BMW X2 Review 2026

BMW X2 Verdict

Handles well for a crossover. Quiet and comfortable on the motorway. Diesels are very economical.

Cramped rear seats. 18d only comes as a manual. Around £1000 more than an equivalent X1.

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BMW X2 handling and engines

• Engines range from xDrive 25e to M35i
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 36–56 mpg

You won't be surprised to find out that the most popular engine in the X2 is the ubiquitous 20d unit - the same engine that seems to be in every other BMW.

There's a good reason it's so popular though. This is one of the best four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel engines around when it comes to blending performance and economy. It has 190PS but it's the 400Nm of torque that counts here and means the X2 pulls strongly. If you're on the motorway a lot, you'll appreciate this.

The 20d only comes with xDrive - that's BMW talk for four-wheel drive - but it should be reasonable on fuel. The official figure for economy is close to 59mpg but Real MPG shows that you're realistically going to get 50mpg. Not bad at all for a car with this power.

If it's outright economy you want - and you don't need four-wheel drive, you can opt for the 18d engine. It's the same 2.0-litre diesel but with power reduced to 150PS and less torque at 350Nm. The only fly in the ointment is that the 18d is manual only - if you want a diesel auto you'll have to choose the 20d.

In everyday driving, there's actually little difference between the two and it's not as if the 18d is the poor relation. It's available as an sDrive (two-wheel drive to you and me) which sees economy improve to an official 63mpg with Real MPG showing 52mpg.

The diesels aren't especially quiet - especially on start-up - but at a cruise the sound proofing and aerodynamic profile of the X2 means there's actually very little noise - either from the engine, tyres or wind.

Of course, if you're not covering big mileages then the petrol is your best bet. The X2 comes with the impressive 20i engine - this 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol has 192PS and is very smooth and quiet too. It comes as standard with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic (there's no manual option) which makes it stress-free to drive around town. Plus you don't have to worry about DPF problems.

Around town the slightly raised driving position means it's easy to park. That said the rear view is pretty terrible, but fortunately parking sensors are standard across the range. 

Where this X2 differs from the X1 is when it comes to corners. The steering is a lot better and thanks to the stiffer suspension set-up, it has much more agility in bends. It's here where the differences between the X2 and X1 become apparent.

There's less body lean, it's more composed and overall just feels much keener if you drive it with a bit of gusto. There is of course a pay off here. And that's the ride. With that stiffer set-up, you lose some of the comfort of the X1.

It's not terrible, but you're always aware that the ride is somewhat firmer than you'd expect of a crossover. That said, even on M Sport models with sports suspension and bigger alloys, it's comfortable enough on your average A road.

Looking for a second opinon? Why not read heycar's BMW X2 review

BMW X2 interior

• Boot space is 410–1355 litres
• Euro NCAP rating of five stars

The X2 doesn't exactly break any boundaries inside. This is essentially a BMW interior by numbers. So it's all very well finished and functional, but hardly what you'd deem interesting. Stylish flourishes are few and far between which is a shame given how striking the styling of the exterior is.

That's not to say there's anything wrong with the cabin of the X2. It echoes the X1 and 3 Series with the same layout that - including a CD slot which, for some reason, BMW thinks should take pride of place - simple air con controls and a colour screen plonked on top of the dash.

That screen is not a touchscreen, instead it requires BMWs iDrive controller dial to navigate. This is pretty easy, even on the move, but it gets frustrating when you're trying to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Not that this is unique to BMW. Audi uses a similarly frustrating non-touch system.

But there are plenty of positives here. The driving position is slightly raised over something like a 1 Series but you still feel like you're sitting 'in' rather than on the X2. You get a decent view out so judging the extremities is pretty easy.

Like all BMWs, the seats are excellent with lots of lower back and side support. It means few aches and pains even after a long stint behind the wheel. There's also plenty of legroom up front, so even six-feet tall drivers won't feel hemmed in.

It's not as good in the back for big 'uns though. The sloping roofline means headroom is limited and with the front seats all the way back, you'll find yourself having to origami your legs in and out the back seats. It's fine for kids in car seats and younger teenagers though.

Obviously the X2 is not as practical as the X1, but the boot is a reasonable size for this sort of low-down-crossover-thing with 470 litres of space - that's equivalent to a Honda Civic. It has a wide square opening and a low load lip too, so getting a pushchair or equivalent in is pretty easy.

BMW X2 models and specs

Currently on sale

On sale until April 2021