To paraphrase evil King Edward I, aka "Longshanks," in the epic movie "Braveheart": The trouble with crossovers ... is that there are too many crossovers.
And they all look pretty much the same.
Because there's only so much you can do with the basic layout without changing it into something that isn't a crossover anymore.
But don't tell that to BMW.
What It Is
The X2 is a crossover that doesn't look like one.
It's based on the BMW X1 — a compact crossover that does look like one. They are the same length and have the same drivetrains. The difference is about 3 inches of height — due to the X2's sleeker roofline — and less cargo room and headroom, but only slightly less.
Pretty impressively, the stylish X2 has 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind its second row and 50.1 cubic feet total — with its back seats folded down — which is very close to the 27.1 cubic feet behind the X1's second row and the 58.7 cubic feet it touts with its rear seats folded flat.
The bigger difference between the two is price.
The X1 base MSRP for the front-wheel-drive sDrive28i is $33,900. The same basic package in sexier X2 packaging is $36,400.
With the optional xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the X2 sticker is $38,400. The same thing in the taller-roofed conventional crossover X1 livery is $35,900.
Style doesn't come cheap.
What's New
In addition to sleekness, the 2019 X2 is also available with speed.
A new high-performance M35i variant has been added to the lineup. It gets a 302-horsepower engine (a 74-horsepower upgrade over the regular X2's 228-horsepower engine), which gets it from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and makes it one of the quickest small crossovers you can buy.
BMW hadn't released official pricing for the X2 M35i when this review was written, but expect something in the neighborhood of $48,000 to start.
Speed doesn't come cheap, either.
What's Good
It doesn't look like a crossover — but it does crossover-y things.
It looks good .
It's much more practical than other good-looking-but-space-tight (and much lower to the ground) rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLA.
What's Not So Good
If you don't mind tight back seats, the Benz GLA costs thousands less.
There's no manual transmission option.
The seats have oversensitive air bag sensors (buckle up your laptop).
Under the Hood
Excepting the M-massaged version, all X2s come standard with the same 228- horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder you'd find under the hood of the X1, along with the same eight-speed automatic transmission.
You have the option to go front-wheel drive (standard), or you can upgrade to the xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
The new M35i version also uses a 2.0-liter engine, but it's essentially a whole new engine. Its internals have been beefed up. It gets a larger turbo and has 302 horsepower and 332 foot-pounds of torque, enough to lop almost 2 seconds off the regular X2's zero-to-60 time.
On the Road
The X2 and X1 are BMW's only front-wheel-drive-based models, but it's hard to tell without getting very enthusiastic.
If you do, you'll encounter more understeer than oversteer — typical of FWD-based layouts. But at anything less than 90 percent full effort, you'll find that the X2 drives and handles very much like the rear-wheel-drive-based X3 and other BMWs — with one exception: The FWD X2 front tires will squeal if you get too enthusiastic.
At the Curb
The X2 draws looks not just because it looks good but because — for once — it doesn't look like everything else.
There are lots of interesting — and different — styling touches, not just the lowered roofline, for instance the BMW spinners on the rear sail panels; the asymmetric hidden grab handle built into the center console; the shape of the gas door, which is a rear-leaning rectangle instead of just a boring rectangle; the haunchy, almost muscle car squat of the thing.
It looks most striking at night, especially inside, as the cabin becomes bathed in the glow of the LED backlighting strips built into the door panels and dash, just like the egg first-class air travelers are cocooned in while the proletariat jostles for elbow space back in coach.
The Rest
The one thing that's wrong with this thing may not be BMW's fault. The air bag sensors, built into seat cushions to detect the presence and weight of occupants in order to trigger (and adjust the force of) air bag deployments in the event of a wreck, are becoming extremely sensitive — too sensitive.
The ones in my X2 test car sensed the presence of my Macbook Air laptop, and that triggered the buckle-up buzzer, an obnoxious distraction. The solution? Buckle up the laptop — or sandwich — you have riding shotgun.
The Bottom Line
The X2 is just the ticket for the crossover-inclined ... who would rather not find himself driving another crossover.
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
View Comments