Crossover SUVs are popular because they have everything ... except style.
They're great in bad weather. They're space-efficient and much more versatile than other cars. That's why they're selling so much better than other cars. But they suffer from look-alike syndrome, which is a function of their virtues.
Which is why BMW made the X2 look different.
What It Is
The X2 is a more stylish version of BMW's X1 — which is BMW's compact crossover SUV. The X2 is also a compact crossover SUV, only with a lowered roofline — and a slightly higher price.
Style, like performance, costs a little extra.
But it doesn't cost you much in terms of practicality.
The base price is $36,400 for the front-wheel-drive SDrive28i — versus $35,200 for the same basic thing in an X1 with a taller, more traditionally SUV roofline and a little more head (and cargo) room.
With a lot less visual impact.
Equipped with the optional xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the X2's price rises to $38,400. In X1 sheet metal, the same basic thing stickers for $37,200.
What's New
The main change for 2020 is that both the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of the X2 come standard with the almost-9-inch LCD touch screen that was previously optional.
What's Good
It doesn't look like every other crossover.
It has a powerful standard engine.
A much more powerful engine is available.
What's Not So Good
Apple CarPlay is included — but Android Auto isn't offered.
Some optional equipment — such as the available heated steering wheel — is only available as part of a bundled package, with other equipment you may not want.
Both engines come with automatic stop-start technology.
Under the Hood
Whether you go with front-wheel drive or the optional xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the X2 comes standard with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making 228 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque at 1,450 revolutions per minute.
It's paired, either way, with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The same combo is also standard in the X1.
But the X2 is available with a 301-horsepower version of the 2.0-liter engine — which isn't available with the X1. Equipped with its optional engine, the X2 is one of the quickest, smallest crossovers on the road. It can get to 60 mph in about four seconds — versus about six seconds for the X2 (and X1) equipped with the standard 228-horsepower version of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
But speed costs even more money than style. The X2 M35i's sticker price — $46,450 — makes it one of the most expensive compact crossovers on the market.
Interestingly, gas mileage is almost exactly the same, whether you go with the standard or the optional engine. The 228 horsepower version gets 24 mpg city, 31mpg highway. The 301-horsepower version gets 23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway.
You pay more for the horsepower — but not for the fuel.
On the Road
The X2 drives like the X1 — with the big difference being how you look while driving it.
You may have to sit lower — if you're taller — because the X2's roofline is considerably lower than the X1's, which results in considerably less headroom. Three inches less, to be exact (38.9 inches versus 41.9 inches in the taller-roofed X1).
The good news is that if you're not over six feet tall, these are nonissues, as there's still enough headroom in the X2 to not require scrunching down the seat to avoid scraping your head.
At the Curb
Though they share a platform — and mechanicals — the X2 is also about three inches longer overall (172.2 inches) than its sibling, the X1 (175.5 inches), but because of that roof-chop, there's a bit less room inside for cargo as well as heads.
Still, there's 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row (27.1 cubic feet in the X1), and with the second row folded down, the total opens up to 50.1 cubic feet (58.7 in the X1).
For a vehicle with a smaller footprint than a compact sedan such as a Honda Civic — which is 182.7 inches long overall — that is a tremendous amount of space.
For comparison, the almost half-foot longer Civic only has 15.1 cubic feet of total cargo capacity — because that's all that'll fit in its trunk.
The Rest
BMW — like most automakers — has incorporated automatic stop-start technology into its new cars as a fuel-saving measure. The engine automatically cuts off when the vehicle stops moving and automatically restarts when the driver takes his foot off the brake pedal.
Many people find the system annoying because the stop-starting is noticeable, and in stop-and-go-traffic, it can be very noticeable. The good news is there's an off button.
The bad news is you have to remember to turn it off every time you go for a drive.
The Bottom Line
The X2 comes standard with nice things such as that almost-9-inch LCD touch screen, automatic climate control and a standard seven-speaker stereo. And you can order lots of nicer things — such as that panorama sunroof.
But the main thing you get for your BMW is a stronger standard engine — and in the case of the X2, the option to get an extremely strong one.
The otherwise similar small crossovers on the market can't match the performance you get for your money — and they pretty much all look alike, too.
This one doesn't.
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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