X1 family SUV’s sleeker stablemate has grown to promise more practicality than before On sale Late March Price from £41,110
Lawrence Cheung lawrence.cheung@haymarket.com
FIRST DRIVE
WHETHER YOU’RE AT the Brit Awards or the Oscars, picking out a bold costume is a great way to get yourself noticed in a busy crowd. But while the coupé SUV version of the BMW X1 family SUV isn’t as outlandish-looking as Sam Smith’s inflatable latex suit, its curvaceous lines – not to mention that giant front grille – are striking enough to have people doing a double take.
With a separate iX2 due soon to appease electric vehicle fans, the X2 offers a choice of two petrol engines, each teamed with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The entry-level 1.5-litre sDrive20i is front-wheel drive, with 168bhp and an 8.3sec 0-62mph time. If you fancy more punch and four-wheel drive, there’s the 296bhp M35i we tested, which sprints from 0-62mph in 5.4sec. Power is delivered smoothly and the automatic gearbox changes gear in a slick manner, but the engine doesn’t rev particularly quickly, and it feels like it’s working hard to haul a heavy car.
While every X2 gets adaptive suspension as standard, you can’t adjust it manually – a shame, because it’s very firm. The M35i struggles to settle down at low speeds (not helped by its standard 20in alloy wheels), even on roads that appear to be relatively smooth, and speed bumps throw occupants upwards in their seats.
The X2 scores more points for agility, though. The M35i’s steering is very responsive and pleasingly weighted, so it’s easy to place the car’s nose accurately in corners, and with lots of grip from the tyres and very little body lean, it inspires confidence on a twisty road. Sadly, though, we’d stop short of calling it fun. Look towards the Volkswagen T-Roc R if you want an SUV that feels more like a hot hatch.
Inside, the X2 doesn’t perch you as high as some family SUVs, but its driving position is fundamentally sound. All versions have sports front seats that provide plenty of side support, and the use of grippy, suede-like material helps them to hold you in place in corners.
It’s no surprise that the X2 shares the same dashboard as the X1 – and it’s just as frustrating to use here. In particular, there are no physical buttons to operate the climate control system; the Audi Q3 has these, and they’re more intuitive to use on the move than the X2’s touchscreen-based air-con controls.
The X2 also has the same 10.3in d
