Test drive BMW X2: golden river

The design of the X2 goes beyond the rest of the Bavarian company's lineup

Here the laws of mathematics are slightly distorted. 2 larger and smaller 1. BMW's X2 is positioned as a size below the X1 on which it is based and as a price in comparison to it. After all, originality and diversity pay off.

Even if we accept the unfamiliar "regular" BMW brand qualification, the X2 is an "unconventional" version of the "regular" X1, a fraternal twin with a very similar genotype but a completely different appearance.

Let's get in line!

The X2 differs not only from the X1 on which it is based, but also from the entire range of the Bavarian brand in a very distinctive style. An expressive means of this difference are inverted "kidneys", which, if we follow analogies from anatomy, are more like a large (and pronounced) pectoral muscle than the mentioned internal organs.

This, in turn, has led to a different shape of headlights that have a different contour than other models of the brand. The blue and white emblems migrated to the rear speakers, which only adorned real coupes in the 70s, such as the 3.0 CSL.

Such symbolism should have a deep meaning, but it is another touch in the distinctive features of a model that leads its life, far from the general stylistic language of the brand. If the X4 and X5 are closer to their X3 and X5 output bases, especially the front and back, the X2 will be different.

The driver and his companions sit lower and deeper than in the X1. The sports seats are upholstered in Alcantara (in the M Sport X test). Since visibility has been sacrificed for more ambitious and wider front and rear speakers, it's a good idea to order a rearview camera.

Front passengers can expect more room, but rear passengers, especially tall ones, will have to put up with less headroom. Unlike the BMW X1, which captivates its customers with the volume and functionality of the interior, the X2 is more of a designer car.

The three-piece rear seat folded down increases boot capacity to 1355 liters. Without this operation, you can expect a volume of 470 liters, which is still only 35 liters less than the capacity of the longer X1.

Aerodynamic engineering

The infotainment systems are of the highest standard BMW knows, perform flawlessly and reliably, but they are also quite expensive. I like everything about this car.

The two-liter diesel is matched only with a dual transmission, which distributes torque via a plate clutch. Like the X1, the X2 builds on the new UKL transverse engine platform, in which the drive architecture is more massive and no longer differs from other cars in its compact class in this respect.

For this reason, BMW turned to other transmission suppliers besides ZF (why not to use ZF's nine-speed transmission for transverse mounting is another topic), such as Magna (respectively Getrag, after being acquired by the Canadians) for the dual clutch version and Aisin for eight-speed planetary gearboxes.

The former is used for the base version with a three-cylinder petrol engine (sDrive 18i) and front-wheel drive, which, like the smaller diesel xDrive 18d, is also mated to a six-speed manual transmission. All diesels (for example, the test xDrive 20d) are equipped with an eight-speed automatic.

All of them react directly and spontaneously to steering wheel commands thanks to the precise steering system, which is tuned more “hard” than necessary, but on smooth roads it is a real pleasure. This is aided by a 50:50 weight distribution despite the new layout.

With more ideas, the chassis has become more rigid (regardless of the adjustment levels of the adaptive dampers), which goes too much over bumps. In pursuit of greater dynamism and, perhaps, as compensation for an atypical layout for the brand, here BMW went beyond what is necessary. This environment creates discomfort on the roads and streets, and over time is likely to lead to driver fatigue.

And another diesel

While the rear discs seem modest behind the large wheels, the 33,7 meter braking distance recorded in the 100 km / h test is more than a good achievement. In the discipline of acceleration to 100 km / h, the car weighed 1676 kg in 7,8 seconds, although with 400 Nm its diesel engine shows more power than sporty manners.

Despite the attacks on the diesel engine, even for this "trendy" car, BMW offers more diesel than gasoline options, since the weaker version of the two-liter autoignition unit has 150 hp, while the more powerful (xDrive 25d) has 231 hp. With. What times have come - the compact urban model already weighs 1,7 tons and frowns at 190 hp. Only the front-wheel drive versions are about 200 kg lighter.

Average fuel consumption in the xDrive 20d test is seven liters. This is facilitated by excellent aerodynamics with a flow rate of 0,29 (0,28 for the basic version), the result of intensive wind tunnel testing by BMW, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year.

BMW is not afraid of any testing or criticism of harmful emissions in real conditions. An uncompromising combined nitric oxide treatment technology, including a DeNox storage catalyst and injection system, helps achieve Euro 6d-Temp levels. One more argument besides appearance.