BMW X2 xDrive 28i

Handling. While BMWs, in general, handle well, the X2 is set up to be particularly sporty for its height and shape. You suburban warriors can let it fly on those tight freeway entrance ramps, or on twisty roads. The X2 is quick, too, with a 228 hp four-cylinder turbo charged engine.

Size. It’s compact, but entirely comfortable for the front seat passengers. If you mostly drive with one or two people, but occasionally need to toss some kids or friends in the back, the X2 will be fine. The backseat is tight, but not punishingly so. Front seats are very comfortable, and the front-wheel-drive architecture (although all X2s are all-wheel drive) provides more space up front than in most BMWs. There’s a modest sized cargo compartment in the back, with storage below, and the option to fold down the rear seats for serious cargo. It’s certainly a car that will do everything one needs a car to do.

Styling. The X2 is based on BMW’s X1, which is a more traditionally shaped crossover. The X2 flattens out the shape and makes it a little edgier. It’s a little shorter, and a little lower. That makes it a little less practical, but a little more interesting and unusual. Those who prioritize styling and sportiness over practicality will opt for the X2 over the X1, despite its compromises.

Clear controls. Everything in the X2 is easy to find and use. There are hard switches and buttons for the basics, which allow you to avoid the screen menus when you want to adjust the climate or volume. There are pre-sets you can use for just about anything in the screen menus. Set button #1 to call your spouse. Set button #2 to navigate home. Set button #3 to navigate to the nearest Ramada Inn for after you arrive home and call your spouse by the wrong name. The buttons are a great shortcut for common tasks, letting you skip the hassle of navigating through menus.

Cons
Hard ride. The price you pay for the sharp handling is that feel every single bump. You also get more than your average amount of road and tire noise on the highway.

Expensive styling. The X2 is more expensive than the X1. It’s less practical, less roomy due to the sloped roof, and less comfortable. Our loaded X2 test car rang in at $51K. So you’re paying a premium for style and handling.

Missing safety. Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems are options. There’s no available blind spot monitoring or rear cross traffic alert. Cars costing far less have these features, and we highly recommend them.

Cargo lip. There’s a large lip at the bottom of the cargo area when you open the rear hatch. So you have to lift items over the lip to get them into the car, rather than slide them in. Another price you pay for styling.

Visibility. What visibility? Out back, you can’t see anything through he tiny rear window. There’s a back up camera, but the X2 could really benefit from blind spot monitoring and a 360 view camera for parking.

Not as premium as other BMWs. We’ve driven plenty of BMWs, and at their best, they offer a great mix of ride and handling. This one trades the ride for the handling. The rear wheel drive-based BMWs also use a better, smoother 8-speed transmission (one of the best we’ve ever tested), while the front-drive-based BMWs, like the X1 and X2, use a different 8-speed that, while not bad, is not nearly as smooth.

Temperature quirk. The dual climate controls only adjust in two degree increments. So you can have 70 degrees or 72 degrees, but not 71. Do we have to pay extra for the odd numbers?