen, although you can highlight favourites. Plus, the main home screen has tiles for major functions as well as side-swipe areas to bring up sub-menus.

Despite the Android focus there’s also Apple CarPlay connectivity for iPhone users.

And the X2 and iX2 also get remote connectivity via an app. As well as monitoring key elements – including location, locking and charging – you can remotely view the 360-degree camera.

Gadgets can be topped up via USB-C ports – two up front and two in the rear – and there’s a wireless phone charger with a clever bracket to stop your phone from sliding around.

Another highlight is the customisable head-up display that comes standard on all models. It’s clear and concise and presents key information in a logical but distinctly BMW layout, albeit on a display that is foiled by polarised sunglasses.

Petrol versions of the 2024 BMW X2 get a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine.

That’s a win for Aussies buying the xDrive20i because in overseas markets it gets a three-cylinder engine instead. Blame it on the lack of a mandatory emissions standard in Australia (at least until 2025), which means the emphasis was on performance rather than minimising CO2.

That xDrive20i makes 150kW and 300Nm, driving through a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission. It dashes from 0-100km/h in 7.4 seconds.

The M35i also gets a 2.0-litre turbo but it musters a heartier 233kW and 400Nm, making it the most powerful X2 to date. It’s enough to propel the compact SUV to 100km/h in 5.4sec.

As for the EV models, the iX2 eDrive20 gets a single electric motor driving the front wheels and making 150kW and 250Nm. The iX2 xDrive30 gets an identical rear motor and produces a combined 230kW/494Nm.

If you’re wondering why outputs don’t simply double when you double the number of motors, put it down to battery and/or inverter limitations. Yes, two engines can theoretically produce double the power but if they’re not supplied enough electricity, it ain’t happening.

The 2024 BMW X2 xDrive20i uses a claimed average of 7.5 litres of premium unleaded every 100km.
The more powerful X2 M35i only uses a fraction more on paper, at 7.8L/100km.

However, if you’re enjoying the M35i’s full potential regularly, you can expect a bigger difference.

The 2024 BMW iX2 gets a 64.8kWh battery that provides about 455km of WLTP-verified range in the eDrive20 (the final figure is still to be confirmed).

The additional weight and performance of the iX2 xDrive30 drops that range to 395km, likely less in everyday driving.

Fast DC charging is done at up to 130kW, topping up from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 29 minutes. BMW says at some point in the charging cycle it will add 120km of range in 10 minutes.

While most EVs max out at 11kW for AC charging, the iX2 has a 22kW onboard charger. So if you have access to a three-phase outlet, a full charge would take three hours and 45 minutes.

A full charge from the more common 7.4kW wallbox would take about 10 hours.

It can be a fine line between a hatch and small SUV these days and the 2024 BMW X2 and iX2 are proof of that.

Sure, you’re sitting a tad higher than you would be in a hatch, but you’re also nowhere near traditional towering SUV standards.

In many ways that makes for a nice middle ground and sets the scene for the driving experience in the X2 and iX2.

The entry-level xDrive20 is basic motoring with its four-cylinder engine. There’s nothing particularly exciting about it, but nor can you overly criticise it.

Our biggest gripe is with the initial take-off as the twin-clutch transmission initially engages. Much of the time it’s fine, but there’s the occasional hesitation that takes the gloss off the polish emanating everywhere else from the drivetrain.

Driving through all four wheels means it’s never a chance of breaking traction, at least on a dry road.

Stepping up to the M35i adds more firepower and some hot hatch thinking. But at almost two tonnes, the kilos sap some fizz out of things when you want to wick it up.

Still, the M35i accelerates smartly and has some personality, at least once you get out of the regular start-up drive mode. Sport adds some bass and rawness to the quad exhausts for a more hard-core aural accompaniment. It can also let out a bark on full throttle upshifts as well as some deep burbles on the overrun.

Press the Boost button on the left-hand shift paddle – it’s slightly longer than a tap to activate it – and it gives you up to 10 seconds of sharper throttle response and some additional torque.

The M35i also has added sharpness to its cornering, the 21-inch wheels on our car no doubt helping there. And Sport mode adds some weight to the fluid steering as well as firming up the dampers, but not to the point of being uncomfortable.

That’s one welcome element of the X2: it’s athletic and fun to punt around but there’s also enough bump compliance to maintain a semblance of everyday liveability.

That sentiment steps up in the iX2 xDrive30 (we haven’t driven the eDrive20 yet). Whether it’s the additional weight – it’s almost 2.1 tonnes – or the fact ours was running on 19-inch wheels versus the 20s and 21s of the ICE variants, it had a more soothing ride.

And despite the added heft there was still plenty of cornering bite.

Throw in the meaty torque of the electric motors and it makes the xDrive30 the zippiest of the lot when punching between corners or darting through towns.

That Boost button also comes in handy when you want some additional fervour to the acceleration – and it’s accompanied by a futuristic sound that a blends spaceship with a computer game.

The 2024 BMW X2 petrol models and the iX2 xDrive30 have an all-wheel drive system, but they’re a long way from off-roaders.

Sure, there’s some extra traction for loose surfaces, but that’s as far as the rough road love goes.

It doesn’t help that none have a spare wheel.

As with the exterior, the 2024 BMW X2 and iX2 have a distinctive flavour in the cabin – and one that does a great job justifying the premium positioning.

It starts with the dashboard, which has two different finishes split by some stitching. The upper section is generic dark plastic while the lower section is a patterned material that can be changed out for Alcantara and other materials.

There’s also a range of colour combinations, including Atlas Grey/Smoke White, which looks classy with some orange stitching thrown in.

The driving position is tailored to the driver, with the main screen tilted towards the person in charge. And the front seats offer terrific support and comfort.

Rear vision is minimal courtesy of the slim back window. As with the BMW X4 and X6, there’s no rear windscreen wiper. The rearmost pillar is also chunky, but decent side mirrors help with visibility.

Storage is generally good throughout the cabin. There are broad door pockets and the phone holder that’s almost vertical against the centre console has a bracket to keep things facing the right direction.

However, the centre console is shallow and only opens to the passenger side, which isn’t great for the driver.

At least there’s a sizeable binnacle beneath the floating centre console, which also houses the gear selector and park brake button.

The back seat isn’t brimming with space but works fine for two smaller people; three across the back would be a stretch and means lowering the central seat belt from the roof.

There are central air vents in the back to keep fresh air flowing, too.

If those up front place their seats well back then knee-room comes at a premium. Rear seat headroom, too, is not great for taller folk.

At 560 litres, the boot is useful without being enormous. Some of that space is beneath the floor in a deep binnacle.

In the iX2 xDrive30 half that binnacle disappears due to the rear-mounted motor, in turn reducing the claimed capacity to 525 litres. It leaves the other half as a perfect spot to stash charge cables.

The broader boot area can also be expanded by folding the 40/20/40-split rear seats.

If you leave it to your head then it’s difficult to mount a case for the 2024 BMW X2 and iX2.

That’s because there’s an X1 and iX1 lurking beneath them on the price scale and bringing all the driving nous, equipment and attention to detail.

That leaves the design as the biggest differentiator between the two.

Fortunately, there’s enough overt sportiness to mount an emotional case for the new X2 and iX2.

They look distinctive and flow that thinking through to the cabin.

And in iX2 EV guise there’s an even more compelling case for those who can package their car into a novated lease to take advantage of the fringe benefits tax exemption that can save thousands each year.

With a slender price difference between petrol and EV, it makes the iX2 something of a dark horse.

2024 BMW X2 xDrive20i at a glance:
Price: $75,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 150kW/300Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 171g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

2024 BMW X2 M35i at a glance:
Price: $92,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 233kW/400Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 178g/km (ADR Combined)

2024 BMW iX2 eDrive20 at a glance:
Price: $82,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Mid-2024
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 150kW/250Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 64.8kWh lithium-ion
Range: 445km (approximate WLTP; final figure to be confirmed)
Energy consumption: TBC
Safety rating: Not tested

2024 BMW iX2 xDrive30 at a glance:
Price: $85,700 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Dual permanent magnet synchronous motors
Output: 230kW/494Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 64.8kWh lithium-ion
Range: 395km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 18.5kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested