2024 BMW X2 M35i Review

The all-new 2^nd generation BMW X2 M35i is here tomeaningfully shake up what was before a compromised but popular coupe-SUV.

Selling almost 400,000 units since it’s launch in 2018, theBMW X2 has a rather successful start for the 1^st generation.

We travelled to Portugal for the international launchprogram of the all-new BMW X2 M35i to see just how big of a difference the newX2 is to before.

Spoiler alert: it’s very different.

How much does the BMW X2 M35i Cost?

BMW have simplified the range for the all-new X2 with just two ICE (internal-combustion engine) models.

The BMW X2 range kicks off with the xDrive20i at $75,900 before on-road costs, which is $5,500 more expensive than the X1 xDrive20i.

The beefier M35i xDrive will set you back $92,900, which represents a $2,000 premium over the X1 M35i.

However, versus the previous generation X2 M35i, the new generation is $14,100 more expensive than before.

2024 BMW X2 M35i Price:

• 2024 BMW X2 xDrive20i - $75,900
• 2024 BMW X2 M35i xDrive - $92,900

Note: prices are before on road-costs.

2024 BMW X2: Detailed Features by Grade

xDrive20i:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Acoustic glazing for noise reduction
• Adaptive M Suspension for improved ride quality
• BMW Digital Premium (90-day trial) for enhanced digital services
• BMW Iconic Glow illuminated grille
• BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant for voice-controlled operations
• BMW Live Cockpit Pro featuring a 10.7in + 10.25in Curved Display
• BMW Operating System 9 for advanced vehicle settings and controls
• Comfort Access system for keyless entry
• Digital Key and Remote Software Updates for ease of access and up-to-date software
• DAB radio and dual-zone climate control
• Electric front seats with heating function
• Head-up display for vital driving information
• Instrument panel in Sensatec and M Sport leather steering wheel
• M Sport Package including specific exterior and interior styling cues
• Mirror Package with anti-dazzle function for safety
• Power tailgate for convenience
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for smartphone integration
• Wireless smartphone charging

M35i xDrive (Includes xDrive20i features, plus):

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system for enhanced audio experience
• Panoramic glass sunroof
• Vernasca leather upholstery
• M braking system with calipers in Blue for improved braking performance
• M-specific exterior design elements including kidney grille, mirror caps, aerodynamic components, and 4 exhaust tailpipe finishers

Options:

• M Sport Package Pro (cost varies by model) includes:
  • M headlights in Shadowline
  • M seat belts and M sport brake system with calipers in Red
  • 20-inch M light alloy wheels (xDrive20i)
  • M high-gloss Black Shadowline extended
  • Kidney surrounds and bootlid logo surround (xDrive20i)
  • M Sport seats (M35i)
• M Compound brakes ($2000 for M35i) featuring:
  • 385mm front discs and 330mm rear discs
  • Cross-drilled discs for enhanced braking
• BMW Individual metallic paintwork option available for $5000

What’s new for the exterior?

The all-new BMW X2 comes with major changes for the exterior, including massive increases in dimensions to alleviate the biggest criticism of the model before it; practicality.

Versus the first-generation X2, the all-new BMW X2 is 64mm taller, 194mm longer (22mm longer for the wheelbase) and 21mm wider. That’s A LOT bigger.

Ultimately, the X2 can be thought of as the Coupe version of the X1, which means cooler styling at the expense of practicality due to the sloping roof line.

First up, the BMW ‘Signature Lighting’ adorns much of the front, with bright matrix-LED lights and lit-up kidney grilles with active aero-shutters.

Unsurprisingly, this is the most aerodynamic BMW X2 ever, with a drag co-efficient of 0.25cd for the iX2 and not far off that figure for the M35i.

From the side is where you notice the very aggressive styling of the Coupe, however that doesn’t impact interior space anywhere near as much as the slope starts much further back than the previous generation X2.

You can now option 21” wheels on the M35i variant, though the jury is out on how much that would impact ride quality… 20” is arguably more than enough.

Tyres are Pirelli P-Zero’s which are okay, but at times a lack of grip was noticed especially in damp conditions.

The rear also has been heavily changed, with a very aggressive yet cool spoiler. Also the MASSIVE quad exhausts, which apparently have the same diameter as the current BMW X6M. So quite large.

What’s the interior like?

Again, huge changes for the interior of the BMW X2 M35i.

The new generation has really taken the interior up a notch or two with design, and more importantly, practicality.

Soft touch materials adorn most surfaces and help to soak up road noise, making it a rather quiet cabin even at highway speeds.

Alcantara trim is also generously placed around the interior which adds a nice sporty touch.

Speaking of, the seats are a soft Alcantara and leather combo with an integrated headrest, and certainly look and feel the part of sports car.

The glowing M badge really adds to the feeling you’re sitting in something rather special.

New for the X2 is the M-Sport steering wheel which now uses bright red M paddle shifters that look and feel the part. Also new is the ‘Boost’ function on the downshift paddle shifter. Hold that, and you get 10 seconds of the car turning all its parameters (engine, transmission, exhaust, suspension, steering, etc.) to 100%.

In front of the driver are two 10.25” curved displays, which now use BMW’s iDrive 9. For me, this was the most frustrating part of the drive experience unfortunately.

Although some functions like air-conditioning are easier to change than iDrive 8 when BMW removed physical air-conditioning controls, other functions of the car – like turning off the new and rather intrusive speed limit warning – are buried within multiple menus.

Still, the processing power is amongst the best I’ve seen and it could never be accused of being a bad display; in fact, rather the opposite.

Wireless Apple CarPlay works flawlessly, and the display also has Android Auto connectivity of course, with cool new features like updated augmented reality navigation.

In terms of IO, you’ll find a vertical Wireless Charger and two USB-C ports up front.

Practicality is far better as well, with a dual-level centre-armrest with plenty of storage above and below, a large glovebox and decently sized door bins.

Overall, the interior feels like a much better use of space and materials, and the end-result is rather impressive.

What are the back seats like?

Really the biggest issue with the X2 before was the heavy compromises you had to make when sitting in the rear.

Thanks to the new BMW X2 being almost 20cm longer than its predecessor, space is no longer an issue for me at 5’11”.

I have plenty of leg-room and toe-room, and thanks to the sloping of the roofline starting much further back, headroom is also rather good.

No sunroof though is strange, especially considering the non-insignificant price of the M35i – meaning that it is quite dark in the back seats.

Amenities have again been upgraded to two USB-C ports and a couple of air vents, with a pull-down centre armrest revealing a couple more cupholders.

The other strange thing in the rear is the armrests on the doors – they are mounted high and protrude out rather far, meaning more than once the side of my torso knocked against the armrest.

Minor complaint I know, but something I certainly noticed quickly.

What is boot space like?

Boot space is up massively versus before.

With the rear seats up, you get 560 litres which is 90 litres more than before. And it feels strangely huge.

It’s also 20 litres more than the equivalent X1, which is absurd to me in a good way – I think it’s a first that the Coupe version of an SUV is more practical in some ways.

Drop the second row and you’ll find 1470 litres of boot space, which is 115 litres more than before. That’s down 130 litres versus the X1, however, which has 1600 litres.

What’s under the bonnet?

Powering the BMW X2 M35i is the 2.0L ‘B48’ turbo-chargedpetrol 4-cylinder engine we saw in the previous generation X2, pushing out 233kW and 400Nm for the Australian market. That’s up 8kW versus before, but down 50Nm.

Its worth noting in Europe where I am testing the all-new X2 and some other regions, this same engine is fitted with a PPF (Petrol Particulate Filter) which reduces power output to 221kW while torque remains the same.

Still, power is sent through to all-wheels via a front-wheel drive biased xDrive AWD system and through the same 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

How does the BMW X2 M35i Drive?

So, if it’s the same powertrain as before, the X2 should drive the same, right?

Well, no.

Our drive route saw us take off from Cascais around 40 minutes from Lisbon, Portugal. It took us over quite a mix of terrains, starting off in the universal experience of bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Gone is the 8-speed torque converter automatic, and in its place is a new 7-speed sportier dual clutch.

In these situations, a lot of dual-clutch transmissions can really struggle at lower speeds. However, impressively the transmission only ever hesitated once or twice and very quickly recomposed itself. This points to a significant amount of tuning and development.

Switching through the experience modes while stuck in traffic (otherwise known as drive modes), like ‘expressive’ or ‘digital art’, leads to a difficult to notice but apparent change in drivetrain characteristics, the manipulation of air-conditioning settings and ambient lighting.

But these felt a little more gimmicky than anything else.

Thankfully, we eventually made it to the on-ramp of the highway and with a pull of the down shift paddle I got a countdown of 10 seconds on the displays and was very quickly reminded of the engines potency.

Although BMW claims it only has 400Nm of torque, I would wager they have heavily under reported that figure. The pulling power of the engine is enough to through you back in your seat.

In fact, during my 0-100km/h launch test using specialist timing gear, I achieved 5.18 seconds using launch control – which is 0.12 seconds faster than BMW claim.

The sound of the engine, although mostly pumped in – including fake pops and crackles – still sounds fantastic. The exhaust does have a valve which opens, but it is muted in sound due to the Petrol Particulate Filter fitted.

Once at cruising speed, the new Level 2 Autonomous driving system hooked the X2 to the centre of the lane and even assisted in lane changes.

In terms of comfort, the adaptive M-Sport dampers provide enough comfort for daily driving, though larger imperfections in the road can certainly be felt. Once flicked into sport mode, the dampers really stiffen up to provide better cornering characteristics.

For me, the last generation X2 M35i always felt like a front-wheel drive hot hatch, with significant lag felt between the ECU recognising the front wheels slipping and sending power to the rear wheels.

A recalibration of the system has thankfully removed this rather unfavourable characteristic, and subsequently the X2 M35i feels significantly better to drive around the twisties.

Speaking of, the backroads of Portugal provide ample opportunity to take the X2 M35i through its paces, and it just feels more comfortable being tossed around.

The engine response is better, the transmission never hesitates when driven hard and provides the signature dual-clutch shove under hard acceleration.

Thanks to the slightly longer wheelbase, mechanical grip is just that little bit better as well.

The combined output is therefore a much more enjoyable, and frankly more cohesive drive, than what was offered in the first generation of X2.

It’s a lot of fun, and I can imagine with Australia’s better engine tune and louder exhaust, the BMW X2 M35i will be a hoot on our roads.

Is the BMW X2 safe?

The BMW X2 does not have an official rating by ANCAP,although it’s X1 sibling received a 5 Star ANCAP rating in 2022.

However, the X2 does come with a very comprehensive set ofpassive and active safety features:

• Lane-Keep Assist
• Lane-Centring
• Land Change Assist
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Surround View Cameras
• Reversing Assistant
• Autonomous Emergency Braking

How much does the BMW X2 M35i cost to run?

The BMW X2 M35i comes with a 5-year, unlimited-kilometrewarranty.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 20,000 kilometres,whichever comes first.

Over 5 years or 100,000 kilometres, the total cost is $3,171– which equates to $634 per service.

Final Thoughts

The second-generation BMW X2 M35i marks a significant leap from its predecessor, addressing previous critiques head-on while enhancing its appeal through practical and aesthetic upgrades.

This model's evolution is characterised by an emphasis on improved space, luxury, and driving dynamics, indicating BMW's commitment to refining the compact SUV experience.

With a revised pricing structure that positions the X2 as a premium offering within its segment, BMW aims to deliver a more inclusive package, blending performance with sophistication. The enhancements span from the interior's upscale materials and cutting-edge technology to the exterior's bold, aerodynamic design.

On the road, the X2 M35i benefits from powertrain and suspension refinements, promising a driving experience that's both engaging and comfortable. These improvements suggest a balance has been struck between the vehicle's sporty ambitions and the practical needs of everyday use.

In summary, the 2024 BMW X2 M35i emerges as a compelling proposition, showcasing a matured approach that could justify its premium over the previous iteration and its siblings for those valuing a comprehensive blend of sportiness, luxury, and utility.