Refreshingly Bold

Under the hood, there is the familiar 2.0 four cylinder turbocharged engine, featuring BMW’s “TwinPower” technology. With 192 hp on tap, the X2 hits 100km/h in just 7.7 seconds. Taking off from the lights, there is a little bit of torque steer, since the car is front-driven. And about torque, the X2 pushes out 400Nm of twist, more than enough to keep you plastered into those comfortable seats.

Gear changes are quick, with 7 ratios form its Steptronic dual-clutch transmission. One little issue was that we did wish that the car had just that little more grunt mid-range for an even more engaging drive. Other than that, the little crossover is seriously a gem to drive.

Passenger comfort is good, though those 19” rims with thin tyres, while they may look the part, do add to some firmness.

While the X2 is a unique entry, and something quite different from what BMW normally churns out, one cannot deny that it does in its own way compete directly with the likes of its English cousin, the MINI Countryman.

That said, the MINI Countryman does come across as a little more playful overall than the X2, and the X2 on the other hand, is daringly bold with heaps of play on the outside, while a little more semi-formal on the inside. But perhaps it could be the right formula, while stretching to the limits, but never forgetting BMW’s branding and design language.

But for a market almost suddenly crowded with so many entries, it really is the quirks which sell the car.

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