BMW unveiled its new 2018 BMW X2 this week at the Tokyo auto show, and it's a shorter, more style-conscious addition to the German automaker's wide range of SUVs.
The X2 joins the popular and growing luxury compact SUV segment. It's designed to attract younger urban buyers through its small size— easier to park on city streets—and sporty looks.
This new model is essentially the coupe/hatchback version of the existing X1, until now BMW's smallest entry in the segment. The X2 is 3.2 inches shorter and 2.8 inches lower than the X1. The wheelbase is the same for the two SUVs.
Rear legroom offered in the X1 and X2 is nearly identical at 37 inches (X1) versus 36.7 inches (X2), BMW says. In CR's tests of the X1, we noted that legroom was decent but the hard base of the front seats cuts into rear passengers' shins uncomfortably.
Cargo space takes the biggest hit in the X2. While the X1 delivers 27.1 cubic feet of trunk space with the folding rear seats in place, the X2's total volume shrinks to 21.6 cubic feet, BMW says. CR measured 27 cubic feet in the X1. If you want to carry a bunch of stuff, the X1 has the edge.
Powering the X2 is a 228-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. According to BMW, the X2 takes 6.3 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour. This is the same powertrain as the one in the X1.
During recent testing of an X1, CR praised this engine for being "responsive" while returning a commendable fuel economy average of 26 mpg. The X1 and X2 operate primarily in front-wheel drive, which is unusual for BMW. Power is delivered to the rear wheels only when needed.
While CR has not yet tested the X2, road-test impressions for the X1 underscored the SUV's driving experience that "lacks the purity we've come to know from the brand." From steering that is "short on feedback," to a ride that feels "jittery over rough surfaces," the X1 proved no more fun to drive than mainstream models like "a Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, or Volkswagen Tiguan."
The X2 interior has the same horizontal, multitiered layout found in the rest of BMW's business-class-like cabins. A 6.5-inch infotainment screen mounted at the top of the center console is standard. Adding navigation brings touch control functionality to this screen, or shoppers can opt for an 8.8-inch-wide touch screen. A full-color head-up display unit is also available.
BMW's available Driver Assistance Package includes many safety features that are highly recommended by Consumer Reports. These include forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning, pedestrian warning system, and convenience features including speed limit information and automatic high beams. CR adds points to a model's Overall Score when FCW and AEB are standard across all trims and not lumped into pricier option packages.
Blind-spot monitoring is not available at all (it's not available in the X1, either). That's a big omission. Adaptive cruise control and a camera-assisted parking aide are also available as options.
Pricing for the X2 will be revealed closer to the BMW's on-sale date next spring. Expect to pay a slight premium over the current X1 SUV, which has a base price of approximately $35,000.
CR plans to buy an X2 and put it through our battery of tests when it goes on sale in early 2018.
