Most things grow as they age, whether you're talking about trees or your waistline. That's valid for cars, too, as evidenced by the redesigned 2024 BMW X2 crossover SUV coupe.
The small X2 model entered the scene in 2017 as a low, lean-looking crossover, in some ways more akin to a tall wagon like a Volvo V60 Cross Country than a proper SUV. For the 2024 model year, BMW gives the second-generation X2 quite an update, which you can read about in our full preview.
Along with the new design and technology comes the requisite increase in length and width. But despite its extra size, the 2024 X2 M35i delivers an even more engaging, if sometimes more punishing, drive.
To see how all that comes together and whether the new X2 improves upon the outgoing model, I spent a day behind the wheel of an early production model on the roads and hills around Lisbon, Portugal.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Buyers of the 2024 BMW X2 will have just two trims from which to choose. First is the X2 xDrive28i, with a $42,000 starting price. The higher-performance X2 M35i xDrive comes with a higher price to match: $51,400 to start. Neither price includes the $995 destination charge.
I drove an X2 M35i with many options, including Frozen Tampa Bay green paint and the Driving Assistant Professional package, which adds numerous advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). An X2 with those upgrades will cost you just over $60,000 when the redesigned model arrives in BMW dealerships later this year.
Photo: Tim Stevens
The re-think of the X2 starts on the outside, with a shape that's far more edgy and aggressive than on the outgoing first-generation model. The new X2 gains 7.6 inches of length, but with its sweeping roofline, it actually has a sportier look.
A new, upright, oversized set of classic BMW kidney grilles dominates a redesigned front end. Optionally illuminated, those grilles create a distinctive appearance that'll be visible from afar. The headlights are also all-new, featuring three illuminated, vertical stakes echoed at the rear in the taillights. In between is a much more dramatic, sharply sloping roof that typifies an SUV coupe.
From the side, the new X2 looks quite good, and from that perspective, you can also scope out the new selection of available wheels. Buyers can spec up to 21-inch rollers if they like, but given the M35i's harsh ride, I'd suggest going smaller, like the 20-inch wheels on the car I tested.
So it looks good from the side, and the nose is quite fetching from the front. However, from the rear, I'm not a fan. The way the roofline pinches in as it sweeps down creates a somewhat awkward mix of shapes and profiles. That is especially apparent when you pull up behind an X2 at a traffic light.
Changes on the inside are just as radical as the outside, with reshaped and restyled everything. The outgoing X2's interior looked dated, but the new X2's cabin is striking, with plenty of aluminum and Alcantara artificial suede stretching across the M35i's dashboard. The focus is on creating a sporty vibe, with contrasting colors and stitching used in abundance.
Still, the interior is comfortable and practical. Despite that roofline, there's generous headroom in the rear seats for adults, though legroom is somewhat limited. Maximum seating is for five, and when you open the hatch, you'll access 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space. That's a nice improvement over the previous generation SUV's 21.6 cu-ft.
Though bolstered for lateral support, the front seats don't squeeze you the wrong way when you're just cruising. The steering wheel is on the fat side, typical for BMW, with paddles on the back for when you want to take control of the seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). Thankfully, it's so well programmed that you'll rarely feel the need.
Photo: Tim Stevens
The 2024 X2 runs BMW's latest infotainment software, Operating System 9. It is comprehensive and generally intuitive but buries so many settings and features in menus and sub-menus that you'll often find yourself tapping into a dead end.
Thankfully, it also includes an advanced digital voice assistant that, with a "Hey, BMW," can do everything from changing vehicle settings to finding the closest pastéis de nata pastries. Or, if you'd rather talk to Siri or Google Assistant, you can do that too with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.
On the active safety side, every 2024 X2 comes with blind-spot warning and a forward-collision warning system with pedestrian and cyclist detection and automatic emergency braking. The optional Driving Assistance Professional system, added to the car I tested, includes adaptive cruise control with full-stop and hands-free traffic jam assistance at speeds up to 40 mph.
I did not experience any traffic jams, but on the highway, the lane-centering assistance system worked well at helping me stay between the lines, while the adaptive cruise control spotted slower traffic early and adjusted speed smoothly.
Photo: Tim Stevens
When you fire up the 2024 BMW X2 M35i, you realize you're embarking on a driver-focused experience. Despite its small displacement, the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivers robust performance, with 312 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
It makes itself known loud and clear the moment it spins to life. Pull down on the tiny shifter mounted just ahead of the armrest, and as soon as you're in motion, you can feel the stiffness of the X2 M35i's suspension too.
On the go, the M35i jostles and judders with every road imperfection. It's not a painful ride, as enough compliance ensures the SUV reacts smoothly to your inputs and stays controlled and settled even on rough roads. However, it is decidedly firm. Even with the adaptive suspension set on its most comfortable setting, the X2 is far from soft.
When slotted into Sport+ mode, the X2 M35i's acceleration response is similarly sharp. There's just a moment's hesitation from the turbocharger as you push on the gas pedal, but the X2 accelerates strongly. The brakes are likewise sharp and grippy, and when you use them, numerous pops from the exhaust accompany deceleration.
I found the steering excessively firm in Sport+ mode. Turning that thick wheel resulted in too much resistance for good driving feel and feedback. Thankfully, a customizable mode let me dial that resistance down and create a more engaging and less tiring driving experience better suited for longer hauls at higher velocities.
As you scrub speed, the seven-speed transmission does an excellent job of shedding gears to ensure the engine is where it should be when you're ready to get back on the accelerator. A set of big, sporty-looking shift paddles nestle behind the steering wheel, but as mentioned above, you likely won't need them. Whether accelerating hard or diving into a fast, sweeping turn, the transmission always picks just the right gear for you.
Slot over to any of the tamer drive modes, and that transmission does a great job of calmly and coolly easing from one gear to the next. That's impressive, considering the former X2 made do with an automatic transmission, and you'd expect a slightly jerkier experience from the new DCT. But that's not the case at all.
The new 2024 BMW X2, at least in M35i trim, aims for an edgier crowd willing to compromise on the day-to-day comfort side in exchange for something more engaging to drive. Its styling likewise won't be for everybody, but there are plenty of calm, tame crossover SUVs to choose from, like the Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLB, and Volvo XC40.
If I had to pick a word to describe the 2024 BMW X2 M35i, it'd be "rowdy." This SUV is too aggressive during the day-to-day drive for most crossover SUV buyers and perhaps a little too funky looking for some people. But you certainly can't call it boring. That's a good thing. It's nice to have an outlier added to the mix from time to time.
Tim Stevens is a veteran automotive and technology journalist with over 25 years of experience covering everything from smartphones to supercars. In addition to JDPower.com, his expert perspectives have appeared in numerous national and international outlets, including print, online, and broadcast television.
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