The article was originally produced on 2 July 2018, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

BMW X2

The latest addition to BMW's X family has been given the number two number behind the X. I've taken a look at what this smallest SUV model has to offer.

It is almost twenty years since the first X model, the X5, was launched by BMW. Then it was really about what SUV stands for, Sport Utility Vehicle. A sporty car with high ground clearance and preferably four-wheel drive. Perfect for bad roads but not really much to do with off-road driving.  

When the X5 arrived, however, another fun detail happened. Audi had seen masked BMW 5 Series models out on the roads that had increased ground clearance and larger tyres. This led to the belief that BMW was about to make a so-called all-road version of the 5-Series. Audi sped up the development of the Audi A6 AllRoad, which later gave birth to this much appreciated type of car that we find in almost all premium brands nowadays, for example Volvo where the V70 Cross Country has always been a bestseller. The funny thing about the story is that what BMW did with the masked 5-Series cars was to test the four-wheel drive for the upcoming X5.

However, no allroad model has yet rolled out of BMW's factory

Despite a higher number than the BMW X1, which should mean the X2 is bigger, it isn't. The idea is that the X2 will be the smallest model among the increasingly growing category of Coupé SUVs. Above X2 we find X4 and X6.

On the more conventional side we then find the odd numbers, X1, X3 and X5. Eventually, an X7 will also fill up at the top of the ranks. For the uninitiated, this can mostly be seen as a jungle of model designations, but simply explained, even numbers are so-called coupé models, while odd numbers are of a more traditional variety. This logic is also found among other BMW models without X.

With X2, they want to create and get a more youthful attitude for the active young buyers. It is playful and sporty in both forms, technology and performance. When you sit in the car, you experience it as tight and well-tailored. You sit very well in the alcantara-covered chairs with orange stitching.

Nowadays, even the large screen that sticks out of the centre console has a touch function. Here you see and control many of the car's functions, including your mobile via Apple CarPlay.

The car is connected thanks to BWM Connected+, which is a series of services gathered in one app

In terms of driving, the X2 is playful and depending on which driving programme you choose, the character of the car changes. You can choose Eco to Sport+ and there is a big difference between the programmes where you mainly feel that the throttle response becomes softer in Eco mode as opposed to more aggressive in Sport+.

If you have opted for the package with Dynamic Damper Control, the chassis can also be changed during the various driving programmes. The engine in the test car was the classic turbocharged two-litre four-cylinder diesel machine that delivers 190 horses and 400 Newton metres in the X2. No rocket but fills most people's needs without feeling boring. In addition, both quiet and frugal, mixed driving should be able to be managed on less than half a litre per mile. If you want a stronger engine, there is a 231-horsepower diesel and a petrol version of 192 hp.

In terms of appearance, the X2 is tough with its compact format and angular wheel arches. A new grill or as it is called in BMW language "kidneys" which has now received a new design that other BMW models will soon follow. On the C-pillar, which also has the so-called Hofmeister knob, there is now a BMW emblem.

It remains to be seen if BMW succeeds in getting the younger buyers to take over, because the price is relatively high compared to the competitors. But then it also comes to the point that if you have decided to drive a BMW and want an extra tough one, that may not be what will decide the purchase.

BMW X2 xDrive20d

Basic price	From SEK 400,000
Engine	Four-cylinder 2-litre diesel with turbo, 190 hp. Torque 400 Nm
Transmission	Front engine, 8-speed automatic, front wheel drive
Acceleration	0-100 in 7.7 seconds
Top speed	221 km/h
Fuel consumption mixed driving according to the manufacturer	0.46 l/mile
Weight	1,675 kg
Guarantees	New car 2 years, wagon damage 3 years, 12 years rust
Web	www.bmw.se