BMW iX2 (2024-) Review

Introduction

BMW is busily updating almost all of its range over the past year or two, and it has been around 18 months since the BMW X1 turned up, complete with an electric option. Fast forward to the present day, and the iX1 model range has swollen with extra variants and trim levels, becoming a popular choice with customers who want an electric SUV with premium credentials.

Now, though, BMW has grown the range even further with the arrival of the X1’s more coupe-shaped sibling, the X2. And like the X1, the X2 is also getting some all-electric variants denoted by the ‘i’ prefix before their names. The iX2, then, is designed to give a bit more style to BMW’s electric line-up, and with no electric 1 or 2 Series models launched just yet, this is still one of the smallest electric BMWs you can lease. The question is, is it any good?

At a Glance

The new X2 – and, by extension, the iX2 – is a much sportier-looking thing than its predecessor, with a cool coupe tail and a more muscular front end that’s slightly more angular than that of the X1. It’s a fresh, modern look and it’s set off by the M Sport trim level that’s included with all iX2 models and provides smart alloy wheels and black exterior trim.

Inside, however, the dashboard is more or less the same as that of the X1, which means there’s a curved display that incorporates a sharp digital instrument cluster and a big touchscreen infotainment system, while there’s a massive cubby lower down the dash for wireless device charging. The gears, meanwhile, are controlled by a toggle switch on the centre console, which is among the few switches on the dashboard.

Pretty much everything is controlled via the touchscreen, which is good in a way, because the design is tidy and the screen is brilliantly sharp, but it makes some functions that should be simple a little more tricky. Changing the temperature is easy enough, thanks to the climate ‘buttons’ being permanently accessible no matter which display you’re using, but some functions that could do with a simple button are hidden in menus.

Under the skin, BMW offers a choice of two different powertrains, with the two-wheel-drive eDrive20 joined by the two-motor, all-wheel-drive xDrive30. The eDrive20 offers greater range and ample power, with 204hp, but the xDrive30 offers more all-weather, more all-terrain capability and an extra 100hp or so, providing greater performance.

Whichever version you choose, the iX2 is an electric SUV for keen drivers, with impressive steering and handling, as well as great body control. It makes the iX2 great fun to drive, and it’s slightly more agile than the iX1, but the problem is that the ride is a bit firm, which might put some customers off. 

Key Features

Key to the iX2’s appeal is its design, which is much more cohesive and appealing than that of the old X2. Where the old car looked a bit like the X1 had been chopped around a bit, the new X2 looks much more cohesive and much cooler. The rear roofline is particularly attractive, while the new nose looks more modern and – crucially – different from that of the current-generation X1. The design is pretty cohesive, and with a wide range of colours on offer, there are some really smart combinations available.

The other main factor in choosing the X2 will be its electric powertrain options, with a choice of two- and all-wheel-drive powertrains available. Naturally, the single-motor eDrive20 is the most efficient option, which will appeal to many, but the availability of an all-wheel-drive, twin-motor xDrive30 with an extra 100hp or so and all the same tax advantages will still be an appealing choice. It’s that versatility that helps to make the BMW a promising candidate for so many customers.

Range & Batteries

Whichever version of the iX2 you go for, you get the same lithium-ion battery slung between the axles. Positioned low in the car for better weight distribution and handling characteristics, as well as for practicality reasons, the system offers 64.8kWh of usable battery capacity from a 66.5kWh battery pack. That’s enough for between 282 and 283 miles of range in the front-drive eDrive20 version, and that only falls slightly to 259-267 miles in the twin-motor xDrive30 models. Those figures aren’t too dissimilar from the equivalent versions of the iX1, so the coupe shape costs nothing in terms of range.

Of course, official figures don’t always mean very much in the real world, but with mild weather and a reasonably gentle right foot, you should be able to get about 200 miles of range on a long motorway journey, which will make the iX2 usable for most. And it’ll go further than that between charges if you use slower roads more of the time.

Performance & Drive

Although the iX2 is offered with a choice of two different powertrains, both are based on the same lithium-ion battery pack that lives under the floor. With a gross capacity of 66.5kWh (although just 64.8kWh of that is usable), it’s big enough to propel both cars for a reasonable amount of time, despite them having slightly different motor layouts.

The cheapest and most efficient option is the basic eDrive20 powertrain, which sees a single electric motor drive the front wheels, splitting 204hp between them. And that’s plenty, particularly with the instantaneous response afforded by electric motors. The car feels faster than its 8.6-second 0-62mph time might suggest, and though there’s occasionally a little twitch from the steering wheel when you put your foot down, it generally manages the power well.

But if you would rather have a bit more oomph, you can go for the iX2 xDrive30, which has two electric motors and therefore provides all-wheel drive. It also comes with 306hp, which is enough to get the whole car from 0-62mph in a hot hatchback-rivalling 5.6 seconds. It’s a quick car, and it feels it, with the instant acceleration giving you a shove in the back at any given moment. For overtaking on a country road, it’s brilliant, especially as the all-wheel-drive system means there’s traction in any weather.

The all-wheel-drive tech also means there’s a modicum of off-road capability that’s missing from the eDrive20, but the iX2 is very much designed as a road car. Even so, the xDrive30 will offer a bit more traction when the surface is slippery, and that will be a welcome comfort blanket for some customers.

But whether you choose the eDrive20 or the xDrive30, you’re still getting an SUV that’s fantastic to drive. The steering is brilliant, as is so often the way with BMWs, and though there is a bit of lean in corners, it isn’t especially pronounced. And the car feels much more agile than you might expect a family SUV to be. However, if you’re expecting something drastically sportier than the iX1, you’re in for a disappointment. Because the more conventionally shaped car is already so good, the change to the body shape make little difference to the iX2’s handling.

Unfortunately, as with the iX1, the iX2’s weight and body control have come at the cost of comfort. The ride is quite firm, and the weight of the battery seems to drag it down into potholes, while the big wheels mean there isn’t much sidewall with which to absorb the impact. If comfort is your priority — regardless of whether you cover long or short distances — the iX2 probably isn’t the electric car for you.

Charging

BMW has given the iX2 an 11kW AC charging system, which means commercial properties with three-phase electricity supplies will be able to charge the car faster than a conventional household. Even if you only have a 7kW domestic ‘wallbox’ charging point, though, the iX2 should be capable of charging overnight, and it’ll fill up even faster when you’re away from home. If you can find a charger with a 150kW or greater output, the iX2 will charge from 10% to 80% in just under half an hour, which should be about the time it takes for a visit to the WC and a cup of coffee and a sandwich at a service station.

Running Costs & Emissions

With a choice of electric powertrains, the iX2 is going to be pretty cheap to run, particularly if you regularly charge at home. Charging from a public charging unit will cost a bit more, and might close the gap in running costs between an iX2 and a conventional X2 slightly, but generally speaking the electric versions will be cheaper. And the eDrive20 will be fractionally cheaper to run because it’ll go slightly further between charges, although you’ll have to run one for a little while to really notice the difference.

But as with all electric cars, the real appeal often comes from the company car tax benefits. With the iX2 you can have a stylish compact SUV for a very low monthly cost, thanks to its zero tailpipe emissions, and that will undoubtedly draw plenty of customers in.

Interior & Technology

The iX2’s cabin is more or less identical to that of the X2, which means it’s more or less identical to that of the X1 and iX1. As with those two cars, a beautifully crafted but almost button-free dashboard is topped by a massive Curved Display comprising two massive screens.

Behind the steering wheel is the digital instrument cluster, which is a sharp, clear display with multiple configuration options, while the main touchscreen lives to the left-hand side. That too is a pretty enormous display, and it’s equally sharp, but for all the instrument display’s personalisation options, the touchscreen has even more to do.

Like the instrument display, it can be tailored to your preferences, which means you can customise menus to put your most-used functions at your fingertips, but the sheer number of functions hidden in there is mind-boggling. You could lease this car for three years and barely use a fraction of them.

One that you will use quite regularly, though, is the climate control, which has been hidden away in the screen. In fairness, it isn’t very well hidden — the temperature controls are always on show no matter what display or menu you’re in — but it’s still harder to use than conventional buttons, which would have been a better bet.

Fortunately, BMW can get away with this to an extent because the iX2’s software is just so easy to use. Quick to respond and logically laid out, it’s one of the better touchscreen systems we’ve seen. And it lives in an equally impressively built cabin that feels solid, robust and upmarket, which goes some way to justifying the iX2’s lofty price.

Practicality & Boot Space

On paper, the iX2’s 515-litre boot is remarkable, primarily because it’s slightly larger than the quoted space for the iX1. That’s hardly what you expect from a coupe version of a conventional SUV, but it only tells half the story. Because that volume is only measured to the luggage cover, the iX2 fares pretty well, but if you were to measure the whole boot up to the roof, you’d find the iX1 far more practical. Without the sloping rear window, the iX1 can carry bulkier items more easily, and that makes it more useful if you’re carrying anything bigger and boxier than the odd suitcase.

Further forward, the length of the iX2 means rear legroom is pretty generous, but the fastback shape means headroom takes a little bit of a hit. It isn’t disastrous, but taller passengers might find the space in the back a bit too tight to get comfortable. For kids, however, it’ll be a great place to while away a long journey.

Safety

The European independent crash-test body, Euro NCAP, has awarded the new X2 a full five stars in its assessment, which means the sleek BMW is up there with the very safest cars around. Strong scores for adult- and child-occupant protection were backed up with a massive 92% score for safety assistance technology, which is no surprise when the iX2 comes fully stacked with driver assistance systems.

Not only does the iX2 get a reversing camera as standard, but child seat mounting points are fitted in the back and in the front passenger seat, while BMW’s Active Guard system is included across the range, providing lane departure warning and front collision avoidance technology, allowing the car to stop itself if it detects a hazard to which the driver has not responded. Customers who want to upgrade to the Technology Plus Pack can add to that with a head-up display, auto-dimming door mirrors designed to reduce dazzle, and extra parking assistance tech.

Options

After picking between the powertrains, there’s no decision to make in terms of trim levels, because all iX2s come in M Sport form as standard. That means smart 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and a sporty body kit come as standard, along with black exterior trim, an automatic tailgate and some sporty interior touches.

The touchscreen infotainment system and digital instrument display are both standard, too, and you get two-zone climate control thrown in along with a sporty steering wheel. The standard upholstery combines vegan leather with Alcantara microfibre, but a full leather option is available.

And speaking of options, you can have a range of larger wheels and paint colours as an option, including the rather tasty Fire Red and Portimao Blue options, as well as the ‘frozen’ grey and blue colours. Naturally, though, the latter comes at a hefty premium.

Otherwise, the main option of choice will be the Technology Pack, which comes with adaptive LED headlights, keyless entry and wireless phone charging, as well as electrically folding and auto-dimming door mirrors.

Rival Cars

With more and more electric cars joining the market on an increasingly regular basis, the iX2’s list of rivals is growing. Perhaps its closest competitor is the Volvo EC40, which is Volvo’s coupe version of the electric EX40 SUV. Easy on the eye and quite pleasant to drive, it has plenty going for it, but we’d prefer the Genesis GV60. It’s easy for some to get snooty about the Genesis brand, which is essentially to Hyundai what Lexus is to Toyota, but the products are first-rate and the GV60 is a shining example of that. It’s well made, offers decent range and the interior is sensational.

But being a BMW, the iX2 is bound to be compared with rivals from elsewhere in Germany, and the Mercedes-Benz EQA in particular. Not that BMW should be worried. The EQA is nowhere near as capable as the iX2, which is better to drive and offers just as much range, as well as being better looking and better built inside.

Perhaps a more daunting rival is the Lexus UX 300e, which was one of the earliest compact premium electric SUVs on the market, and remains one of the best engineered. It’s showing its age a bit now, but it’s still really well made and a popular choice for those who want something high-riding but not necessarily enormous.

Verdict & Next Steps

For those who wanted a sportier attitude from the iX1, the iX2 is naturally the next port of call. And those customers will no doubt be very happy with what they find from this impressive piece of premium equipment. It drives well, it looks good and it’s still spacious enough for family life, and the only problem is that the iX1 does much the same thing with a lower list price. Nevertheless, the iX2’s qualities are undeniable, and giving customers more choice is something BMW is incredibly good at. So if you want the conventional shape, stick with the iX1, and if you want something more dynamic and interesting, the iX2 will be for you. Either way, you’ll be very happy with your decision.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the BMW iX2.

**Correct as of 21/08/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £4,032.00 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.